Prince Harry has unveiled a memorial made by Westbury stonemason, Nick Johnson, in remembrance of those who died in the Afghanistan conflict.
The Bastion Memorial at the Arboretum in Staffordshire, bears the names of all 453 UK personnel who died in Afghanistan and replicates the design of the original memorial wall in Camp Bastion.
Nick Johnson sat behind Prince Harry at the unveiling last month and had the opportunity to speak to the Prime Minister David Cameron who remembered meeting him at a previous dedication service.
Nick told White Horse News, “The PM said that he thought the day had gone very well and there was a relaxed atmosphere which was nice.
“It was a good day and I was very pleased to be a part of it. There were over 3,000 people there, mainly family and friends of the fallen. After the dedication, we all had a lovely lunch in a marquee and I spoke to a few of the families. They thought the memorial was absolutely brilliant, which was lovely to hear.
“When you make something of that scale and it takes over a year to complete, you sort of forget why you are doing it because you’re so busy, but then at the service you’re reminded of the great sacrifice they made for their country. The weight of what it all means really hits home when you get there.
“It is quite humbling to be a part of something like that. When you hear the speeches of men and women, especially those who are my children’s age who have done four tours, it hits you.
“The names on the memorial aren’t just names, they’re sons, daughters, mums, dads, uncles and aunts, and each one of them has a story.
“Then I go back to the shop and start making headstones for local people. They are just as important to me.”
