Hundreds of people have gathered at the National Memorial Arboretum for the dedication of a permanent tribute to veterans and armed forces personnel who have died by suicide.
The Elysium Memorial, at the site in Alrewas, Staffordshire, is the first permanent memorial of its kind to be built in the UK.
More than 1,300 military veterans and personnel have taken their lives in the last 30 years, with the memorial aiming to provide a place for contemplation for those affected by the loss of a friend or loved one.
Edward Mackenzie, co-founder of the Elysium Memorial Foundation, which is behind the project, said he was “blown away” by the number of people that had turned up.
More than 300 motorcyclist rode to the arboretum from Burton-on-Trent on Sunday, with a convoy organised by community organisation Wheels for Wishes.
Mackenzie, who served in the army for more than 30 years and has lost over to 20 friends to suicide, including his best friend, said seeing those veterans’ being recognised “means everything”.
“This is why I did it, I did for for the friends, the families, the comrades, those that we’ve lost to suicide,” he told the .
“There’s a lot of families here today that have been thanking me for achieving this memorial so I’m incredibly grateful.”