National Memorial Arboretum dedicates memorial to veterans who died by suicide – BBC News
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Veterans who died by suicide honoured at memorial
The Elysium Memorial offers a contemplative space for families, friends and colleagues.
By Shehnaz Khan
West Midlands
Published 3 hours ago
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. Over 1,300 military veterans and personnel have taken their lives in the last three decades, with the memorial aiming to provide a space for contemplation for those affected by such losses.
Edward Mackenzie, co-founder of the Elysium Memorial Foundation, which is behind the project, shared his gratitude for the turnout:
"I was blown away by the number of people that had turned up."
Mackenzie, who served in the army for over 30 years and has lost over 20 friends to suicide, including his best friend, stated that seeing their veterans being recognised is incredibly meaningful.
"This is why I did it, for the friends, the families, the comrades… It means everything."
According to the Ministry of Defence, there were 277 cases of veterans taking their own lives between 2006 and 2025.
A spokesperson from the MoD expressed:
"Any death by suicide is a tragedy that is felt across our community… Our steadfast commitment is to provide our forces and their families with the wellbeing support they deserve."
Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to lay wreaths at the memorial. Mackenzie, emotional about the turnout, emphasised the memorial’s potential impact:
"I hope that this memorial will really help towards mental health… taking the word suicide out of the shadows."
He acknowledged that there is still much work to be done in supporting those affected by suicide.
For support related to suicide, visit the BBC Action Line website.
