On July 21st 2015, the Royal Army Chaplains' Department unveiled and dedicated their new memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire.
Designed and created by Fire and Iron, the memorial commemorates those who ministered as chaplains among soldiers in times of war and peace, and also recognises the extraordinary work of chaplains currently serving in the Army.
The following images show the process of making and installing the memorial, from the beginning to the dedication ceremony.
The memorial finished and dedicated, 21st July 2015
Early sketch impression in 2013 before precise detail finalised
Basic mock-up using scaffold pole, wood and masking tape - this is something we do a lot, as having 3D 'impressions' helps us (and our clients) to visualise how the final structure will look and work in a physical space, alongside people.
Crook element scaled up on board
Matthew and Adam hot-forging the shepherd's crook
Hot-forging the shepherd's crook
Matthew and Adam with forged crook
Forging the stainless steel swords
Shepherd's crook rustproofed by zinc flame metallisation and zinc chromate primed prior to gilding
Installation - a stunning riverside location at the NMA - our home for most of three weeks
Adam and Graham assembling the main frame - Graham is a military veteran who kindly volunteered to give us a hand on site.
Crook up - this had to be erected without touching the soft 24 carat gold...
The NMA site is teeming with wildlife, and every morning two toads were on site. Oystercatchers and geese were other constant companions.
700 slate blocks, all cut by Adam and numbered on the back, were laid by Lucy, designed to link the memorial to the river behind it. Riven Cornish Delabole slate. Lucy designed the little diagonal gaps after looking at the chevron pattern of the surface of the water.
Jamie Tweddle links the main NMA path to the memorial with tarmac and matching gravel
