Donation protected
An urgent plea for support for a Remembrance Memorial at HMP Guys Marsh.
HMP Guys Marsh is a Cat C prison based in Shaftesbury, Dorset; but many will not be aware of its roots as a 600-bed Military Hospital between 1938 - 1952, and which has historical significance for:
- Helping PoW's as they returned from captivity in the Far East with psychological distress,
- The first-ever hip replacement was done on-site on 8th May 1945 - VE Day
- One of the first to issue Streptomycin; a wonder drug that saved the lives of many PoW's from Tuberculosis.
As we approach Remembrance Day, it's right to remember all those who gave their tomorrow for our today, and I’m reaching out to you all to ask for your urgent help.
A great deal of work has been put in already to raise the funds needed to cover the costs of the memorial project, with the Main Contractor of an Expansion Project at the site offering the materials for the foundation works.
Sadly, the Main Contractor (ISG) went into Administration on 20 Sept 2024, before the materials were ordered. As a veteran myself, I knew I needed to find a way of getting the materials urgently so that veterans across the site, whether staff or serving sentences; have somewhere to remember and to honour the site's past this year, and in future.
With just under a month to go until Remembrance Sunday and only a small sum needed for materials, I'm reaching out to anyone who would be willing to donate even the smallest amount to make this happen in time. We have the tools and the skills and the memorial stone, and I will be helping the team on site to install it; hopefully before we get to 10th Nov 2024.
Please consider donating your shrapnel to this cause so that a permanent memorial is available to all of those who wish to remember, no matter their current circumstances.
I thank you, on behalf of the staff and others, for your support.
#RemembranceSunday #VeteranSupport #Donate #ISG #HMPGuysMarsh #MilitaryHospital #Mace #Macegroup #Memorial #WarMemorial #shrapnel #Tuberculosis #DorsetLife #PoW #MentalHealth #DrJohnCharnley #BrianGuy #BrianGuy #Royal Navy Army #RoyalMarines #RoyalAirforce #PoppyDay #WrightingtonHospital #GuysMarshMilitaryHospital #PleaseHelp
For more information about HMP Guys Marsh History, please see the following links:
- //wellcomecollection.org/works/wr5ge7qe/items?canvas=5
- http://www.dorsetlife.co.uk/2011/06/shaftesbury’s-medical-history/
- https://www.cofepow.org.uk/news/fund-raiser-for-new-fepow-memorial-in-former-hospital
- https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205513892
- https://www.facebook.com/AlfredShaftesbury/photos/a.146271615973479/786886888578612/?type=3
Organizer
Jo Wood
Organizer
England