Which New Forest memorial
shall I visit?

A New Forest memorial site. Graves in St Nicholas' Churchyard Brockenhurst

New Forest memorial sites are very varied.
Here's what you can discover......you just have to read on

• The Rufus Stone murder - or was it just an accident in August 1100?
• WW1 New Zealand, Australian and Indian casualties
• The Portuguese Fireplace
• The Canadian War Memorial
• Fascinating histories and insights into New Forest life during World War One and World War Two. Start by visiting my New Forest Airfields used during WW2 information
• Visit my Remembrance Day Poppy info and find out all about the 90th Anniversary of this beautiful flower and all about its history too.

On August 2nd 1100 in the New Forest - the death of a King.

The Rufus Stone

You can see by the photos I've taken that the site history is described on a three sided memorial.

When this royal murder (or accident - no one can be sure) happened it must have been a truly stunning event. Not only for the royal family, but also for everyone in the New Forest - would there be repercussions in their lives as a result?
Here is the memorial information, you read each side.

1. Here stood an oak tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrell at a stag, glanced and struck King William the Second, surnamed Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second day of August, Anno 1100.

2. King William the Second surnamed Rufus being slain, as before related, was laid in a cart, belonging to one Purkis, and drawn from hence, to Winchester, and buried in the cathedral church, of that city.

3. That the spot where an event so memorable might not hereafter be forgotten; the enclosed stone was set up by John Lord Delaware who had seen the tree growing in this place.

This stone having been much mutilated, and the inscriptions on each of its three sides defaced, this more durable memorial with the original inscriptions was erected in the year 1841,

by Wm Sturges Bourne - Warden

The Purkis family (who owned the cart and transported the body) still live on the New Forest.

This is where I found information on the Purkis family and picked up more details on the Rufus Stone. I read more information about the New Forest Rufus Stone memorial and the man accused of the causing the death of Rufus - whether murder or accident!

If you're planning a visit the best and most detailed map is OS Explorer 22.

World War 1 (WW1) and World War 2 (WW2) memorial sites:

Other New Forest memorial sites include areas where the First World War and Second World War had a great impact on the New Forest. Many overseas casualties of World War 1 are buried within the New Forest National Park.

• 93 New Zealand soldiers
• 1 Austalian soldier
• 3 Indian soldiers

One Indian soldier who lost his life during WW1 was Sukha you can find out more about his poignant WW1 epitaph and the New Zealand soldiers in Brockenhurst, if you want - it's a really thought provoking memorial.

The Portuguese Fireplace

This World War 1 New Forest memorial stands where the site of a camp cookhouse used to be.

Labour became scarce during WW1 and a Portuguese army unit who were working within the Canadian Timber Corps were used to fell mature New Forest timber for the war effort.

I have visited this site and think it is a lovely New Forest memorial, and again shows how the New Forest contributed so heavily during World War One and World War Two. I found the New Forest National Parks Authority had some very interesting information. Find out more

World War 2 memorial sites

The Canadian War Memorial Site

This is a very poignant site, it is near Bolderwood and just before you go under the A31 towards Linwood, on the right handside. It is a New Forest memorial to those Canadian Servicemen killed in action during World War 2.

The plague reads

"On this site a cross was erected to the Glory of God on April 14th 1944. Services were held here until D Day 6th June 1944 by men of the 3rd Division R.C.A.S.C.

The cross was erected on the same day (14th April) as my wedding anniversary, and that makes it quite special to me too.

I found out a lot more here on New Forest memorials

Land and buildings within the New Forest National Park were appropriated during the Second World War. These included The Balmer Lawn Hotel.

General Eisenhower and General Montgomery used it as headquarters for planning the D-Day invasion of Europe in 1944. It looks a lot different today

Prior to the D-Day invasion of Europe . the New Forest was used as a massive area (3,500 hectares) for troop training. This included: military training, airfields, and bombing and explosive ranges.

Some of the impact of this Second World War legacy is still seen on the New Forest today.

Charcoal burning

During World War 2 much more charcoal was needed, to provide absorbers for gas masks!

Local timber was burnt to make this charcoal, and alder was used if particularly fine charcoal was needed.

New Forest charcoal during World War 2 helped to make around 40 million gas respirators!

I'm amazed there is still a New Forest National Park - aren't you?

If you want to search New Forest Life.com without using the navigation bars on the left, then here's a really useful Google tool. Just put your search details e.g. New Forest memorials in the search box and hit Search and you can choose to search my site or go onto the Web and come back to NewForest-Life.com.

Custom Search

Do you have a great WW2 memory you can share?

WW2 memories are heartfelt, poignant and very personal. Some of them can be funny - have you got one to share?

I hope you have enjoyed visiting the New Forest memorial sites I've described for you here. If you are keen to find out more about the fascinating WW2 history I've got lots more to share with you!