NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/Video16000RememberedAtNewArmedForcesMemorial.htm

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44171000/jpg/_44171921_queenmemorial203.jpg

A new armed forces memorial has been unveiled in Staffordshire, in honour of all British servicemen/women who have died in military-related incidents (including training accidents, terrorist action, etc) since 1948. There are currently almost 16000 names on it, with space for another 15000.

So, my question...how long until we run out of space on it?

Probably a fairly long time, due to the fact that we've lost under 1000 fighting men and women in Afghanistan and Iraq, with a combined total of about 8 years' war between them.

The only kind of war that's going to lead to that figure really sharply rising is also probably going to lead to nuclear attacks, at which point, the whole thing is slightly pointless.

It really puts the World Wars in perspective doesn't it? I mean you can't really get your head around the numbers of casualties involved until you realise that all it would take is another day like the first day of the Somme and the spaces would be all filled straight away.

well we currently have less men than the start of the Napoleonic wars* so I'd wager we have quite awhile

*less than 100 thousand iirc