Hamsphire stone specialist stoneCIRCLE was commissioned to supply, letter and install the Normandy Campaign Memorial that has joined so many other memorials at the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas in Staffordshire.

The memorial was made to commemorate those who fought and died on the Normandy beaches during the D-Day landings of World War II 70 years ago this year. It was unveiled by HRH the Duke of Gloucester during a service of dedication attended by 500 veterans and guests.

Ian Stewart, CM, designed the 9m long memorial, the curves of which are based on the geological undulations of the Normandy coastline as seen from offshore.

The individual blocks of polished Chinese granite that form the memorial weigh up to 2.5tonnes and the 230mm solid granite curved section at the back is about 5tonnes. It took a 35tonne crane to lift all the components of the memorial into place to assemble the structure.