Paying respects for people who have died in service is important to many of us.

Understandably, military families can feel upset if their loved one doesn’t get a medal, or the recognition, they feel they deserve.

For more information on medals, please visit the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and the Ministry of Defence. They have information of the Elizabeth Cross, Scroll and the Veteran’s Badge, available to the partners of service people who have died. These have strict eligibility criteria, so do have a good look at the requirements.

Here’s some other ways we can remember those who have died in service.

The Armed Forces Memorial

The Armed Forces Memorial is located in the National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas near Lichfield, Staffordshire. 

Each year, a service of dedication is held, to honour those who have died in service from the year before. Close family will receive an invitation, but please note that numbers are restricted.

The inscription on the Obelisk of the Armed Forces Memorial is in memory of everyone who has died serving their country. All those who have either been killed on duty, died in a theatre of war, or by terrorist activity since 1947, are inscribed on the memorial too.

Rolls of Honour

Each Service has a Roll of Honour and Books of Remembrance. These include the names of all of the service people who have died.

• The Royal Navy and Royal Marines – Rolls of Honour will be available in St Martin’s in the Fields.
• The Army – Rolls of Honour will be available in the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
• The RAF – Roll of Honour is in place and can be viewed in St Clement Danes Church, The Strand London.

Forces Conflict Memorial

The Forces Conflict memorial can be found in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey.

Other memorials

Individual units and stations may also have their own memorials. The Visiting Officer will be able to let you know about these.

You can ask your local council to add the names of service people who have died in operations to existing war memorials. The British Legion can help you with this.