Down the A3 though, on Bramshott Common, are a collection of maples that catch the eye every time you drive past. They are a memorial to Canadian soldiers who died during the wars.
Canadian troops trained here during both Wars and 418 of
them, who died in the First World War, are buried in nearby Bramshott and
Greyshott churchyards. Many of those who
died in the Second World War are buried in Brookwood
Military Cemetery,
north of Guildford.
Road widening unfortunately meant that the original avenue
had to be moved, but new trees were brought in from Canada and planted in 1995,
the last one by the Canadian High Commissioner, the visiting Minister for Roads
and Canadian veterans and British Legion representatives.
This is what you see from the A3.
Soon after the car park, you realise there are Canadian maples just round the corner.
Bramshott Common is still used for training and manoeuvres,
so I was only half surprised, as I walked along the footpath, when I
encountered an armed patrol in full battledress coming towards me. I stood back into the undergrowth, trying to
look inconspicuous, and the walked past, glancing in all directions and waving
their weapons from side to side. The
last man through, walking almost backwards, nodded to me and raised his hand as
they disappeared into the forest. They
were almost silent in their progress and I never saw them again, so I had to
pinch myself to make sure it had really happened.
Anyway, here are some shots of the avenue.
