Katyn Memorial, Cannock Chase Forest

We were sitting at home last, night, wondering what to watch in the TV and decided on a film called 'The Last Witness'.  It told the story of a British journalist, who was introduced to a Polish immigrant, who told a story of the mass murder of thousands of Polish citizens on the early years of the Second World War.  The genocide was perpetrated by Soviet Secret Police on the orders of Stalin.  

I won't spoil the film, just in case you come to watch it, but it had a special recognition for us as we often pass this Katyn Memorial when out on the Chase.  It was constructed in 1979 and is one of many across Britain and the world to memorialise the event.  The location has many echoes of the Katyn Forest and the Honorary Polish Consul for the West Midlands, Councillor Fran Oborski praised the Cannock Chase site at a recent memorial event: "This is a beautiful silent English forest, and it's a really appropriate place to remember those who, 70 years ago, were murdered in a forest that was probably beautiful - but was turned for ever into a place of horror."


It really was a beautiful location today, in the warm summer sun.