VETERANS gathered to mark the first anniversary of a floral tribute and memorial commemorating hundreds of troops who died overseas.
A year ago veterans and residents gathered at St Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Headington as Oxfordshire’s Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson unveiled a new plaque for 457 troops who were repatriated to the John Radcliffe Hospital.
On Sunday veterans gathered again to pay their respects in front of the plaque situated behind hundreds of daffodils planted as a living memorial.
The 457 troops who lost their lives in Afghanistan, Iraq and other conflicts were repatriated and taken to the JR for post mortem examinations.
On each occasion veterans gathered in Headley Way to form a guard of honour at the entrance of the hospital to pay tribute when troops were repatriated.
The area of the church became known as The Final Turn, due to its location on the repatriation route.
When the conflict sended and the repatriations stopped, some veterans came together to ensure those who died were not forgotten.
Brian Crossin, 81, who served in the Royal Air Force Police in the 1950s, came up with the idea for the tribute and he led a minute’s silence on Sunday.
The plaque is on Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust land.
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