Korea January 1950-December 1950

A modest memorial in Staffordshire marking one of Britain's grittiest military chapters. Korea January 1950-December 1950 commemorates the year our servicemen first deployed to fight in that frozen, brutal conflict - a war that didn't end with a treaty but just sort of stopped, leaving the peninsula divided as it remains today.

You won't find much here in terms of facilities. It's a quiet, reflective spot rather than a visitor attraction with tea rooms and gift shops. The memorial itself tells the story simply: young British soldiers - many of them National Service conscripts barely out of their teens - shipped out to a war most of their families didn't fully understand. The first year was desperate. Winter temperatures dropped to minus twenty. Men froze to death as often as they fell to enemy fire.

History buffs and anyone with family connections to the Korean War will find this genuinely moving. It's the sort of place that sticks with you afterwards. Not cheerful, mind - don't come expecting that - but worth the visit if you're interested in post-war British military history. Allow half an hour, maybe less unless you're doing the quiet reflection thing properly.

Burton-on-Trent is the nearest proper town for supplies and a decent lunch. If you're staying at Kingfisher Holiday Park just down the road, this makes an easy afternoon outing when the weather's decent. The memorial sits well on a broader Midlands history route, though you'll need to appreciate that this is contemplative rather than entertaining.