NAAFI memorial: A tribute to 100 years of serving the services

A memorial has been unveiled to mark 100 years of work and sacrifice by the NAAFI – The Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes.

For over a century, the NAAFI has given deployed British military personnel and families a slice of home.

When living overseas, the simplest of things like a British meal can make all the difference to morale.

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The memorial stone was the National Memorial Arboretum's 400th memorial to be installed.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Chair of the NAAFI Board, Lieutenant General (Ret'd) Richard Nugee, said: "It was always something you could go to, it's part of our language. You go for a NAAFI break, which means a cup of tea.

"You go down to the NAAFI – that means go down to whatever the shop is, but you're going to the NAAFI.

"What it meant to me was just that bit of home and that we hadn't been forgotten by the UK, despite the fact we might be miles away from anywhere."