Olympic double gold medallist and former military stalwart Dame Kelly Holmes is set to visit the National Memorial Arboretum, in Alrewas, as the UK celebrates the role of women in the army.
Dame Kelly's visit coincides with celebrations to mark 80 years since the establishment of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, which was the women's branch of the British army during the Second World War, and was last active in February 1949.
Created in September 1938 as a women's voluntary service, membership boomed after the breakout of war the following year, peaking at an impressive 212,500 in 1942.
Contributions to the war effort from the service included ammunition inspections, mess orderlies, postal workers and military police.
To mark the anniversary, Dame Kelly, along with other women who have served for their country, will visit the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday, July 8 for a special service from 2pm.
The now retired Olympic athlete, who holds two gold Olympic medals from the 2004 Athens games, joined the army at 18 after leaving school.
Her initial role was as a lorry driver and she later became a physical training instructor.
Her athletic prowess soon shone, and she became the British Army judo champion, also competing in the men's 800m run.
She combined athletics with employment in the army, until receiving enough funding to enable her to devote all her energies to a career in sport.
Others present at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday will be women who served during the Second World War, including 94-year-old Betty Webb, who was a code breaker at Bletchley Park.
The event has been organised by the Women's Royal Army Corps, a charity set up to honour those who served in the Second World War.
Dame Kelly Holmes' athletic career
Dame Kelly Holmes competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games and the 2004 Athens Olympic games, running in the 800m in Sydney and Athens, and the 1,500m in Athens, securing a bronze medal in 2000 and two golds in Athens.
She even recorded her personal best time for 1,500m at the Athens games, running it in three minutes and 57 seconds. She retired in 2005.
