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Iraq and Afghanistan wars memorial unveiled Iraq and Afghanistan wars memorial unveiled
(about 2 hours later)
A memorial dedicated to those who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars has been unveiled by the Queen in central London on Thursday.A memorial dedicated to those who served in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars has been unveiled by the Queen in central London on Thursday.
The sculpture by Paul Day also marks the contribution made by civilians in the conflicts. It is formed of two stone monoliths and a bronze medallion. The sculpture, by Paul Day, also marks the contribution made by civilians in the conflicts. It is formed of two stone monoliths and a bronze medallion.
Its unveiling in Victoria Embankment Gardens followed a service for 2,500 veterans on Horse Guards Parade.Its unveiling in Victoria Embankment Gardens followed a service for 2,500 veterans on Horse Guards Parade.
More than 800 UK military personnel and civilians died in the three wars.More than 800 UK military personnel and civilians died in the three wars.
Before the unveiling the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended a "drumhead" service - a religious service held in the field of battle which uses drums as an improvised altar - with veterans and other guests. Before the unveiling, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family attended a "drumhead" service - a religious service held in the field of battle which uses drums as an improvised altar - with veterans and other guests.
Prince Harry served in the Army for 10 years, including two tours of Afghanistan. Prince William served in the armed forces for eight years.Prince Harry served in the Army for 10 years, including two tours of Afghanistan. Prince William served in the armed forces for eight years.
The guests included current service personnel, veterans, civil servants and charity workers. The guests included current service personnel, veterans, former prime ministers, civil servants and charity workers.
A small ceremony was held in the gardens for the unveiling itself and was relayed to screens on Horse Guards. Among those at the service was Tony Blair, whose presence at the ceremony attracted some criticism on social media.
In 2016 the UK's Iraq War inquiry said Tony Blair overstated the threat posed by former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein, sent ill-prepared troops into battle and had "wholly inadequate" plans for the aftermath.
The £1m monument was funded by a campaign by the Sun on Sunday newspaper.The £1m monument was funded by a campaign by the Sun on Sunday newspaper.
The unveiling itself was relayed to screens on Horse Guards Parade.
Mark Collins, a former RAF wing commander who did two tours of Afghanistan, said the memorial would be a focal point where people could reflect on the good that went on overseas as well as the sadness.Mark Collins, a former RAF wing commander who did two tours of Afghanistan, said the memorial would be a focal point where people could reflect on the good that went on overseas as well as the sadness.
He said he would remember a US marine from his team who was killed by a suicide bomber, leaving a physical absence in the team as well as frustration and anger for his loss.He said he would remember a US marine from his team who was killed by a suicide bomber, leaving a physical absence in the team as well as frustration and anger for his loss.
He would also be thinking about friends and colleagues who returned from war with physical and mental illnesses, and their families having to cope, he added.He would also be thinking about friends and colleagues who returned from war with physical and mental illnesses, and their families having to cope, he added.
"It's important that we remember and reflect so we don't go down those roads again and we learn the lessons," he told the BBC."It's important that we remember and reflect so we don't go down those roads again and we learn the lessons," he told the BBC.
Analysis: Were bereaved families snubbed?Analysis: Were bereaved families snubbed?
By BBC correspondent Nick HighamBy BBC correspondent Nick Higham
The event has been overshadowed by a row over the failure to include the families of the 682 service personnel who died in Iraq and Afghanistan among the 2,500 invited to the ceremony. The sun shone on Horse Guards Parade for the drumhead service.
One widow of a soldier killed in Afghanistan said they had been snubbed; another called the decision completely crass. Bands from the Royal Marines, the Scots Guards and RAF played solemn music.
Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron called on the prime minister to apologise for what he called a careless oversight. The Metropolitan Police Choir sang Nearer My God to Thee.
Mrs May said charities and groups representing the bereaved had been asked to put forward names of attendees. And Prince Harry, himself an Afghanistan veteran, read one of the lessons.
But the chairman of the War Widows Association told the BBC that while she'd been invited herself she'd not been asked to nominate others, and that the Ministry of Defence should have contacted all the families involved directly. The prime minister looked on, seated close to her three predecessors, John Major, Tony Blair and David Cameron, in office between them throughout the 25 years of conflict.
The MoD disputes her account, saying 10 per cent of tickets for the event were allocated to bereaved family groups, including the War Widows Association, who were asked to suggest attendees. Afterwards the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were taken across Whitehall to unveil the memorial itself in Victoria Gardens, between the Ministry of Defence and the Thames.
The MoD says it has also been proactively contacting those who have expressed concerns to personally invite them. It towered above the diminutive figure of the Queen, a huge brass disc between two stone pillars by the sculptor Paul Day, depicting combat troops on one side and aid workers and local people on the other.
The government points out that the memorial is intended to commemorate all those who served, not just those who died. The only hitch came when a wriggling, squirming two year old Alfie Lunn, both of whose parents are serving soldiers, refused to play his designated part and hand the Queen a bouquet.
Sculptor Paul Day also created the Battle of Britain monument, which stands nearby on the Embankment, the Queen Mother's memorial statue on the Mall, and the Meeting Place - the sculpture of an embracing couple which greets arrivals from across the channel at St Pancras station. His father, Serjeant Mark Lunn of the Rifles regiment, who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, had to hand it over instead, while his mother, Corporal Michele Lunn, gripped Alfie tightly in her arms.
Sculptor Paul Day also created the Battle of Britain monument, which stands nearby on the Embankment, as well as the Queen Mother's memorial statue on the Mall and the Meeting Place - the sculpture of an embracing couple in St Pancras station.
This design consists of two large stone monoliths which appear to support a bronze medallion.This design consists of two large stone monoliths which appear to support a bronze medallion.
The Portland stone, quarried from under Portland's cricket pitch, weighs 33 tonnes.The Portland stone, quarried from under Portland's cricket pitch, weighs 33 tonnes.
The stone is finely carved on three sides but left jagged and rough hewn on one, he said: "To suggest the harsh, dry, rocky and difficult terrains of the two countries but also to suggest how the outcomes of both campaigns is not fully resolved, that there was much division within the British people over them." The stone is finely carved on three sides but left jagged and rough hewn on the fourth side to suggest the rocky terrains of Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, people were united, he added, in support of "what the military and civilians did, in putting themselves in harm's way, securing British lives and improving the lives of Iraqi and Afghan civilians". Mr Day said he also wanted to suggest how the outcomes of both campaigns were not fully resolved, and the "division within the British people" over them.
"An awful lot of amazing stuff has been done and is still being done despite the controversies that have dogged the nation."
He said he wanted to create something contemporary in the 19ft (almost 6m) structure to reflect the most recent of UK military campaigns and hoped to have made a "fine piece of art" for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
"When we unveil it, I want to be able to say I'd put as much thought and effort as possible into the project; to do justice to the price that was paid and to create a memorial that will stand tall in years to come, for future generations, to remember all that was done," he said.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the memorial would "stand as a permanent reminder of the contribution and sacrifice that so many members of our Armed Forces, aid workers and civilian personnel made towards the security of the United Kingdom and the interests of Iraq and Afghanistan".Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said the memorial would "stand as a permanent reminder of the contribution and sacrifice that so many members of our Armed Forces, aid workers and civilian personnel made towards the security of the United Kingdom and the interests of Iraq and Afghanistan".
The Ministry of Defence said it honoured the duty and service of British citizens, including those who worked on the humanitarian side of operations.The Ministry of Defence said it honoured the duty and service of British citizens, including those who worked on the humanitarian side of operations.