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New memorial to all involved in Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts Queen to unveil Iraq and Afghanistan war memorial in London
(about 5 hours later)
A memorial honouring the contribution and sacrifice of thousands of UK servicemen and women, aid workers and civilian personnel during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be unveiled by the Queen on Thursday. A memorial honouring the contribution and sacrifice of thousands of UK service personnel, aid workers and civilians during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts will be unveiled by the Queen on Thursday.
The sculpture, by Paul Day, features two large stone monoliths supporting a bronze medallion and commemorates the twin themes of duty and service. It will be dedicated during a service for 2,500 guests in central London attended by representatives from the military, humanitarian organisations and senior royals, including Prince Charles and Afghanistan veteran Prince Harry.The sculpture, by Paul Day, features two large stone monoliths supporting a bronze medallion and commemorates the twin themes of duty and service. It will be dedicated during a service for 2,500 guests in central London attended by representatives from the military, humanitarian organisations and senior royals, including Prince Charles and Afghanistan veteran Prince Harry.
The sculpture, in Victoria Embankment Gardens next to the Ministry of Defence, cost £1m and was funded through donations.The sculpture, in Victoria Embankment Gardens next to the Ministry of Defence, cost £1m and was funded through donations.
It pays tribute to the 680 military personnel who lost their lives in the regions: 456 during Operation Herrick, the MoD codename for the war in Afghanistan, 179 in Operation Telic, the deployment to Iraq in the 2003 US-led invasion and 47 during the first Gulf war.It pays tribute to the 680 military personnel who lost their lives in the regions: 456 during Operation Herrick, the MoD codename for the war in Afghanistan, 179 in Operation Telic, the deployment to Iraq in the 2003 US-led invasion and 47 during the first Gulf war.
More than 300,000 military personnel were involved between 1990 and 2015. The memorial is also a permanent reminder of all British citizens who worked in areas such as aid distribution, education, healthcare, infrastructure and governance.More than 300,000 military personnel were involved between 1990 and 2015. The memorial is also a permanent reminder of all British citizens who worked in areas such as aid distribution, education, healthcare, infrastructure and governance.
It bears no names and gives equal prominence to the military and civilian, with the double-sided medallion bearing images of doctors, schools, wells and aid distribution.It bears no names and gives equal prominence to the military and civilian, with the double-sided medallion bearing images of doctors, schools, wells and aid distribution.
Among invited guests for the service of dedication on Horse Guards Parade are many who served.Among invited guests for the service of dedication on Horse Guards Parade are many who served.
Sgt Paul Stafford, 36, of the Royal Tank Regiment, made three tours of Iraq and two of Afghanistan, during which three members of his squadron were lost and many more injured. He said the power of the memorial was that it honoured everyone. Sgt Paul Stafford, 36, of the Royal Tank Regiment, completed three tours of Iraq and two of Afghanistan, during which three members of his squadron were lost and many more injured. He said the power of the memorial was that it honoured everyone.
“It’s the civilian organisations, the contractors sent to help, the Naafi [Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes] staff who served us milkshakes when we came in, which was one of the best things in the world when you have been there a few weeks,” said Stafford, who spent most of his time in Afghanistan away from the Camp Bastion HQ. A reservist nurse “saved one of our guys. It’s nice to remember that,” he said.“It’s the civilian organisations, the contractors sent to help, the Naafi [Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes] staff who served us milkshakes when we came in, which was one of the best things in the world when you have been there a few weeks,” said Stafford, who spent most of his time in Afghanistan away from the Camp Bastion HQ. A reservist nurse “saved one of our guys. It’s nice to remember that,” he said.
For Angie McDonnell, 43, a London paramedic and reservist who was posted to a patrol base in Lashkar Gah, the memorial brings back memories of patrols with the Warrior armoured vehicles along roads strewn with improvised explosive devices, treating local Afghans as well as British military. She said having a memorial in London that people could walk past and take the time to appreciate everybody who had given something was “a fantastic thing”.For Angie McDonnell, 43, a London paramedic and reservist who was posted to a patrol base in Lashkar Gah, the memorial brings back memories of patrols with the Warrior armoured vehicles along roads strewn with improvised explosive devices, treating local Afghans as well as British military. She said having a memorial in London that people could walk past and take the time to appreciate everybody who had given something was “a fantastic thing”.
McDonnell has just published Gun Shy, a book about a military dog called Vidar that she befriended on tour and brought back to London. She paid tribute to the vets, among others, who put themselves in danger.McDonnell has just published Gun Shy, a book about a military dog called Vidar that she befriended on tour and brought back to London. She paid tribute to the vets, among others, who put themselves in danger.
Mark Collins, 49, formerly a logistics officer with the RAF who works for the Royal British Legion, was seconded to the US marines. He was responsible for managing infrastructure – rebuilding roads and canals – and overseeing agricultural projects in Afghanistan, notably the Kajaki dam turbine 2 installation.Mark Collins, 49, formerly a logistics officer with the RAF who works for the Royal British Legion, was seconded to the US marines. He was responsible for managing infrastructure – rebuilding roads and canals – and overseeing agricultural projects in Afghanistan, notably the Kajaki dam turbine 2 installation.
He attended more than 20 US and UK military repatriations. “The memorial is an opportunity for people to reflect on the support given by people from all walks of life; servicemen and women, reservists and all those individuals that were UK based that flew in and out of theatre on a regular basis, and there is a lot of risk attached to that. All of those people have an opportunity to reflect, and there is somewhere to focus that reflection now.”He attended more than 20 US and UK military repatriations. “The memorial is an opportunity for people to reflect on the support given by people from all walks of life; servicemen and women, reservists and all those individuals that were UK based that flew in and out of theatre on a regular basis, and there is a lot of risk attached to that. All of those people have an opportunity to reflect, and there is somewhere to focus that reflection now.”
However, some relatives of soldiers killed have criticised organisers for failing to inform them about the event or issue invitations to all the bereaved families. Theresa May, was urged to apologise for what was described as a “careless oversight”.
The prime minister told parliament no one from the “bereaved community” would be turned away, adding that the MoD would make every effort to ensure relatives who wanted to attend were able to do so.
Wendy Rayner, whose husband, Sgt Peter Rayner, was killed during a routine patrol in Afghanistan in 2010, said the offer was “too little, too late”. Rayner, 45 from Bradford, said she would not be able to make the three-hour journey at such short notice.
She said: “I think it is cheeky to turn round and say: ‘Oh well, you can come now.’ I’m sorry but it’s too little, too late. They should have just apologised.”
Victoria Bateman, from Colchester, will be attending, having answered an email from the Army Widows’ Association, but described the belated invitation to other bereaved families as “a bit of a slap in the face”.
She said: “People have children, responsibilities, jobs. Many can’t just go with so little notice.”
Bateman, whose husband, L/Cpl James Bateman, was killed in Afghanistan in 2008, said the sister of a soldier who died alongside her husband had travelled to the service without an invitation.