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| Prince Harry hails fallen at Bastion Memorial service | Prince Harry hails fallen at Bastion Memorial service |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prince Harry said those who lost their lives during the Afghanistan conflict will be "forever in our hearts" as he unveiled a memorial to their sacrifice. | Prince Harry said those who lost their lives during the Afghanistan conflict will be "forever in our hearts" as he unveiled a memorial to their sacrifice. |
| The Bastion Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, bears the names of all 453 UK personnel who died in Afghanistan. | The Bastion Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, bears the names of all 453 UK personnel who died in Afghanistan. |
| He told their family and friends during the service of dedication that it would be a "place of pilgrimage" for them. | He told their family and friends during the service of dedication that it would be a "place of pilgrimage" for them. |
| Some 3,500 people, including Prime Minister David Cameron, attended. | Some 3,500 people, including Prime Minister David Cameron, attended. |
| 'Take comfort' | 'Take comfort' |
| Military representatives, military charities and organisations, the UK's Nato allies and other senior politicians were also present. | Military representatives, military charities and organisations, the UK's Nato allies and other senior politicians were also present. |
| A one-minute silence was observed during the service in memory of those lost. | A one-minute silence was observed during the service in memory of those lost. |
| The memorial, which replicates the design of the original memorial wall in Camp Bastion, was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a commemoration service at St Paul's Cathedral in March. | The memorial, which replicates the design of the original memorial wall in Camp Bastion, was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury at a commemoration service at St Paul's Cathedral in March. |
| Harry said it "reflected the spirit of the old one" | |
| The prince laid a wreath of poppies, with the message: "The fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sister named on this memorial, will forever be in our thoughts and prayers, as are those who miss them so dearly." | |
| Harry said: "As we sit here amongst friends, we can take comfort in the knowledge that they gave their lives doing a job they loved, for a country they loved, and amongst mates who loved them dearly." | Harry said: "As we sit here amongst friends, we can take comfort in the knowledge that they gave their lives doing a job they loved, for a country they loved, and amongst mates who loved them dearly." |
| He added: "Once this ceremony is ended and all the trappings of the day have been cleared away, this will become a place of pilgrimage, a quiet space for remembrance just as it was in Camp Bastion, all those miles away." | He added: "Once this ceremony is ended and all the trappings of the day have been cleared away, this will become a place of pilgrimage, a quiet space for remembrance just as it was in Camp Bastion, all those miles away." |
| Harry leaves the Army this month after a 10-year career, having action in Afghanistan twice - most recently in 2012, when he served as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner. | Harry leaves the Army this month after a 10-year career, having action in Afghanistan twice - most recently in 2012, when he served as an Apache helicopter co-pilot and gunner. |
| UK's Afghanistan toll | UK's Afghanistan toll |
| See the full list of those who died in Afghanistan here. | See the full list of those who died in Afghanistan here. |
| The foundations of the memorial incorporates material from the original wall, with the brass plaques from the original memorial brought back from Afghanistan to be encased within the new granite structure. | The foundations of the memorial incorporates material from the original wall, with the brass plaques from the original memorial brought back from Afghanistan to be encased within the new granite structure. |
| It also features a cross made of shell casings from the original structure, Afghan pebble chippings and the last union flag to fly over the memorial at Camp Bastion. | |
| UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which invaded Afghanistan and toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. | UK forces were part of a US-led coalition which invaded Afghanistan and toppled the ruling Taliban in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the US. |
| At the peak of the 13-year campaign the UK military had 9,500 troops and 137 bases in Helmand Province. | At the peak of the 13-year campaign the UK military had 9,500 troops and 137 bases in Helmand Province. |
| The UK ended its operations in Afghanistan in October, while Nato finished its mission in December. | The UK ended its operations in Afghanistan in October, while Nato finished its mission in December. |