Basra Memorial Wall rededication
11 March 2010
The Basra Memorial Wall was rededicated today in a poignant service at its new home in the National Memorial Arboretum. The event was attended by almost 500 family members of the 178 UK personnel and one MoD civilian killed during Operation Telic, the name given to UK operations in Iraq from 2003 to 2009.
They were joined by HRH The Duke of Gloucester, Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell, Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup, Service chiefs, and representatives of the main political parties as well as families from Denmark, Italy, Romania and the Netherlands, representing some of the coalition personnel from nations also honoured on the wall.
The service commenced with a flypast over the wall of four Tornado GR4 aircraft from 31 Squadron based at RAF Marham.
Mrs Tracey Hazel, whose son Corporal Ben Leaning, The Queen’s Royal Lancers, was killed on 19 April 2007, lit the Operation Telic Memorial Candle. Mrs Hazel originally lit the candle at the service at St Paul's Cathedral last October. The candle was placed at the foot of the memorial for the duration of the service and will be moved to the Memorial Chapel at the Arboretum after the service.
A poem "Where your ashes kiss the earth" was read by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Brown who composed it while serving in Iraq.
Following the rededication ceremony a minute's silence took place. Wreaths were laid at the memorial on behalf of the nation, the Armed Forces and the families. The family wreath was laid by Mr Brian Tanswell whose son, Lt Tom Tanswell RA, was killed in Iraq in 2006. Wreaths were also laid by representatives of other nations whose personnel are remembered on the wall.
A BBC video report on the rebuilding of the wall and the service can be viewed here.
The original memorial was built in Basra in 2006 and stood outside the front of the Headquarters of the Multi-National Division (South East). Following the end of combat operations in April 2009, the wall was dismantled and returned to Britain. It has been re-erected at the Arboretum, close to the Armed Forces Memorial.
The Arboretum is Britain's year-round centre of Remembrance; a spiritually uplifting place which honours the fallen and recognises suffering and sacrifice. Part of The Royal British Legion family of charities, it contains 50,000 maturing trees and 160 memorials, and attracts around 300,000 visitors per year.
Speaking after the service, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "Today we paid tribute to those who gave their lives in Iraq on behalf of the nation and in order to provide Iraqis with a better life. This memorial, set in this Arboretum of Remembrance, is a fitting monument to their sacrifice."
Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup laid a wreath on behalf of the Armed Forces. He said: "This memorial was built in Iraq by Service personnel in memory of their fallen comrades. It now stands before us, here in the UK, as a focal point for family, friends, the Armed Forces and the nation as a whole. It represents the commitment, bravery and sacrifice of our Service men and women; it is a symbol of what they gave, and of the debt that this country owes them and their families."
Brian Tanswell, who laid the family wreath said: "I spearheaded the campaign to bring the Basra Memorial Wall to the UK, and through that contacted many families who, like myself, lost someone who meant everything to them in Iraq. I feel honoured to lay the wreath on their behalf, and take comfort from knowing this memorial is here for us, in its rightful place in the UK, an everlasting tribute to our loved ones, where families, friends and comrades can come and remember them."
Chief Executive of the National Memorial Arboretum, Charlie Bagot-Jewitt, said: "Many of our memorials provide a way for the Nation to acknowledge its fallen men and women. The Basra Memorial Wall is different as it was conceived, built and maintained by the colleagues of those that died. As a result, it has assumed an even greater poignancy. The Arboretum will be a fitting home for the wall."
Basra Memorial Wall, Poppy Appeal 2008
Where possible, the new Basra Memorial Wall incorporates elements of the original structure that stood in Iraq. The central marble tablet, which was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen at a service at St Paul's Cathedral last October commemorating UK operations in Iraq 2003-2009, will form the centrepiece of the wall.
All of the brass plaques which will hang on the wall – each one listing a life – are the plaques from the original wall. Unfortunately the bricks used in the original construction cannot withstand the UK weather conditions, so instead they have been used to form the foundations and core of the wall, while the outside has been faced in marble.
For further information please contact: Andrew Baud, andrew.baud@talapr.co.uk or 07775 715775 or visit the NMA's website at www.thenma.org.uk
A video report of the event is available below (hosted on the Legion's YouTube channel).
