Royal British Legion announces national event in Staffordshire to mark 15 years since the Iraq War

The Royal British Legion (RBL) is today calling on service personnel and veterans of the Iraq War to come forward and register for an event at the National Memorial Arboretum commemorating 15 years since the end of the conflict.

The event, on May 22, will pay tribute to those who served in the Iraq War and recognise and honour the 179 British Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives, the 6,000 who were injured, and their families, and the bereaved.

British Armed Forces joined the US-led Coalition in Iraq, named Operation TELIC, in March 2003. In the years that followed until its conclusion in May 2011, violence escalated as a growing insurgency developed into sectarian conflict. British personnel, alongside Coalition partners and Iraqi colleagues, faced constant threats including roadside bombs, snipers and rocket attacks, both on patrol and in barracks.

Mark Atkinson, Director General of the Royal British Legion, said: “The Royal British Legion is proud to be bringing our community together on the 15th anniversary of the end of Operation TELIC, to remember the service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces and their families during and after the Iraq conflict.

“We will be paying tribute to the 179 British personnel who lost their lives, recognising the never-ending loss of those they left behind. We will also be recognising the lasting impact the Iraq War has had on veterans and their families, particularly those who came back with life-changing injuries and trauma.

“This is an opportunity for people to come together. Experiences of modern conflict, such as Iraq, can be complex and difficult to talk about, and many people are only just coming to us now for help. The RBL is here to provide life-long support to the Armed Forces Community, whatever the need, whenever it’s needed.” 

While under continuous threat in Iraq, UK forces worked to provide humanitarian support, assist local communities and contribute to the rebuilding of civil society and Iraqi security forces, often in challenging conditions. The RBL is supporting many Iraq veterans still living with the impact of conflict, including mental and physical recovery programmes, help with finances, housing, debt, money advice, and adapting from military to civilian life.

Army veteran Chris Brogan, 45, from Kent, was deployed to Iraq with the Royal Corps of Signals just three days after his son was born, which he described as “incredibly tough” for him and his wife. Chris now suffers from Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) after witnessing so much suffering:

“I have both good and bad memories from Iraq – a highlight being transmitting the final combat message out of Iraq, prior to the handover. However, witnessing the humanitarian suffering, dismembered bodies, being subjected to daily mortar and rocket attacks, and being shot at, all took their toll on me both mentally, with the PTSD, and physically – my hearing loss resulting in the need for hearing aids at the age of 45. These have had a profound impact on my life.

“Having the opportunity to come together and reflect with other people who were there is so important, and I think it’s great that the Royal British Legion is hosting an event to honour those who served in Iraq – we must remember the sacrifices made by those who never came back.” 

Army veteran John Devlin, 36, from Liverpool, was just 18 when he deployed to Iraq with 2 Lancs (Kings) Regiment: “It was torture, the worst experience of my life, I was only a young boy. I remember a mate from my regiment got killed just before I was due to land, and he’d only been there four days.”

John was part of a search team looking for Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) as part of a Quick Reaction Force. He said:“We were sent to recover a broken-down vehicle when a sniper hit me, leaving me with a six-inch scar across my shoulder. An inch to the left or a few inches lower would have been fatal.”

Life didn’t get easier for John after he left the Army: “I know I’d be dead without the RBL. I’d started having flashbacks and nightmares, one was so real I tried to jump out of a window. I went to the RBL for an assessment, and they sent me to a doctor who diagnosed me in less than an hour: severe PTSD. I started getting help then, because I was literally about to die.

“I still struggle to face Remembrance Day, but I know the RBL’s event in May will be really special – being together with others who have similar experiences and understand what we all went through gives me comfort.” 

Veterans, service personnel, families and the bereaved are encouraged to register their interest to attend the RBL’s event - Remembering Iraq 15 years on - at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire by  April 12. To sign up, visit the RBL’s website, rbl.org.uk