Remembering the Iraq War – 15 Years On

In May, the Royal British Legion will remember the 15th anniversary of the end of the War in Iraq and honour the extraordinary service and sacrifice of the British Armed Forces in the Coalition.

RBL are hosting a daytime commemorative event here at the National Memorial Arboretum on the 15th anniversary of the end of Operation TELIC, remembering the lives lost and those affected and pay tribute to the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who served, from the initial invasion to the crucial rebuilding of Iraqi institutions and infrastructure.

The Arboretum will be open to the public on Friday 22 May, but some areas may be restricted. Whilst access to the commemorative event is by ticket only, allocated using the linked registration form, the event will be live transmitted to a large screen situated elsewhere in the Arboretum grounds.

We recommend members of the public book parking in advance to guarantee entry into the Arboretum on the day.

About the War in Iraq

Millions of words have been written, and the details debated, regarding the conflict: the history behind the invasion of Iraq; the efforts to stabilise the country; and the war’s legacy. What is not in dispute is the professionalism and dedication of the British Armed Forces during Operation TELIC.

Men and women of our Armed Forces joined the US-led Coalition in the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Within a month, and under extreme conditions, our forces achieved their immediate objectives while facing repeated and deadly opposition. UK forces were primarily responsible for securing provinces in southern Iraq, including the city of Basra.

Coalition forces then began stabilisation operations, but violence escalated across Iraq, as a growing insurgency turned into a sectarian civil war that would claim tens of thousands of lives. Military and civilian Coalition personnel and the Iraqis working with them were targeted. For six years they faced deadly hazards including roadside bombs, snipers and mortar and rocket attacks while on patrol and in barracks.

Amid this, British forces and partners were engaged in providing humanitarian aid, helping local communities and in the painstaking rebuilding and reconstruction of both civil society and the Iraqi military services, in often austere conditions.

By the end of 2008 the situation had stabilised, and British combat operations ended in 2009. Most personnel left Iraq, leaving behind a number who continued the training of the Iraqi military. The last British personnel departed on 22nd May 2009: Op TELIC was at an end.

The duty in Iraq came at a high cost. Tragically, 179 British Armed Forces personnel lost their lives in Op TELIC. Thousands more were wounded, many with life-changing physical injuries. Others experienced emotional or mental ill-health as a result of their service in Iraq.