The Basra Memorial Wall is a truly poignant monument to the 178 UK service personnel and one Ministry of Defence (MoD) civilian who lost their lives on combat operations in Iraq and also lists members of Coalition Forces who were killed whilst under UK command during six years of conflict.
The original memorial was built in Basra in 2006 and stood outside the front of the Head quarters of the Multi-National Division (South East). Following the end of operations, the Basra Memorial Wall was brought back to the UK and rebuilt. The original wall was built and dismantled, and the new wall constructed at the Arboretum by British soldiers from 37th Armoured Engineer Squadron in a personal gesture to commemorate their fallen comrades.
The brass plaques on this memorial are the originals place on the wall when it was in situ in BAsra, Iraq. The Plaques are cleaned twice a year; before the anniversary of the end of combat operations in Iraq and before Armistice, but in between they will be allowed to weather naturally. This will allow the detail on these original plaques to last for as long as possible for the benefit of future generations.*
*From the National Memorial Arboretum Guidebook Edition 4
Pathetic; especially the black words on the white plaque.
Were Blair not such a an incredible evil idiot – bastard sounds better? Well, never mind: bastard –, there would no one have felt the patriotic (haha) necessity of coming to think of erecting another of all these brazillions of memorials. No one of the above mentioned 179 plus x aggressors would have lost their life, nor would have uncounted Iraqi people, who obviously are nameless.
The peace of the night.
The memorials are not about the politicians or leaders. The memorials have been instigated/erected by those who have suffered or feel for those losses.
As to the black words on the white plaque… I think you have perhaps misunderstood the meaning of them.
And if we think about today and recent days the Iraqis (fanatical elements) are killing their own people (again), just so they can gain power… I hope their fellow kinsmen remember all the names of their casualties too.
Very probably it would have been wiser not to comment. However, the older I get the less time I do have to be diplomatic.
Anyway, CherryPie, herewith I promise I shan’t contribute any comments that could be considered vitriolic here, anymore.
Blessed be “Marvellous. Beautiful. Aww, soooo cute. I admire so much how . . ., etc. etc. etc. up til infinity. : )
And please, don’t let us discuss this anymore. It would be fruitless.
Again, the peace of the night.
You and I both think exactly the same about war. However we express our feelings in different ways.
The peace of the night to you too.
I promise to bring you some flowers soon
We always make it, hm? : )
Which is why I do like you so much.
We do
and the feeling is mutual 
I know our troops aren’t out there now, but what a parlous state things are in Iraq now, especially with the news of the last few days
The situation over there is extremely worrying at the moment. It has the potential to have wider consequences.
You have the heart
of a true historian, friend:)
thanks for sharing,
Jennifer
Thank you, Jennifer
Wow, how many memorials are there in this park?!
Over 200!
A little bit close to home as I now work with ex serviceman from this period who re -trained into other lines of work followed this conflict.
I know (and have worked alongside) men who served in that conflict too.