The Basra Memorial Wall was rededicated today, 11 March 2010, in a poignant service at its new home in the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

The event was attended by almost 500 family members of the 178 UK Service personnel and one MOD civilian killed during Operation TELIC, the name given to UK operations in Iraq 2003-2009.

During the service, which opened with a flypast of Tornado GR4s, the Operation Telic Memorial Candle was lit and a poem - Where Your Ashes Kiss The Earth - was read by Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Brown who composed it while serving in Iraq.

Wreaths were laid on behalf of the nation, the Armed Forces and one by Brian Tanswell whose son Lieutenant Tom Tanswell was killed in 2006, on behalf of the families. A message of thanks from the people of Iraq was also read out.

Honoured to lay a wreath

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."

The Basra Memorial Wall was originally built outside the Headquarters of Multi-National Division (South East) in Basra in 2006 by members of 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron.

It is a monument to all UK Forces and coalition personnel who lost their lives on operations in Iraq from 2003-2009. The memorial was brought back to the UK in 2009 and subsequently rebuilt at the Arboretum.