Service To Remember British Troops Killed In Afghanistan

A memorial service to honour all British service personell who fought in Afghanisation takes place at St Paul's Cathedral in London today.

The Queen and Prime Minister will be among those paying tribute to the 453 British troops killed during the 13-year war, as well as the thousands seriously injured.

The service will also mark the end of combat operations in the country.

Major Andy Cooper, from the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, toured Afghanistan in 2012 and lost friends in the conflict. He told Viking FM:

"On my duty we lost both British and American troops, some I knew very well and were really close friends. It's difficult whilst you're there to deal with that but it's when you get back home that that is the time to grieve for them. They are always in our thoughts and we always think about them and they're one of the reasons why I feel that we had to do a good job whilst we were there, was in memory of them.

"It's not something you forget, it is difficult and when we are back in the UK and now that we are training soldiers for future conflicts and operations, we have to remember the reasons why we lost those men. It's helping to remember why they died and bringing it into the future for our guys aswell.

"It will be a very sad day for us in terms of the guys that we have lost but we've got to think of the good that we have brought to Afghanistan. As much as Afghanistan can be seen as a pretty lawless country, we've brought a lot of benefit both to the economy and also the political and military aspects of letting them govern themselves, which wasn't there when we went in."

Lance Corporal Chris Brant from the 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment toured Afghanistan back in 2011 and also lost friends out there. He told us:

"Going out to Afghanistan was very scary to begin with, not knowing what is going to come but then when you get into the routine then you can cope with it a lot more because you can predict what's coming. I think the toughest part of it was the build up to going out there but it's your families at home that struggle coping with that because you've got a job to do but they're not in the situation that you are in.

"There isn't a day that goes by that I dont think about certain people and my role out there. If anyone can just stop and think about what people and their families went though out there, that's all we ask and it is worth it.

"I think the role that we played out there has been beneficial to the Afghan government and the role that we played out there to hand over to the local population has been definitely worth it. What we are doing out there is training the local population to defend themselves against the armed groups that are out there."

Those who will be invited to the service, to be held at St Paul’s Cathedral, will include:

· senior government and military representatives; · representatives of other nations who formed part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan; · representatives from units in the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force that have served in Afghanistan, including Regular and Reserve; · veterans; · the Next of Kin of deceased Service personnel; and · representatives of Government, Non-Government Organisations and industries who have contributed to the UK’s efforts across Afghanistan during this time.

A parade made up of personnel who served in Afghanistan will take place after service, followed by a reception at Guildhall hosted by The City of London Corporation.

The Prime Minister made the announcement before the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions. He said:

“This is an opportunity for the country to pay tribute to the extraordinary contribution made by all those who served in Afghanistan over 13 years.

“Their mission has helped prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base to launch attacks on us here at home, and they have enabled Afghanistan to begin the task of looking after its own security in the years ahead.

“The whole country is right to be incredibly proud of our Armed Forces and all who served in Afghanistan.”

Following the announcement, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said,

“This is our opportunity to show the enormous gratitude we owe to all those who served in Afghanistan, and to salute the many acts of courage and sacrifice made by the thousands of men and women involved in the campaign.

“We owe a special debt to those who didn’t return and I hope that their family members are able to join us at the Service.”