National service of commemoration to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan
The Prime Minister has announced that a service of commemoration will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral on 13 March, followed by a parade.
The Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan has been awarded to all personnel who completed 30 days or more deployed to the country.
A service of commemoration, attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, will be held to mark the end of combat operations in Afghanistan, and to honour the contribution of all those in the UK who worked from 2001 to 2014 to make the country safer and more stable.
Those who will be invited to the service, 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, both Regular and Reserve
- veterans
- the next of kin of deceased Service personnel
- 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 the service, followed by a reception at Guildhall hosted by The City of London Corporation.
Royal Marines from Alpha Company, 40 Commando take part in an operation to disrupt insurgent activity in the Nahr-e-Saraj district in December 2012. [Picture: PO Terry Seward, Royal Navy. Crown Copyright]
The Prime Minister made the announcement before the House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions today. 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.
Personnel based at Kandahar Air Field head back to the UK on a Royal Air Force C17 Globemaster aircraft in November 2014. [Picture: Corporal Andrew Morris, RAF. Crown Copyright]
Various groups connected to the operation will be invited to attend the service. Invitations for Armed Forces personnel and for the next of kin of deceased Service personnel will be issued in February via the single Services.
The Ministry of Defence has also obtained LIBOR funding to assist with the travel and subsistence of the next of kin of deceased Service personnel plus one guest, in order to attend the Service of Commemoration. Their respective single Service representatives will co-ordinate this.
It is customary following a combat operation for those who served to be honoured with a service of commemoration. Previous services include those for Operation Telic (Iraq) in 2009, and Operation Banner (Northern Ireland) in 2008. A service to dedicate the Bastion Memorial Wall, which was brought back from Afghanistan last year, will be held later in the year.
Further information will be available on GOV.UK in due course.