Ministry of Defence
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Armed Conflicts Memorial dedicated at Westminster Abbey
An Armed Conflicts Memorial was dedicated at Westminster Abbey today in the presence of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal. The memorial honours those who have been killed in conflict zones since the end of the Second World War.
Situated in the south cloister of the historic Abbey, the memorial commemorates Service personnel, both regular and reserve, and members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and the Merchant Navy killed while in support of the Armed Forces. It is in the form of an integral metal plaque and inscribed with the words:
"Remember the men and women of the Armed and Auxiliary Forces who lost their lives in times and places of conflict since The Second World War."
Surrounding the plaque in stone are the words "Today - Tomorrow - Forever".
Defence Secretary John Hutton, who attended the service, said:
"This memorial provides a focus in London for those killed in conflict since the end of the Second World War. It is only right that the sacrifices made by those serving their country are remembered in such a historic location."
Attending the service were Defence Ministers and Chiefs, 400 Service personnel from the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan and the families of those who have lost their lives.
HRH The Princess Royal gave a reading, along with sixteen year old Kelly Thompson, the youngest daughter of the late Senior Aircraftman Gary Thompson Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment, killed in April 2008 in Afghanistan. Kelly attended the service with her mother and four sisters, and said:
"It is a great honour to take part in the service today. I think this memorial is a lovely way to remember those who have given their lives. My dad was so supportive of his family and I know he would have wanted me to take part. He loved the Armed Forces and this is a great tribute to him and all those who have lost their lives in conflict."
Following the service, there will be a House of Lords hosted reception in the Royal Gallery, Palace of Westminster to recognise the efforts of Service personnel in recent conflicts. This will be attended by HRH The Princess Royal.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
1. The Abbey memorial complements the main Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire, and will provide a focus in London for remembrance of post-war conflict.
2. The Memorial was created by Tom Phillips and the overall covering given to the metal words is made from earth gathered world-wide from various sites of conflict. These date from 1066 via Agincourt, the Somme, and onwards to the present day.
3. The final elements of the Memorial project are the Rolls of Honour for members of our Armed Forces who have died in Service since the Second World War. They will be placed in the Service churches of London, St Martins-in-the-Fields for the Royal Navy and the Chapel of The Royal Hospital Chelsea for the Army. They will complement the existing Rolls of Honour for the Royal Air Forces in the Church of St Clement Danes.
4. For further information, contact Vicky Beacon, Defence PR and Events, 07876 477793, 020 7218 6162, vicky.beacon625@mod.uk or Tom Callagher, Defence PR and Events, 07500 121264, 020 7218 0341, tom.callagher880@mod.uk.
