Post by Salem6 on Oct 10, 2003 10:14:11 GMT
Relatives of the 51 British troops killed in Iraq have gathered for a service of remembrance at St Paul's Cathedral.
Less than half of British personnel killed died in combat
They have been joined by senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and the Queen, the government and the armed forces.
Some of the families fear their loved ones may have died in vain and called on the prime minister to stay away from the service.
Unlike after previous conflicts, there will be no victory parade or military march past.
Ending tyranny
The emphasis of the service, which is being attended by 2,000 people, including Tony Blair and the Archbishop of Canterbury, is on remembrance.
When details of the national event to mark the war were announced in July, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said it would give thanks for the role UK forces played in ending tyranny in Iraq.
"Let him (Tony Blair) see the misery that his decision to go to war has caused" Reg Keys, Father of dead serviceman
British casualties in Iraq
But such sentiments are not reflected in the order of service, says BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt.
There will be prayers for all those who were killed, British and Iraqi alike.
Peter Brierley said his son Shaun, who was killed in March, justified the war because Saddam Hussein had been removed.
"As far as he would have been concerned the job was done," he told BBC One's Breakfast programme.
"This is a chance for the whole nation to pay tribute to all the soldiers who died in Iraq."
Some family members have complained they would have liked to have seen more military involvement in the service.
Guard of honour
Pam Flintcroft, of the Gulf Families Support Network, said: "There should be less political presence and more military presence.
"As a sign of respect they should have had a guard of honour.
"The families have lost out and the servicemen still in Iraq have lost out."
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman told BBC News Online a victory parade would not have been appropriate.
She said: "We did not win a victory over the Iraqi people, we removed a regime which was oppressing them.
"We are now working in partnership with the Iraqis to secure a better future."
Helicopter crash
Reg Keys, of north Wales, whose son Tom died alongside five other military policeman six weeks after the end of hostilities, believes the war was illegal and is bitter that Mr Blair is attending the service.
"Let him see the faces of misery (of) the 51 families there," he said.
"Let him see the tears rolling down the cheeks of these people because there will be tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Let him see the misery that his decision to go to war has caused. Give the man a front seat but I won't sit next to him."
'Friendly fire'
According to Ministry of Defence figures, 21 of the 51 soldiers who have died were killed in action.
Nineteen died in accidents, and five in cases of so-called "friendly fire".
A further four died of natural causes, while two deaths are still under investigation.
BRITISH MILITARY DEATHS IN IRAQ
51 British troops have died
21 were killed in combat
19 died in accidents
Five troops were killed by 'friendly fire'
Four died of natural causes
Two deaths are under investigation
There was a rash of deaths following the outbreak of hostilities on 20 March.
Eight British and four American troops died on 21 March when a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed in Kuwait, just a few miles south of the Iraqi border.
The next day six British air crew died when two Sea King helicopters collided above HMS Ark Royal.
Over the next four days, six men died - four in "friendly fire" incidents.
Three soldiers died in a British assault on Basra on 7 April, but their deaths were followed by a lull in casualties following the declared end of major combat on 1 May and for much of June.
On 24 June six Royal Military Policemen were killed by an angry crowd following weapons searches in Majar al-Kabir and a series of deaths from hostile fire have followed.
Less than half of British personnel killed died in combat
They have been joined by senior members of the Royal Family, including Prince Charles and the Queen, the government and the armed forces.
Some of the families fear their loved ones may have died in vain and called on the prime minister to stay away from the service.
Unlike after previous conflicts, there will be no victory parade or military march past.
Ending tyranny
The emphasis of the service, which is being attended by 2,000 people, including Tony Blair and the Archbishop of Canterbury, is on remembrance.
When details of the national event to mark the war were announced in July, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said it would give thanks for the role UK forces played in ending tyranny in Iraq.
"Let him (Tony Blair) see the misery that his decision to go to war has caused" Reg Keys, Father of dead serviceman
British casualties in Iraq
But such sentiments are not reflected in the order of service, says BBC royal correspondent Peter Hunt.
There will be prayers for all those who were killed, British and Iraqi alike.
Peter Brierley said his son Shaun, who was killed in March, justified the war because Saddam Hussein had been removed.
"As far as he would have been concerned the job was done," he told BBC One's Breakfast programme.
"This is a chance for the whole nation to pay tribute to all the soldiers who died in Iraq."
Some family members have complained they would have liked to have seen more military involvement in the service.
Guard of honour
Pam Flintcroft, of the Gulf Families Support Network, said: "There should be less political presence and more military presence.
"As a sign of respect they should have had a guard of honour.
"The families have lost out and the servicemen still in Iraq have lost out."
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman told BBC News Online a victory parade would not have been appropriate.
She said: "We did not win a victory over the Iraqi people, we removed a regime which was oppressing them.
"We are now working in partnership with the Iraqis to secure a better future."
Helicopter crash
Reg Keys, of north Wales, whose son Tom died alongside five other military policeman six weeks after the end of hostilities, believes the war was illegal and is bitter that Mr Blair is attending the service.
"Let him see the faces of misery (of) the 51 families there," he said.
"Let him see the tears rolling down the cheeks of these people because there will be tears rolling down my cheeks.
"Let him see the misery that his decision to go to war has caused. Give the man a front seat but I won't sit next to him."
'Friendly fire'
According to Ministry of Defence figures, 21 of the 51 soldiers who have died were killed in action.
Nineteen died in accidents, and five in cases of so-called "friendly fire".
A further four died of natural causes, while two deaths are still under investigation.
BRITISH MILITARY DEATHS IN IRAQ
51 British troops have died
21 were killed in combat
19 died in accidents
Five troops were killed by 'friendly fire'
Four died of natural causes
Two deaths are under investigation
There was a rash of deaths following the outbreak of hostilities on 20 March.
Eight British and four American troops died on 21 March when a CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter crashed in Kuwait, just a few miles south of the Iraqi border.
The next day six British air crew died when two Sea King helicopters collided above HMS Ark Royal.
Over the next four days, six men died - four in "friendly fire" incidents.
Three soldiers died in a British assault on Basra on 7 April, but their deaths were followed by a lull in casualties following the declared end of major combat on 1 May and for much of June.
On 24 June six Royal Military Policemen were killed by an angry crowd following weapons searches in Majar al-Kabir and a series of deaths from hostile fire have followed.