The Report of the Iraq Inquiry

Memorial services

421.  In late March 2003, No.10 asked the MOD for advice on how Mr Blair should

honour UK Service Personnel killed on Op TELIC, including whether there should be

a ceremony or function to commemorate deceased Service Personnel.282

422.  The MOD responded to No.10 on 27 March, advising that it would be appropriate

for a ceremony to be held after the conflict concluded.283 The MOD intended that the

ceremony “would give the Prime Minister and the Government the opportunity to honour

the efforts of the Services, and their dead”.284

423.  Mr Hoon informed Parliament on 17 July that there would be a “national service

of remembrance and thanksgiving for the campaign in Iraq”.285

424.  The service took place on 10 October 2003 at St Paul’s Cathedral.286 The service

was attended by the families of the 51 British Service Personnel who had, at that time,

lost their lives in the campaign. They were joined by members of the Royal Family

including Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh,

Government Ministers including Mr Blair, and senior military officers.

425.  Baroness Symons, joint FCO/Department of Trade and Industry Minister of State

for International Trade and Investment, wrote to Mr Hoon shortly after the service.287

She had spent her time speaking to bereaved families, and reported from those

conversations that:

• There was a generally positive reaction to how they had been informed of their

loss (although two families had heard through the media), and to the subsequent

support from the VO.

• A number of families felt that they had been “ignored” in the design and conduct

of the service.

• All families appreciated the presence of The Queen and the Royal Family at

the service.

426.  Mr Hoon’s Private Office wrote to Mr Rycroft on 14 November advising that

feedback from families had been “overwhelmingly positive”.288 There had been a great

282  Minute Gibson to APS/Secretary of State [MOD], 27 March 2003, ‘Request from No.10: letters for

the families of the bereaved and memorial ceremony’.

283  Letter Williams to Cannon, 27 March 2003, ‘Recognition of Armed Forces personnel who died on

operations’.

284  Minute MOD [junior official] to APS/Secretary of State [MOD], 27 March 2003, ‘Request from No.10:

Letters for the families of the bereaved and memorial’.

285  House of Commons, Official Report, 17 July 2003, column 72WS.

286  BBC News, 10 October 2003, Service honours Iraq war dead.

287  Letter Symons to Hoon, 13 October 2003, ‘Service for Iraq: Friday October 10, 2003’.

288  Letter Davies to Rycroft, 14 November 2003, ‘Iraq: service of remembrance and reception 10 October –

feedback’.

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