The Report
of the Iraq Inquiry
432.
AM Pocock told
the Inquiry that the process of securing funding for the
Memorial
illustrated
the difficulty of translating intent into action:
“Although
the political intent was perfectly clear, we were also told there
was going
to be no
public money for it. We were hoping to get some money from the
Lottery.
We did
eventually, after some strong support from newspapers caused the
Lottery
to change
the rules.
...
“We had the
designs, it was in The Queen’s diary to come and open it. We
actually
had to let
the contract but we didn’t have the money, and it wasn’t from lack
of effort
... I
remember going round embassies with a begging bowl and all sorts of
things,
but the
money just wasn’t forthcoming.
“The
difficulty we had in getting the guarantee from the department [the
MOD] was
immense. We
eventually did. We were able to build it.”294
433.
Both AM Pocock
and VAdm Wilkinson felt that the Memorial provided a
strong
focus for
remembrance. VAdm Wilkinson told the Inquiry:
“The focus
for recognition and remembrance that it [the Memorial] has provided
and
the source
of comfort to a number of bereaved families, it really is quite
remarkable,
perhaps,
that, as a nation, we didn’t have one before 2007.”295
434.
The Memorial
also provides a home for the Basra Memorial Wall. The wall
was
originally
built in 2006 outside the headquarters of Multi‑National Division
(South East) in
Basra by
members of 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron to commemorate those who
died
in or as a
result of action in Iraq.296
435.
PJHQ advised
Mr Browne’s Office in June 2007 that its “current intent” was
to
move the
Basra Memorial Wall (which comprised a collection of memorial
plaques from
the various
bases that UK forces had occupied) to the National Memorial
Arboretum
when UK
forces left Basra.297
436.
The Memorial
Wall was brought to the UK in April 2009, and was
re‑dedicated
294
Public
hearing, 19 July 2010, pages 59‑60.
295
Public
hearing, 19 July 2010, page 61.
296
British
Army website, 11 March 2010, Basra
Memorial Wall rededicated in moving service at its
new home.
297
Minute
Green to APS/Secretary of State [MOD], 29 June 2007, ‘Request from
Families of Dead Service
Personnel
to Visit Basra’.
298
BBC
News, 11 March
2010, Service to
rededicate Basra Memorial Wall.
150