'British soldiers did not die in vain' in Iraq War, head of Army says

Personnel, veterans and members of the public have been paying their respects to the British personnel who lost their lives on Operation Telic in Iraq.

The head of the British Army has told the Sun newspaper that "British soldiers did not die in vain as we mark the 20th anniversary of the Iraq War".

General Sir Patrick Sanders has shared his own personal experiences in Iraq to mark 20 years since the start of Op Telic.

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The Chief of the General Staff described how the Baghdad he grew up in, in the 70s – due to his father being Defence Attaché – was "an amazing place to live".

However, when he returned to Iraq in 2007 as commander of 4th Battalion The Rifles it was a "very different place".

He noted in the article that a young Riflemen he had the privilege to command dubbed their base in Basra Palace "probably the worst palace in the world", mimicking the Carlsberg lager adverts of the time.

General Sir Patrick highlighted that he understands "why many veterans will remember it with mixed feelings".

He said: "It took me a long time to come back from what my regiment had been through.

"I went to some dark places. But, to my mind, to look back on Operation Telic – the name given to the British campaign in Iraq – gives us a unique opportunity."

The head of the Army believes that with "the benefit of hindsight also brings perspective", and he acknowledges the Iraq War anniversary as "a chance to remember what went right as well as what went wrong".

'Their sacrifice was not in vain'

General Sir Patrick noted that "having lived in Iraq before Saddam I knew how much the Iraqi people had suffered under his regime. And I knew how delighted they were that he had gone.

"Tough years followed. The flames of insurgency burned and, thanks to the late Sir John Chilcot, many lessons have been learned."

He added: "But we shouldn't forget the courage of our soldiers. I saw them learn. I saw them adapt. I saw their resilience and fighting spirit build – despite some very heavy hits."

He concluded by saying: "The Iraq war still provokes strong opinions. But today we put those debates to one side.

"Over eight years thousands were injured, many innocent Iraqis died and 179 British personnel paid the ultimate price. 

"Their sacrifice was not in vain," he added.

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