Remembrance service to honour Iraq troops

A remembrance service will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral later this year to mark the end of Britain’s combat operations in Iraq.

The service, to be joined by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, will honour the members of the Armed Forces and civil servants who served in Iraq during the six year campaign, including the 179 who died.

Military personnel and families of those who fell will be among the guests at the service, to be held on 9 October, according to the BBC.

Britain formally declared an end to its military operations in Iraq in April. The last remaining British troops withdrew from Iraq earlier this month.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth said: "This service will provide an opportunity to remember the enormous contribution made by some 120,000 members of the UK Armed Forces and their civilian colleagues who have served in Iraq over six years.

"In particular it will be a time to remember the ultimate sacrifice made by those who died and who contributed to the greater peace and stability that exists in Iraq today."