The national commemorative event will remember the 179 Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives, the more than 6,000 injured, and their families and the bereaved00:01, 22 May 2026The Royal British Legion is paying tribute to all who served during the Iraq War today - to mark 15 years since the end of the conflict.‌The national commemorative event will remember the 179 Armed Forces personnel who lost their lives in Operation TELIC, the more than 6,000 who were injured, and their families and the bereaved.‌Around 1,500 members of the Armed Forces community are expected to attend the service - Remembering Iraq: 15 Years On - being held at the National Memorial Arboretum. It will feature wreath laying, readings, a Service of Remembrance and a flypast by a Chinook helicopter.‌READ MORE: 'It could have been me' says ex-soldier honouring fallen comrades on 15th anniversary of Iraq warREAD MORE: Iraqi militia chief charged with antisemitic terror attacks in UK boasted that 'this war will not end'The event will be attended by the Rt Hon John Healey MP, Secretary of State for Defence, and hosted by former ITV News war correspondent Bill Neely, who reported extensively from the frontline. It will also include performances from mezzo-soprano Laura Wright and US singer Will Brown.WO1 Johnson Beharry VC, the first living recipient of the Victoria Cross in more than 30 years, was awarded the nation’s highest military honour for extraordinary bravery in Iraq in 2004.‌On two separate occasions, despite suffering devastating injuries himself, he drove his Warrior armoured vehicle through relentless enemy fire to rescue fellow soldiers trapped under attack, refusing to leave his comrades behind.Speaking ahead of reading the Exhortation at today’s service, he said: “It means a huge amount to stand here today and remember the men and women I served beside in Iraq, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice and never came home.‌“Not a day goes by when many of us don’t think about those moments, the friendships, the fear, the courage, and the lives forever changed by that conflict.“For myself and all veterans, being here today with the RBL is deeply emotional because it shows that our service, and the sacrifices made by our families as well as those on the frontline, have not been forgotten.“So many carried the weight of Iraq long after returning home. To see our generation recognised alongside those who served in conflicts before us is incredibly powerful and something that means more than words can really express.”‌Also attending is Anna-Marie McDonald, who was just seven years old when her father, Private Joseva Lewaicei, was killed in Iraq. Joseva Lewaicei, known as Lewi, was the first Fijian to join the Royal Anglian Regiment.On 13th May 2006, Lewi and Private Adam Morris were on a routine patrol when a roadside IED detonated by their vehicle. Anna recalls, “I went to answer the door and all I saw in front of me were two police officers and a man in a suit.”‌After her father’s death, the Armed Forces community became family, with the Royal Anglian Regiment sponsoring Anna to attend the Royal Hospital School in Ipswich, near the regiment HQ.The current President of the Royal British Legion Suffolk County, George Watson, looked after Anna whenever she couldn’t return home in the school holidays. She said: “He became a father figure for me.‌Anna, now 27, said she was proud to be doing a reading at the service: “The Armed Forces community is the only community I know, and something I hold very close to my heart."Events like these mean a lot to me – to be able to reconnect with my father through the shared experiences of those he served with is very special. I’m standing on stage today not only for my father, but all those who never made it home.”Dr Ziaur Rahman, 51, from London, was a Westminster Dragoon reservist with the Royal Yeomanry. Ziaur remembers daily rocket attacks, freezing nighttime rain and sleeping in breezeblock ‘coffins’.‌Years later, he was diagnosed with PTSD and chronic pain overlapping several musculoskeletal issues. He reached out to the Royal British Legion who helped him to access Personal Independent Payments, providing the stability he needed to restart his career after a period of being unable to work.He said: “The Royal British Legion was there for me when I needed guidance at a really difficult point in my life. Today, the RBL continues to show that they understand what many veterans and families continue to carry.‌“Having a commemorative event for the Iraq War makes it feel like a part of history, which is something I haven’t really felt before. It’s helped me think, perhaps clearly for the first time, ‘yes, I did serve’, I can stand tall and say ‘we did our part,’ and this is being recognised.”Mark Atkinson, Director General at the Royal British Legion said: “Fifteen years on from the end of Operation TELIC, we are proud to bring the Armed Forces community and the nation together to recognise and remember the service and sacrifice of all those who served in Iraq.Article continues below“Today’s event honours not only those who lost their lives, but also the families who continue to live with the lasting impact of conflict. For many veterans, the effects of service can emerge long after they leave the Armed Forces, whether physical, psychological or financial. The Royal British Legion remains here for the Iraq generation and their loved ones, whatever the need, whenever it’s needed.“As the nation’s year-round place to remember, the National Memorial Arboretum provides a fitting setting for this commemoration, helping us to ensure Remembrance remains relevant and meaningful for today’s society and future generations.”