Memorial Wall for UK Service personnel in Iraq dismantled
6 May 09
The Memorial Wall displaying the names of the 179 British Service personnel who died whilst on Operation TELIC has been dismantled brick-by-brick to be brought to the UK.
Members of 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron carefully dismantle the Memorial Wall
[Picture: Cpl Steven Hughes]
Sappers from 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron, based in Paderborn in Germany, have dismantled the Basra Memorial Wall which was built in 2006 and has stood tall outside the front of Headquarters Multi-National Division (South East) since.
It will now be moved back to the UK and elements of the wall will be used as part of a new memorial.
Major Andrew Garrow, 34, Officer Commanding 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron, said:
"Tonight we've got guys here taking down the Memorial Wall that was put here in front of Brigade and Divisional Headquarters so we can take it back to the UK to commemorate the deaths of all the soldiers during Operations TELIC one to thirteen."
A soldier from 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron carefully removes name plaques from the Basra Memorial Wall
[Picture: Cpl Steven Hughes]
"It's not my first TELIC and I've known people out here who have died; in fact there are names on the wall that I recognise. So it is very significant to myself and all the guys who are working on it. Taking all the plaques back to the UK is a great privilege and an honour."
Lance Corporal Karl Stevens, 23, 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron, was one of five bricklayers that built the wall on Operation TELIC 8 in 2006. He said:
"It's a privilege to be part of the wall's construction and de-construction, the lads who built it are very proud."
Members of 37 Armoured Engineer Squadron dismantling the Memorial Wall
[Picture: Cpl Steven Hughes]
The operation to dismantle the wall was done in several stages, with the first being removing the name plaques and carefully storing them. Stage two was to remove the marble tablet positioned in the centre of the wall, and stage three involved breaking the wall down in sections and packing the bricks ready for transport. At every stage the Royal Engineers worked with care and respect.
The Memorial Wall was built using 4,000 bricks; it took one week to build and just nine hours to dismantle. The ground on which the wall stood has been returned to its original state, leaving no trace that the wall was present.