Ex-CGS Sanders proud to march with new Afghan veterans group at Remembrance

The former head of the Army has spoken of his pride at taking his place in the newly formed Afghanistan Veterans Community in the Remembrance Sunday parade just months after he retired from the top role.

The group was founded this year to mark 10 years since the end of Operation Herrick and combat operations in the country.

Wearing a desert shemagh along with his medals and bowler hat, General Sir Patrick Sanders told BFBS Forces News it was an honour to march alongside fellow veterans of that campaign, describing the parade as "the biggest and best reunion in the world".

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Gen Sir Patrick said: "I'm super proud because this is the first year the Afghan Veterans Community has formed up and marching as a contingent and it’s worth remembering there's 150,000 of us who served in Afghanistan.

"It's the largest deployment of British forces since the Second World War.

"We represent every service, all the civil servants, and everyone who served there. It's an honour to be there.

"I'll be remembering people that didn't make it back that I served with, friends, and I do that every year, and say a prayer for them.

"Not a day goes by you don't think of them, but it's particularly poignant today."

Also taking part in the parade were the founders of the UK Afghanistan Veterans Community, Matthew Mallett and Johnny Ball, who explained the significance of the occasion. 

Mr Ball said: "It's the first time in the history of our country that the Afghanistan Veterans Community would be forming up at a contingent, taking our place at the Cenotaph for the very first time.

"Our contingent represents 150,000 members who served in Afghanistan.

"Getting these people together as a community is really quite powerful."

Defence Secretary John Healey, speaking to BFBS Forces News, also hailed the significance of the Afghanistan veterans.

"We remember in particular the 457 who lost their lives in Afghanistan and the many families that have been bereaved because of that," he said.