Remembering Afghanistan: Veterans and loved ones gather to honour service and sacrifice

The thousands of trees at the RBL National Remembrance Gardens (formerly the National Memorial Arboretum) were being blown this way and that by Storm Boelo, as several hundred veterans gathered in front of the Bastion Memorial.

They were joined by families who had lost loved ones during Britain's 20-year campaign in Afghanistan. 

The remembrance service was organised by the UK Afghanistan Veterans Community, which was formed in 2024 and represents 150,000 UK Armed Forces personnel, plus civil servants and families.

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Prayers were said before wreaths were laid.

Never forgotten

Former Staff Sergeant Jonny Ball is co-founder of the Afghanistan Veterans Community and explained that it's vital events like this are held.

"From our own research for the community, we identified that 92% of our veterans fear that remembering Afghanistan will be forgotten, and we simply cannot allow that to happen.

"So, every year, we come here, gather from all four corners of the UK, and remember Afghanistan."

Matthew Mallett is also a co-founder of the organisation, who told me: "We mustn't forget that some people are still suffering from the campaign in Afghanistan.

"You know, it's a 20-year protracted campaign, some wounds you can't see, and each individual journey of recovery and remembrance is different and will reflect those.

"But it's important that we give people those forums and those opportunities to come together on days like today to collectively remember, and also remember as individuals."

It has been five years since the last British personnel were quickly brought out of Afghanistan in Operation Pitting. 

Veterans and People Minister Calvin Bailey was part of that mission when he was in the RAF, and attended the Remembering Afghanistan service.  

"I remember the moments when things became difficult and when you could turn to those around you and share that difficulty and know that they would be there with you to get you through it," he explained.

In total, 457 British military personnel paid the ultimate sacrifice during the Afghanistan campaign, with many more living with life-changing injuries, both physical and mental.

The youngest veterans are just 23, while the oldest are in their 70s.