MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (89/2008) issued by The Government News Network on 22
May 2008
A commemorative
service was held today at the magnificent Armed Forces Memorial at
the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. It marked the
efforts of more than 100,000 members of UK Armed Forces in Bosnia
and Herzegovina over their 15 year deployment, paying tribute to
those who did not return.
The service was attended by HRH The Princess Michael of Kent,
Minister of State for the Armed Forces Bob Ainsworth, Chief of the
General Staff General Sir Richard Dannatt, and Bosnia and
Herzegovina Defence Minister Mr Selmo Cikotic.
Also present were hundreds of veterans from across the UK, and
the families and friends of those who paid the ultimate price in
bringing greater peace and stability to a country once ravaged by
a bitter civil war.
Wreaths were laid inside the Memorial on behalf of HRH Princess
Michael of Kent, the Government and Armed Forces of the UK, and
the Government and people of Bosnia and Herzegovina. During the
wreath laying Vedran Smailovic, the "Cellist of
Sarajevo", played a musical tribute to the UK personnel and
their efforts to help his country. Vedran famously played his
cello for 22 consecutive days in Sarajevo in 1992 to honour the
deaths of 22 civilians who were killed when queuing for bread
during the bombing and shelling of the city.
Chief of the General Staff and Bosnia veteran General Sir Richard
Dannatt, opened the Service and said:
"The United Kingdom's contribution to the operation in
Bosnia was not only vital but has led to considerable success. We
were part of a unified international effort which resulted in the
negotiation of the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995 - an agreement
that has endured and set the political and military framework for
that country ever since. The British Army, on the ground and in
the air, helped to create a safe and secure environment. The Royal
Air Force established the No Fly zone and the Sarajevo Air Bridge,
and the Royal Navy contributed to the maritime embargo as well as
assisting the efforts in the air. As a nation, we can be proud of
what we have achieved, not just in Bosnia but throughout this
region - although the contribution came at the cost of 72 lives
lost, all now properly commemorated by the Armed Forces Memorial
at the National Memorial Arboretum."
Mollie Wormald's son Captain Steven Wormald of the 2nd
Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment, was killed on patrol in Bosnia
and Herzegovina in 1994. She gave a Reading in the Service, and
said of the commemoration:
"I am so very proud of my son and all of those who died
helping Bosnia and Herzegovina become a safer place. The service
today has paid fitting tribute to them, and also to the efforts of
those who returned safely home. It gives me comfort to see my
son's name engraved on this national tribute to our brave
service men and women. May his reward be as great as his sacrifice"
Bosnia and Herzegovina Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic paid thanks
to UK Armed Forces on behalf of his country:
"I stand before you with a sense of deep humility and great
pride. We are here to commemorate more than fifty sons and
daughters of this country who have died fighting for a better
tomorrow. They took on a grave and honourable responsibility, to
be the ones to stand between the civilized world and what
threatened it. They signed up, took an oath, and made a promise to
defend something larger than themselves. We must never forget that.
"To the men and women of the British Military, you have our
deepest gratitude and respect for your support, dedication and
friendship. We remain indebted to those who passed away for their
courage and sacrifice, and we keep them in our thoughts and prayers."
Notes to Editors:
1. Thousands of UK personnel served in Bosnia and Herzegovina
(BiH) from 1992 - 2007 playing a vital peacekeeping role in
support of the UN, NATO and the EU. The war between the
multi-ethnic population that broke out in Bosnia during 1992 was
brought to an end when the Dayton Peace agreement was signed at
the end of 1995. UK personnel remained in the country for a
further 12 years to assist in fulfilling the terms of the agreement.
2. During the 15 year campaign more than 50 members of the UK
Armed Forces lost their lives, and many more were injured. The
Bosnian death toll after the war ended in 1995 was reported at
being at least 100,000-110,000, military and civilian, with over
1.8 million people forcibly displaced from their homes.
3. In October 1992 the then Secretary of State for Defence
Malcolm Rifkind announced that UK Forces would be sent to Bosnia
to support the United Nations High Commission for Refugees
(UNHCR), and in November the main body of the Battalion Group
arrived under the name of Operation Grapple, tasked to provide
armed escort to humanitarian aid convoys.
4. The Welsh Guards were the last British Unit to serve in BiH
and returned to the UK at the end of March 2007 - http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/EndOfAnEraForUkForcesInBosniaherzegovina.htm
5. A small number of UK Forces remain in BiH attached to EUFOR,
NATO and the Peace Support Operations Training Centre in Sarajevo.
One of these, Maj Dave Fielder Royal Marine recently returned from
the country and carried the UK Government and Armed Forces wreath
into the Memorial.
6. The names of the UK service personnel who lost their lives
during the 15 years of service in BiH are listed on the Armed
Forces Memorial. The Memorial, which opened to the public in
October 2007, remembers all those killed on duty in conflicts or
on training exercises, by terrorist action or on peacekeeping
missions - http://www.forcesmemorial.org
7. The Armed Forces Memorial is located within the National
Memorial Arboretum (NMA), Alrewas, nr Lichfield, Staffordshire.
The NMA covers 60 hectares of woodland and hosts memorials from a
range of organisations both military and civilian, charities,
local and overseas groups.
8. In addition to specific commemorations such as the withdrawal
for Forces from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Veterans of all ages are
the focus of attention each year on Veterans Day 27 June, which
will be hosted by Blackpool in 2008 - http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/BlackpoolToHostNationalVeteransDay.htm