Op Telic: Moment of remembrance takes place at Cheltenham War Memorial
The Cheltenham branch of the Royal British Legion are commemorating the Operation Telic Iraq Operation of 2003
The Cheltenham branch of the Royal British Legion are today commemorating the Operation Telic Iraq Operation of 2003.
They're assembling at 10.30am, for a 10.50am walk on to the memorial, before a period of silence at 11am.
Telic was the codename of the UK's deployment into Iraq - with the mission officially ending in May 2011.
Back in 2003, 46,000 British personnel - as well as forces from the US, Australia and Poland - entered the country in a bid to eliminate the perceived threat from Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction.
A total of 179 British Armed Forces personnel or MOD civilians died serving on Operation TELIC since the start of the campaign in March 2003.
Of these, 136 were killed as a result of hostile action.
You can read more about it on the GOV.UK website.
Today's commemoration is just one of many planned at the memorial for 2025.
Other moments of reflection planned at the memorial this year include:
- Op Telic - March 19th
- VE Day - May 8th
- D-Day - June 6th
- VJ Day - August 15th
- Battle of Britain - September 14th
- Dedication of the Field of Remembrance - October 30th
- Remembrance Sunday - November 9th
- Armistice Day - November 11th