LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Gordon Brown was among the guests as a memorial wall to British soldiers killed in Iraq was rededicated in Staffordshire on Thursday.
The Basra Memorial Wall was originally built in the southern Iraqi city four years ago as a monument to the 178 armed forces personnel and one Ministry of Defence civilian who died during British operations in the country between 2003 and 2009.
It was taken apart and brought back to England last year to be rebuilt.
Several hundred relatives of the dead attended the service at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas. They were joined by the Duke of Gloucester, Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth, and chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup.
Speaking after the service, Brown said he was glad families of those who had died in Iraq had a memorial to visit in Britain.
"It is right that there is this permanent memorial and I think it is right that it is at the National Arboretum. I think the families will be pleased at the way this has been done," he said.
Stirrup, who laid a wreath on behalf of the Armed Forces, said the memorial would act as a "focal point" for bereaved families.
"It represents the commitment, bravery and sacrifice of our servicemen and women. It is a symbol of what they gave and of the debt that this country owes them and their families," he added.
The service opened with a flypast of Tornado GR4s before Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Brown read a poem he had composed while serving in Iraq.
The memorial also honours coalition personnel from Denmark, Italy, Romania, and the Netherlands. Some of their relatives were present at the rededication.
(Reporting by Jim Drury; Editing by Steve Addison)
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