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| Bastion Memorial Wall National Arboretum |
On the 11th of September (9/11) 2001, terrorists hijacked four airliners in the USA. Two were flown into the World Trade Centre Towers in New York, one was used to attack the Pentagon in Washington, and one crashed into the ground near Pennsylvania. The attacks were orchestrated by the terrorist organisation Al-Queda, and in response the United States launched it's War on Terror and began to attack Afghanistan from where it was believed Al-Queda was based.
The first British Troops deployed to Afghanistan in November 2001. By the end of the year the capital Kabul and the major city of Kandahar had been captured. In 2002, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was established. The occupation developed into a long struggle. The first British service person was killed in November 2004. In 2006, the British Forces moved into Helmand Province and established a camp in the dessert, Camp Bastion.
British Forces would remain in Afghanistan until spring 2014 and at it's peak Camp Bastion contained over 40,000 personnel.
Camp Bastion became the location where those who were lost in Afghanistan were commemorated. Initially a small cairn recorded the names of those killed. As casualties mounted a larger cairn was constructed in 2007. A Memorial Wall was constructed in 2011.
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| Camp Bastion Memorial Wall Afghanistan |
When British Army operations ended in Afghanistan, Camp Bastion was handed over to the Afghan Security Forces and the memorial re-constructed at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The campaign had cost the lives of 453 members of the British Armed Forces.
British Casulaties in Afghanistan
Royal Artillery Casualties in Afghanistan
2006
Captain Jim Philipson
7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Captain Alex Eida
7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
L/Bdr James Dwyer
29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery
2007
L/Bdr Liam McLaughlin
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
L/Bdr Ross Clark
29 Commando Regimen, Royal Artillery
WO2 Michael Smith
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
Sgt Dave Wilkinson
19 Regiment Royal Artillery
Tpr Jack Sadler
Honourable Artillery Company
2008
Lt Aaron Lewis
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
2009
Capt Tom Sawyer
29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
Bdr Craig Hopson
40 Regiment Royal Artillery
WO2 Sean Upton
5 Regiment Royal Artillery
2010
Gnr Zak Cusack
40 Regiment Royal Artillery
L/Bdr Mark Chandler
3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Bdr Stephen Raymond Gilbert
40 Regiment Royal Artillery
Bdr Samuel Robinson
5 Regiment Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery Afghanistan
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| Multi Launch Rocket System Afghanistan |
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| 105 mm Light Gun Afghanistan |
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| Desert Hawk Afghanistan |
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| RA Soldier mentoring Afghanistan Security Forces Afghanistan |