London is not just one of the most popular cities in the world with lots of entertainment, it is also a creative and unique place. Most of its landmarks represent something more than just a beautiful appearance. A lot of such spots hide interesting legends, social significance and historical events. They are also not always associated with joyful moments in people’s lives. The Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial, which marks a tragic story, is one of them. It was built to commemorate the military and civilian deaths of the Persian Gulf War as well as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. This place reminds people of the terrible consequences that any armed conflict causes. Learn more at ilondon.
History of creation
The idea to create the Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial arose back in 2014. The former Chief of Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup spearheaded the fundraising of £1 million to build it. The creation of the memorial began in the summer of 2016. The stoneCIRCLE company was engaged in monument manufacturing. The ready-to-install stone blocks were mounted on a stainless steel frame. Materials were prepared in such a way that architects and designers could adjust them on the spot. Later, the main elements were transported on site and the work continued. The grand opening of such an object took place on March 9, 2017. Elizabeth II played the most important role in the event. Other members of the Royal Family were also present. On the other hand, such a loud ceremony caused an outburst of discontent. In particular, for many, the opening of the monument seemed too celebratory and some relatives of the victims were offended by the fact that they were not invited.
Appearance features
The memorial project was developed by Paul Day. He came up with a rather interesting idea. The Iraq and Afghanistan Memorial consists of two monoliths weighing 33 tons. The roughly shaped sides of the stones aren’t randomly designed, as they resemble the rocky terrain of Iraq and Afghanistan. The inscriptions on each block testify to these countries too. The middle element is a bronze medallion embedded in stones. It depicts those to whom the memorial is dedicated. On one side, you can see images of the military and, on the other, civilians. In general, there is a gap between the two blocks of white stone and the medallion acts as a connecting link between them. It is also interesting that this memorial doesn’t contain the very names of the victims. It is dedicated to all those who participated in the war. Nearby, you can come across similar objects, namely monuments dedicated to the Korean War and World War II.
Eternal memory
The main purpose of creating the memorial was to honour the memory of people who fell victim to the war. In total, 682 Britons died as a result of horrific military events from 1990 to 2015. These were not only military personnel who participated in the war in the Persian Gulf, Iraq and Afghanistan but also civilians. The latter tried to improve the lives of local people by distributing humanitarian aid, working in education and health care and contributing to the development of infrastructure and governance. Such architectural objects that are located all over the world always remind people that any war affects everyone. These monuments are necessary for humanity to realise all the horrors and catastrophic consequences of armed conflicts. After all, human life is more valuable than any misunderstandings and political issues.