22/09/2026
THE FESTIVAL OF REMEMBRANCE 2026 -
This year, the Royal British Legion’s Festival of Remembrance marks the 15th anniversary of the end of UK involvement in Iraq. As part of the commemoration, the RBL and the BBC are planning a special moment in the Royal Albert Hall where extracts from letters and Blueys exchanged between Iraq veterans and their families will be read aloud.
To help this happen, we are appealing to you to share the Blueys and letters that you and your family sent to each other while you were in Iraq.
Perhaps you wrote about your first impressions on arrival, the food, the weather or life on camp. Maybe you wrote about the realities of deployment and combat, the people you met, the things that made you laugh, or simply how much you missed each other. For families at home, your letters may have captured everyday life: birthdays, school updates, family news and milestones, and the funny stories that helped you feel connected while your loved one was away. Every letter tells a story.
Together, these personal words will help the RBL and BBC create a poignant and authentic snapshot of what life was like for service personnel and their families during the Iraq deployment.
If you’d be comfortable to share scans or photographs of your Blueys or letters, the team at the RBL and BBC would be so grateful to hear from you. Please send any communications you’re happy to potentially have read out to [email protected] who will notify you if your letters are going to feature.
