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Prince Charles urges nation to remember troops' sacrifices
Ben Bailey31.07.09
The Prince of Wales said today that July had proved an "incredibly difficult month" for British troops in Afghanistan.
He also warned that servicemen and women were "too often out of mind" and urged Britons to do more to remember their sacrifices.
Writing in The Sun to mark the launch of the newspaper's Military Awards 2009, he said: "Their mettle has been tested to the full and, as always, they have not been found wanting.
"With our forces fighting far from home - out of sight and, I fear, too often out of mind - sometimes it is not until they return home in flag-draped coffins that we become truly aware of all that we are asking of them."
The Prince's letter comes after Ministry of Defence figures showed British forces in Afghanistan suffered their highest casualty rate this month since the mission began.
Some 57 UK troops were wounded in action in the first two weeks of July alone compared with 46 in the whole of June and 24 in May.
July has also seen the most deaths since the mission began eight years ago with 22 soldiers killed ahead of provincial and presidential elections on August 20.
Charles, whose second son Prince Harry served in Afghanistan last year, continued: "My heart goes out to all those who have lost their loved ones in conflicts overseas.
"I can barely begin to imagine the unbearable anguish and grief they are suffering as they come to terms with their loss."
The Prince is founder and patron of the awards - nicknamed The Millies - which not only recognise the bravery of troops on the front line but also the contribution of those in the Armed Forces who work behind the scenes, at home and abroad.
The winners of the 11 awards will be announced during a televised ceremony at Hampton Court Palace in London on December 15.
Reader views (3)
400,000 men and women gave their lives in WW2 for the FREEDOMS of the UK.
Labour have systematically removed those same freedoms by making the UK worse than any Police State.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
".. you don't "make the streets of Britain" safer by obliging our troops to make "sacrifices" in places like Helmand"
Actually you do, and it is a fight on two fronts, however this government is failing drastically to deal with the Muslim issue at home because of it's appeasement policy.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
...And while he's recognising "the contribution of those in the Armed Forces", he might also spare a thought for the (unwilling) contribution made by the tax-payers for this ridiculous war.
Note to Mr.Broon: you don't "make the streets of Britain" safer by obliging our troops to make "sacrifices" in places like Helmand. You do it by having proper security for this country at Heathrow, Harwich, and Dover!
- Croyboy, Croydon
