‘TROOPS OUT’ AT SWANSEA REMEMBRANCE EVENT

(Piece asked for by Quaker journal 'The Friend')

The banner said ‘Stop the war in Afghanistan. Remember the dead . Respect the living. Troops out!’ Holding the banner, standing in silence at the gate of St Mary’s Church, Swansea, were three people, two of them from Swansea Quaker Meeting.

Beside the main text of the banner were the words ‘welcome home’ and ‘peace’ (salaam) in Arabic. Round the border were scattered four black coffins and 40 white bundles – each standing for 50 dead. 200+ British servicemen and women, and about ten times as many Afghans. Another coffin was pinned to the fabric, representing the 30 soldiers killed since the banner was made.

The formal procession, marching band, uniforms and regimental banners, campaign medals and mayoral chains, unravelled in the street beside the church. As soldiers, families, ex-servicemen and local dignitaries passed through the lychgate on their way to the service, most of them averted their eyes, a few muttered ‘disgraceful’ or ‘shame on you.’ Several others said ‘quite right’, ‘I agree’ or even ‘Congratulations!’ A weeping woman, with her husband and young son, said ‘Please take it away.’ I tried to say that I was sorry, but that saving lives might be as important as mourning them. She said ‘If you were sorry, you would go.’

We didn’t, but that was why my wife had not wanted to join us. We had contacted the British Legion, the vicar of St Mary’s and the police beforehand to let them know what we planned, and to reassure them that the aim was not to oppose or disrupt. No answer from the Legion, the vicar said he was all for freedom of conscience but not on his turf, and the police said ‘thank you for letting us know, we have no problem with that.’ The local newspaper had already taken pictures of the banner which they published with a few paragraphs of explanation: this war is unwinnable, prolongs the agony of the Afghan people and is more likely to provoke terror attacks than prevent them.’

We plan a similar silent presence, with a few more people, at the Swansea Cenotaph, at the 11th hour of the 11th day… I’m thinking of adding a placard reading: ‘Spare them from their leaders’ lies!’