Lance Corporal Keys's father blames the PM for his death

Lance Bombardier Llywelyn Evans, Lance Corporal Thomas Keys, Corporal Dewi Pritchard and Captain David Jones are among 51 British military personnel who died during the conflict.

But some relatives have expressed reservations about Prime Minister Tony Blair attending the service, believing their loved ones may have died in vain.

Thomas Keys' father Reg vowed to turn his back if the prime minister approached him during the service.

"I feel ultimately Tony Blair is to blame for this," he said.

"His misguided judgement has sent these lads off to war and got them killed."

Dewi Pritchard's family had concerns about the army

"Tony Blair has to accept he is ultimately responsible for their deaths.

"Let him be there. I'd give him a front row seat facing the congregation.

"Let him see the tears rolling down people's faces, let him see the misery on the faces of 51 families."

Gordon Evans, father of Llywelyn Evans, said Mr Blair should "resign and disappear quietly" and should definitely not attend the service.

"Personally I don't want him there. If it wasn't for his actions, his thoughts, being a poodle of Mr Bush, we wouldn't need a memorial service, because our troops wouldn't have gone out there."

Tracey Pritchard, widow of TA soldier Corporal Pritchard, 35, from Bridgend, who was the most recent Welsh victim, is also attending.

Corporal Pritchard died along with two other servicemen when their vehicle was ambushed in Basra in September.

Following his death, the family expressed concerns about military operations in Iraq.

They said in a statement: "The family are very concerned to understand the tragic circumstances that led to Dewi's death.

BRITISH MILITARY DEATHS IN IRAQ 51 British troops have died 21 were killed in combat 19 died in accidents Five troops were killed by 'friendly fire' Four died of natural causes Two deaths are under investigation

"There remains at this early stage many unanswered questions concerning personal protection and security arrangements for British troops in Basra."

Corporal Pritchard's cousin Julie Pritchard had resigned from her role as a Labour town councillor in Bargoed in protest at the war.

Llywelyn Evans, 24, from Llandudno, died on the first day of the war in a helicopter crash.

Llywelyn Evans died on the first day of the war

Fellow north Wales soldier, 20-year-old Thomas Keys from Llanuwchllyn near Bala, was one of six military policemen shot at a police station 100 miles north of Basra.

Captain David Jones, 29, who was based in Lincolnshire, was killed while delivering humanitarian aid to southern Iraq.

The Queen, Prince Philip and Prince Charles attended the ceremony along with members of the government.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, delivered the sermon at the service led by the Dean of St Paul's.

The emphasis of the service - attended by 2,000 people - was on remembrance.

Prayers were said for all those who were killed, British and Iraqi alike.

Unlike after previous conflicts, there was to be no victory parade or military march past.