Since the compulsory mobilisation of W (Westminster Dragoons) Squadron, The Royal Yeomanry in 2003 for the Iraq war, the Squadron had been regrouping and retraining. But a point came in late summer 2006 when the Squadron was called upon again. Six members of W Sqn RY went into the fray. Of the six, only one had been to Iraq before – Corporal A Wilson. One other had been mobilised in 2003 but had failed the medical due a condition that required major surgery.  Lance Corporal G Wilson was not going to let that stop him this time.

Second lieutenant P Sparrow and Troopers W Condon, M Nim and ‘Zippy’ Rahman made up the rest of the team who would be visiting the Iraqi desert for the first time.

On the pages that follow, 2Lt Sparrow and L/Cpl Wilson tell their stories.