Iraq War stories: Lieutenant Colonel Andy Phipps

Lt Col Andy Phipps, led G Squadron 1st Royal Tank Regiment, which operated in a specialist Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare detection and surveillance role during the war. He tells Sean Rayment what life was like at the head of the invasion force.“I was in command of G Squadron 1st Royal Tank Regiment in 2003 deployed in a specialist Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare detection and surveillance role. The Squadron included RAF Regiment personnel and members of the Territorial Army from the Royal Yeomanry. The unit was attached initially to HQ 16 Air Assault Bde and then 5 Regimental Combat Team US Marine Corps for the crossing into Iraq.I deployed to Kuwait with my Squadron in mid January and spent almost two months living off the sides of our vehicles in the desert as the huge build up forces took place. We had monitoring equipment set up and were constantly studying the weather reports.

The sheer volume of personnel and equipment was quite unlike anything I had experienced before. The weather alone was harsh enough, hot sunny days, often with sand storms and cold nights, much colder than any of us had planned for with our lightweight sleeping bags.

I remember receiving letters from home commenting on the shortages of rations and loo paper which had widely been reported in the press. I never recall being short of a meal and never in my entire life had I ever visited a portaloo with any expectation of finding any loo paper, so nothing seemed any different.“As the time went by it became increasingly apparent that the time to push off would soon come. I, and my unit, were re-subordinated to support the 5th US Marines. The benefits of a different military culture and the swapping rations and phone cards was a welcome distraction for the blokes who were itching for things to get going. Read more HERE

Nothing but absolute respect for our armed forces but I was against the War in Iraq then and my thoughts have not changed, that's why I still consider Tony Blair a War criminal. If you look at Iraq now its still a highly unstable Country and on the verge of civil War, we just don't hear about the  ethnic violence happening on a daily basis because at the moment Syria is more `newsworthy` another middle eastern melting pot of violence that has nothing to do with us, the same as Libya  The only inevitable British involvement in Syria is the hundreds of Jihadists borne or immigrated into the UK now plying their trade, which the UK should be ashamed of.Like our previous follies abroad Afghanistan is coming to an end, and end of our choosing, which means nothing apart from  the Taliban and its control of the Country when were are gone.Like Iraq I was against our involvement there as well, this does not make me a lefty tree hugger, as I would be 100% behind a military response if Argentina was foolish enough to try and retake the Falklands, that's because it has a British flag flying over it, the other hell holes don't.