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The Defence of CIMIC House, Al Amarah August 2004: The Battle Group based on 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment took over responsibility for Maysan Province, Iraq, in April 2004. CIMIC House, the former residence of the Maysan Provincial Governor, is situated in the centre of the city of Al Amarah beside the River Tigris. The Coalition Provincial Authority (CPA) and Civil-Military Co-operation (CIMIC) teams chose to use it as their base, and Y Company was deployed there to provide security. Following increasing tension in Iraq, an intense series of attacks by the Mahdi Militia against CIMIC House commenced on 5th August and lasted for a further 23 days. In temperatures of 50°C, the British troops conducted a heroic defence, enduring long days and nights of sentry duty, night-fighting patrols around CIMIC House and repelling continuous small arms, rocket-propelled grenade and mortar fire. In the yard below CIMIC House are Warriors of A and C Companies. (Call sign Two Zero is the Warrior driven by Private Johnson Beharry VC). The Y Coy Sgt Major, Dale Norman, kneels beside the soldier firing the 51mm mortar. 'Tigris' was a stray dog, adopted by the Company. The defence of CIMIC House was supported by soldiers of B and C Companies 1PWRR, based twenty miles away at camp Abu Naji, who were engaged in numerous battles with the Mahdi Army on the streets of Al Amarah. A contingent of Territorial Army soldiers that defended CIMIC House included one Warrior armoured fighting vehicle from B Company, The Black Watch; snipers from 1st Bn The 22nd Cheshire Regiment; and soldiers from various squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry. On 16th August, A Company, 1st Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers; a multiple of the Queen’s Royal Lancers; and reservists of The Black Watch conducted a relief in place of Y Company, whose OC and 2IC remained in command. Medium: Oil on Canvas Printed image size(s): B2 only (58 x 38 cm) Owner: 1st Bn The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment Price(s): £75 |