"The Defence of CIMIC House, Al Amarah "

Ref: DR150

by David Rowlands

Size 58 x 38 cm

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.

The garrison of CIMIC House was routinely re-supplied by Warrior Armoured Fighting Vehicles. 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