Regiment leave 'luxury' hotel

The area was nicknamed Monte Carlo – but four years into the conflict in Iraq that luxury has long gone. Until today the hotel had been home to 500 soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment.

The base is a far cry from the venue's glory days. The pool is empty, an upturned sun lounger the only echo of its heyday.

The Staffords left the hotel today, handing over control to soldiers from 10 Division the Iraqi Army.

Since the 2003 invasion, coalition troops have served on six month tours calling 'the Shatt' home.

Among the Staffords, now based at a site in southern Basra, are Bilston twins Graham and Chris Strong and Wolverhampton soldier Antony Rickwood.

On the day Faye Turney and the other captured Navy crew sold their stories for thousands of pounds, this trio epitomise the bravery of West Midland soldiers facing danger on a daily basis.

Pte Graham Strong, aged 21, has been coming face to face with the dangers on the streets of Basra. His job is as a gunner on the Warrior armoured fighting vehicle.

Graham today told how he had been out on strike operations in the dead of night, with his finger on the trigger of a 30mm canon and machine gun, ready to strike.

He said he was looking forward to getting home and seeing family and friends.

Pte Antony Rickwood jetted out to the war zone as soon as he turned 18 and said he would not swap the experiences for anything.

Lt Col Tim Sandiford, who is in charge of the Staffords, said the handover of the hotel was a key day in the war in Basra.

He said: "The move out of the Shatt Al-Arab Hotel marks another move for the Iraqi Army, essentially into the front line here in Basra, with British and Multinational Forces in a much more supporting role.

"We've trained them and we're moving to the point where they implement security for themselves."

The 10th Division Iraqi Army has been taking on increased responsibility for security tasks in the part of the city that includes the hotel since March.

The hotel has come under constant enemy fire and the dangers were demonstrated when British soldier, L/Cpl Dennis Brady, was killed by mortar rounds fired at the base last year.

A host of buildings in Basra have already been handed over to the Iraqis, including the Old State Building, and later this month the Shaibah Logistics Base will change hands, leaving just one British base in Basra City. Gen Habeeb, commander of the 10th Division Iraqi Army, said it was important for their forces to take control.

He said that after taking control in Al Muthanna Province and Dhi Qar Province they hoped to take over Maysan Province later this month.

He said: "We are ready and prepared to take on responsibility for security in Basra, to lead from the front and to provide security and stability for the people of Basra."

The Staffords tour, which began in October, has been tinged with sadness. The regiment lost Pte Jonathon Wysoczan, who died from injuries sustained during a patrol in Basra. Staffordshire Regiment soldiers have been assisting the Iraqi police in operations to reduce crime in Basra from their HQ at the Shatt Hotel.

On Christmas Day, the regiment took part in an operation at Al Jameat police station to close down the serious crimes unit and provided covering fire from their Warrior armoured fighting vehicles.

The Regiment fly to Cyprus in a few weeks to recoup before returning to their home base in Tidworth, Wiltshire.