A soldier from 73 Armoured Engineer Squadron, 21 Engineer Regiment Royal Engineers, Iraq, Operation BRACKEN, November 2004

Digital photograph taken by Warrant Officer 2 Giles Penfound, Army Media Operations, Iraq, 4 November 2004.

1st Battalion The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) Battle Group (1BW BG) was authorised by the British Prime Minister to conduct operations in the 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (United States) area of operations South of Baghdad.

The 1 BW BG consisted of Battle Group Headquarters (HQ), A,B,D and HQ Company as well as attachments from 40 Commando Royal Marines, B Squadron Queen's Dragoon Guards and supported by a variety of Combat Support (Signals, Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps) and Combat Service Support (Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) elements.