Members of The Black Watch fly the flag for Scotland on top of their Warrior armoured vehicle, waiting for the move to their operating base, Iraq, October 2004

Digital photograph taken by WO2 Giles Penfound, Army Media Operations, southern Iraq, Operation BRACKEN, 27 October 2004.

In October 2004, 1st Battalion The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) Battle Group (1 BW 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 a variety of Combat Support (Signals, Royal Engineers, Intelligence Corps) and Combat Service Support (Royal Logistic Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) elements.