A colour sergeant of 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, carries out a 'Radio Check', Iraq, June 2004

Digital photograph taken by Warrant Officer 2nd Class Giles Penfound, Army Media Operations, Operation TELIC, 30 June 2004.

Soldiers of 6 Platoon 'B' Company provided multiple patrols around the Local Government headquarters Building in Basra to protect against possible attacks from militants, on what should have been the first day of Iraqi Independence.

The patrols started at 06:45 in the morning and lasted for the whole day with soldiers supporting the local Iraqi police force. With the exception of normal criminal activity is was a very quiet day and failed to live up to the dire expectations of some. As a result of their aggressive patrolling attacks on their base location decreased during their tour of duty.