'Bedroom search', Basra, Iraq, April 2003

Pen and ink sketch by Matthew Cook, 2003.

Irish Guardsmen search the bedroom of a colonel in the Iraqi secret police who had been accused of torture. The incredible collection of loaded weapons was found inside a hollow bedstead, along with US dollars, whisky and pornographic films. His MP5K machine-gun and one of the revolvers were gold-plated. Saddam Hussein sometimes gave gold-plated weapons as gifts to high-ranking officials, although it is not known if that was the case in this instance.

The colonel was not found: his driver said he had fled the country but, as his passport and identification documents were left behind, this seemed unlikely, so the driver was taken away for further questioning.

In March 2003 Matthew Cook was appointed war artist for 'The Times' and given a week to get ready for the impending war with Iraq. Already serving as a Territorial Army soldier, he also attended a short hostile environment training course, before flying to Kuwait. He arrived together with a number of other journalists and TV crews, during the preparations for invasion. Immediately he began recording military life in the desert camps and air bases.