In pictures »
God and the Gun

God and the Gun

Aerial view of Basra Airport

Basra airport

This is just a small part of the British sector of the base. By Spring 2007 all British troops in Iraq will be based here.

Padres Stuart Young, Tony Roach, Jason Clark, Simon Rose and Peter King talk to Martin Bell during their training at Sandhurst. (7:54 mins)

Martin Bell in the foreground, wearing a bullet proof vest

The convoy

Martin Bell preparing to move by road from Basra airport to Shaibah Logistics Base. All road movements go in carefully planned convoys to protect against ambush and roadside bombs.

The Reverend Andrew Martlew standing inside St Jude's Church

St Jude's Church

This is the home of The Reverend Andrew Martlew, chaplain to 40 Regiment Royal Artillery. It's a converted 40 foot long metal container. Services are held every Sunday evening, and once a week the simple altar is converted into a screen for film shows. The programme so far has included Monty Python's "Life of Brian" and "Good Morning Vietnam".

Exterior St Jude's Church

Exterior of St Jude's Church

The cross is held in place by sandbags and the 12 foot high concrete blast walls are not just for show. During a recent service, rockets landed about 200 metres away, causing the congregation and Chaplain Andrew Martlew to dive for cover. The service continued with everyone wearing body armour.

Martin Bell sits with the padres

Padres on parade

There are twelve chaplains serving the 7000 or so British troops in Iraq. Each regiment has its own chaplain. Martin Bell (back to camera) met four of them. Left to right: Andrew Martlew 40 Regiment Royal Artillery, David Banbury from 33 Field Hospital, Tom Place of the 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment and Anthony Feltham White, of the Ghurkhas.

Martin Bell poses with the MT

The MT

Martin Bell and Chaplain Andrew Martlew (centre back row) with members of the MT. A good place to get inside information is the MT - Motor Transport - section. They're responsible for keeping the regiment's vehicles on the road so they get around and know what’s going on.

Phil Pegum and Chaplain Andrew Martlew standing in a camouflaged watch tower

The watch tower

Series producer Phil Pegum interviewing Chaplain Andrew Martlew while on a tour of the watch towers around the Shaibah Logistics base. The soldiers in the towers are on watch, 3 hours on and 3 hours off for a total of 72 hours and their padre visits them from time to time to keep their spirits up. Shortly before this picture was taken three rockets had landed about 500 metres away, sending everyone diving for cover.

Martin Bell sitting on a chair outside waiting with luggage

Waiting

Hurry up and wait. Any solider will tell you that you spend a lot of time waiting for things happen.

Tent of an army soldier covered with mosquito net

Camping army style

Typical accommodation for British soldiers in Basra. The tents have limited air conditioning and heating in winter. But when it rains, as it does frequently in the winter, water gets in to the power lines and fuses out the generators. Flooding is also a problem.

Desert base