The US military said troops from the 1st Armoured Division were on patrol in the Sadr City area of the Iraqi capital, when they were ambushed.

BBC: NEWS | Middle East | Iraqis protest at US 'terrorism'

And when senior naval officers say, as they do, that it does not make sense for Britain to keep an armoured division in Germany, that sounds to the Army like a bid for funds for future carriers.

ECONOMIST: The future of the Royal Navy

On being promoted to colonel he was appointed to chief of staff 1st (UK) Armoured Division in 1995 before returning to Bosnia a year later as part of Nato's Peace Implementation Force (IFOR) for a further six-month tour.

BBC: Profile: Major General John McColl