Soldiers of Bicester-based 23 Pioneer Regiment went out to the Gulf in advance of the war to establish military bases. Within days of the conflict beginning, they found themselves switched to a new function, delivering humanitarian aid.  They have 7,500 days' worth of rations in plastic ration boxes  | | Colonel Debbie Noble |
The role-change coincided with warnings that the aid operation needed in Iraq would be of epic proportions. Almost immediately, they faced frustration when mines prevented HMS Sir Galahad bringing the disaster supplies ashore. It took days to make it safe for the vessel to berth and begin unloading. The Pioneer Regiment was due to transport more than 200 tonnes of supplies to a "safe" location in southern Iraq. Colonel Debbie Noble told BBC South Today about the regiment's new task. "In their base they are holding nearly 160,000 litres of bulk water," she said. "They have 7,500 days' worth of rations in plastic ration boxes, and nine containers full of disaster relief kit. "That includes things like jerry cans, blankets, wire, shovels and so on to assist the local population in helping themselves get back on their feet. "It does have its dangers. "We try to make the distribution points be in areas that are benign. "The division assesses all the population areas, and where people more most needy we will obviously put distribution points into those, whether they are benign or not." | 
