Simon's a trooper

Former High School pupil Simon, 20, is serving with A Squadron, the Queen's Royal Hussars, Sussex's own cavalry regiment and is on his first operational tour since joining the regiment.

The squadron is being used in an infantry role, their 62-tonne Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks have been left back in their base at Paderborn, Germany and they are using armoured Land Rovers as they patrol the streets of the Iraqi city.

They are based in the Shatt al Arab Hotel in Basra City, still resplendent with ornamental chandeliers and fountains (not working) as part of the Basra City Battle Group. The hotel is next to the Shatt al Arab waterway from where the Battle Group patrols the waterway as well as the city. Simon was part of the team that searched a house and made the find.

"I had the most finds - we were lucky as we had the best room," said Simon. "Everywhere we looked there was C4 explosive, detonators, batteries, mortar tubes, a pistol, a sniper rifle and around 3000 boxed rounds.

"There were ornamental swords and knives, gas masks and body armour. The kit was in a bedroom, hidden under the bed.

"I was chuffed. It was my first search, and to get a find like that is something to be proud of as it's going to save people's lives. The find could stop at least three or four incidents that could hit my friends or the locals."

Iraqi Security Forces, supported by men from A Squadron, the Queens Royal Hussars, (QRH), 1st Battalion the Devon and Dorset Light Infantry and 1st Bn The Light Infantry, spearheaded the operation which targeted terrorists responsible for conducting attacks on Iraqi security and Coalition Forces in the local area. Ten arrests were made.

Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki this week declared a month-long state of emergency in Basra, which has been plagued by sectarian clashes, anarchy and factional rivalry.

Said Simon: ""I'm missing my girlfriend and football. I should be at home, but I'm happy to be here with these guys and helping them to clean up the streets and saving lives."

Simon and his parents, Sharon and John Piper, still live in Bexhill.