"Gentlemen we are faced with a stark choice," said Maj Matthew Botsford. A gathering of his most senior officers stood to attention before the command vehicle of A squadron, Queen's Dragoon Guards. Based in a disused electricity plant on the outskirts of Basra, the squadron's headquarters, had come under mortar and artillery fire the night before from Iraqi militia groups, writes Jack Fairweather, outside Basra
"This squadron needs a home and its clear we cannot stay here another night," said Maj Botsford.
"That means we either push on to Butlins" - a euphemistically named Baath Party headquarters that had been carefully scouted out a week ago - said the Major.
"It's got a squash court, restaurant, and swimming pool and a lot of Baath Party members who will give up their poolside seats in order to kill us in the middle of the night," he said.
The officers smiled and then winced at the assessment of Butlins. "I've never been to a Butlins before," said one officer.
"Or we can build ourselves our very own Vietnam style camp," said the Major. "And let's not call it Dien Bien Phu." Several hours later Sgt Major Andy Sudlow ushered the squadron convoy onto a barren muddy plain, once a teeming marshland laid waste by the Iraqi regime.
"This," said Sgt Maj Sudlow with a certain pride, "is our new home". As British forces launch a series of small scale raids in and around Basra, the majority of troops are beginning to settle down and look for the small creature comforts that make like bearable as the summer heat gathers in Iraq.
With the entry into Basra likely to happen "only after the Americans have gone into Baghdad", according to one senior British officer, A squadron were yesterday making themselves at home on the mud flats.
A couple of diggers from 32 armoured engineers scooped out large pits to hide the vehicles.
"It was one of the tactical mistakes of the Iraqis last time round to only build ramparts around their tanks which meant we could shoot through them," said Capt Mark Townend.
"Not just a tactical mistake," said Cpl Cain Thomas, 'there's enough room in here for our own little cinema. "An engineer ran into the rapidly assembling camp with four dead chickens and a large grin.
"You'll never guess what. I just swapped these for a few bags of sugar with the locals. Kentucky Fried Chicken tonight boys," he said.
"Anyone good at plucking? Wouldn't want to say that with a mouthful," he added.
As the heat of the day wore on a makeshift shower was erected using a bag of water to trap the sun's heat.
"About time I gave the squadron a morale boost," said craftsman Holly Dearden. She turned to the troops around her. "I may be in my bra and pants but I expect you to close your eyes."
Quartermaster Rob "Blackeye" Jones arrived from the rear after lunch, the squadron's purveyor of supplies and other illicit goods.
"I've made a little trip to Kuwait," he said conspiratorially, before opening the back of jeep to reveal an Aladdin's cave of Pringles and chocolate bars.
With him came rumours that the support staff stationed at Basra international airport had set up a jacuzzi using an old metal tub and a broken electric shower to pump in the air.
"Maybe we should move to the airport," said Maj Botsford.
A brief conversation with the hierarchy of the Royal Regiment Fusiliers revealed that there wasn't enough space in the sprawling five mile square airport.
"Still, we do seem to have made ourselves at home here," said the Major, "one spots much the same as another whilst we wait to go into Basra."
As evening fell yesterday and soldiers relaxed on a variety of seats and hand-crafted earthen armchairs there was one soldier who still paced restlessly outside.
Trooper Matthew Tapp from Cwmbran was waiting to hear if he had become a father.
"My missus has been waiting to give birth practically since I left to go to war.
"As soon as I've settled down she's gone into labour bless her. I've just bought a cigar off the quartermaster to celebrate," he added.