Desert Warrior

Unexpectedly assigned to the 4th Armoured Brigade as a front line war correspondent, Richard Kay vividly recounts his personal experiences leading up to the declaration of war; the waiting in the desert; the battles and the dramatic events surrounding Saddam Hussein’s surrender three months later.

It is a unique and candid insight into the Gulf War.

You’ve only got nine seconds to put on your respirator because in ten seconds you are dead.’ The black size 2 mask belonged to my Nuclear, Biological and Chemical protection suit and, judging by the RAF man’s pained look, I was technically dead half a minute ago. But, I thought, struggling with the awkward rubber straps of the respirator, this is all a bit of a game. After all, I am the Daily Mail’s royal correspondent…. this was just another royal visit. Prince Charles was off to give a tonic to the troops in the Gulf and both I and the Prince would be home for Christmas. Surely, I won’t actually have to struggle into one of these green NBC suits…