Giant-sized newspaper cuttings from the Keighley News greet servicemen and women every time they enter the dining room at a former hotel for the mega-rich, in southern Iraq.

Along with photographs and other snippets, they record the campaign to save the Duke of Wellington's Regiment during army restructuring.

The battle-scarred hotel, which still shows some signs of its former opulence, is the headquarters of the Duke's during its six-month tour of duty in Iraq. The Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter (pictured), paid a visit to the Duke's to tell the regiment the outcome of the re-organisation.

He said: "We really are grateful for the support we had and people -- like the campaigners in Keighley -- can rest assured the name of the Duke's and its proud traditions will live on."

The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, The Prince of Wales' Own Regiment and The Green Howards will come together to form The Yorkshire Regiment and be known as 1st battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own), 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) and Third Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's).

The Major-General added: "I also wanted to tell the members of the regiment here how well they are doing and assure them that the Third Battalion will still be colloquially known as The Duke's.

"But it will be different. There will be a different cap badge. A white rose will somehow be incorporated into it.

"It will still be the only county regiment in the British Army."

The Yorkshire Regiment is expected to be launched next year.

l Meanwhile, brothers in arms Anthony Plews and his sibling Robert will shortly be swapping jobs at the Shatt al-Arab base.

In a remarkable co-incidence, younger brother Robert will be taking over Anthony's job when his tour of duty ends in a few weeks time.

Anthony, 32, a Lance Corporal in The Duke's is from Ingrow, but will be going back to his regimental base in Osnabruk in April. The role of The Duke's will be taken over by the Coldstream Guards - brother Robert, 31, serves as a Sergeant, with the MT platoon, in that regiment.

Said Anthony, a driver on patrol: "It is a bit of a fluke, but he is coming out to do more or less the same job in transport that I am doing here."

Anthony, who has two children, Benjamin, 13, and Jake, six, joined up shortly after leaving Oakbank School, aged 18. He served for nine years, but left and became a bus driver with Keighley & District Travel for eighteen months.

He then moved to Northern Ireland and re-enlisted and now lives in Osnabruk.

Of the situation in Iraq Anthony, who has served in Kosovo, said: "I say this with all respect. People say places like Braithwaite are a dump. They have no idea. You just cannot describe what life and conditions for the people are like out here."