A MECHANIC is looking forward to escaping the heat of Iraq for a beer back home with his family in Durham City, during a break from his first tour of duty.
Craftsman Mark Cherryholme, 20, who is serving with the 1st Battalion of the Devon and Dorset Light Infantry, is due on leave in August - and is looking forward to seeing his parents, Malcolm and Kim, in Newton Hall.
Based at Shaibah Logistics Base, to the west of Basra, Mark's job is to keep the vehicles running so British troops can continue to patrol the streets.
He said: "We were well-briefed, so I knew what to expect, but the heat still comes as a bit of a shock.
"I'm struggling with it, I drink five or six litres of water a day.
"We are working with some Iraqi mechanics, who are good and we can learn from them.
"It is very difficult keeping things on the road, the vehicles take a hammering.
"They use more fuel, more oil, more everything. It is much more demanding than in UK.
"We are under pressure to get the vehicles back on the road so the lads can get out on patrol."
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