webofevil | More please, BBC

Why you will never hear a soldier say the words “Yes, we’d love to have a journalist embedded with us on active operations”:

BBC reporter’s diary

... the 24-hour ration packs are very good and if there’s time are heated up on small, metal solid fuel stoves which are light and ideal for boiling water. The silver bags of ready made food are popped on and 10 or 15 minutes later the meal is piping hot.

I struck a heavy duty match or two on the side of the car and lit the stove, wandering off and thinking little of it, but the first match head had flicked onto a rucksack and it had caught fire. Fred the cameraman spotted the flames licking about a gun propped up at the side and the fire was out in no time, but the fuel, and thousands of rounds of ammunition on board could well have gone up. It’s when you realise the value of military discipline, and the dangers other than coming under fire of living a semi-nomadic life in the desert.

I’ve now been denied access to matches.