Private Ricky Fisher at the wheel of his ambulance

The Queen's Dragoon Guards, which is largely made up of Welsh soldiers, has formed part of the force which was involved in the opening invasion of the south of Iraq.

Troops of the Guards, who are known as the Welsh Cavalry, are also building prisoner-of-war camps in southern areas of the country.

Meanwhile, a teenage soldier from south Wales - who is believed to be the youngest UK serviceman in the conflict - has seen his first action of the war.

Private Ricky Fisher, 18, from Pontypridd, who is serving with the 1 Close Support Medical Regiment, was called upon to save the life of an Iraqi soldier on Sunday.

Pte Fisher, who is an ambulance driver in the war zone south of Baghdad, was called to the help of two Iraqi soldiers.

But one died before the private could reach him.

The soldier, who turned 18 just days before the war began, said: "It was my first experience of death and it does bring it home to you."

The incident was the first time Pte Fisher's ambulance had been called into action.

He added: "There was no anxiety until I got there. Then it was quite tense and it really hits you that you've got to do your job.

"Obviously it fazed me a bit but it didn't affect my driving.

"That's the best bit, when you know you are helping people and you know the person's going to survive because you've done your bit."

Pte Fisher celebrated his 18th birthday on 7 March - the day before the final soldiers' flight out to Kuwait on 8 March.

'Doubts'

He said: "I had my doubts I'd be coming but at the last minute I was told I would be on one of the flights.

"I was really hoping I would make it because otherwise I would be sat around for six months doing nothing."

At home in Wales protests against the war are continuing.

Seven protesters chained themselves to equipment at RAF Valley, Anglesey, as part of an anti-war demonstration on Monday morning.

Another seven chained themselves together across the main entrance to the base, stopping vehicles from moving in or out.

A spokesperson for Cymdeithas y Cymod - the Fellowship for Reconciliation - said the protest was aimed at RAF Valley because pilots were trained there to fly on combat missions to Iraq.

No-one has been arrested.

Members of the Welsh Language Society, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg, also started a 24 hour fast to protest against the war.

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Among those who have already agreed to take part is Elin Jones, AM for Ceredigion.

The fast is being held from 0830 GMT on Monday.

And family and friends of a Welsh serviceman killed in a helicopter crash have been remembering him.

Llywelyn Evans, 24, from Llandudno, north Wales, was killed when an American helicopter crashed in Kuwait on Friday morning.

He was one of eight British and four US servicemen who died a US CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter transporting them into southern Iraq crashed near the border.

Mr Evans' father Gordon said on: "Whilst we are deeply saddened we are and always will be proud of him."