SEVEN Territorial Army reservists, including two from Wiltshire, have been demobilised from operations with coalition forces in Iraq.

The most senior officer of the returning contingent in Iraq was Major Bill Ruthven, commander of 57 Signal Squadron at 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment (Volunteers).

Major Ruthven, a 47-year-old project manager, lives with his family in Corsham and works for Cable & Wireless in Bracknell.

Major Ruthven was deployed to Iraq last July to help the Iraqis re-establish their telecommunications infrastructure.

Major Ruthven said: "A lot of equipment had been looted after the police and army suddenly left.

"Generators disappeared, entire exchanges and rooms of equipment. They weren't of any use but everybody seemed to want something.

"My job was to purchase new equipment and get it installed by Iraqi engineers. I established excellent relationships with them. They were very well versed, the majority of them had been to the UK on courses."

Two months into his deployment Major Ruthven recruited Lance Corporal Jarman and Corporal Martin Dyer, two of his TA soldiers from the regiment's base at Horfield, Bristol, to assist him.

Lance Corporal Bryan Jarman, 26, a civil servant from Devizes, is a radio operator with 57 Signal Squadron.

The 39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment (Volunteers) has a key role maintaining radio communications across the country in times of crisis.

The Regiment is part of The Royal Corp of Signals and is a successor to the elite Second World War Special Communications Unit.

Members often volunteer for full time reserve service with the regulars.