British Army officer investigated over Iraq war allegations

A high-profile British Army officer is being investigated over allegations about his conduct in Iraq, it emerged today.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Collins, who made headlines on the eve of battle with a stirring speech to his troops that was praised by the Prince of Wales and President George Bush, is being investigated by the Army's Special Investigations Branch, defence sources said.

The investigators are probing allegations that his treatment of prisoners of war and an Iraqi civic leader may have broken the Geneva Convention, according to The Sun newspaper.

The paper said he strenuously denies any wrongdoing.

A MoD spokesman said: "We can confirm that an investigation is being conducted into allegations that have been made against a British officer who was serving in Iraq.

"We cannot comment further because of the risk of compromising the investigation."

Lt Col Collins, 43, who was often seen with a cigar clenched between his teeth and wearing a pair of sunglasses, was commanding officer of the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment during the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

He galvanised his troops on the eve of battle with a speech in Kuwait in which he urged them to do their duty while treating the enemy with respect.

"There are some who are alive at this moment who will not be alive shortly," he said.

"Those who do not wish to go on that journey we will not send. As for the others, I expect you to rock their world.

"Wipe them out if that is what they choose. But if you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."

He reminded his soldiers that the enemy had the right under international law to surrender, and would one day return to their families.

"If you harm the regiment or its history by over-enthusiasm in killing or in cowardice, know it is your family who will suffer," he said. "You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest."

The Prince of Wales was so impressed by the speech that he wrote a personal note to Lt Col Collins to say how "profoundly moved" he was by the "extraordinarily stirring, civilised and humane" words.

"What you said somehow encapsulated, in a brilliantly inspired way, everything that we have come to expect of our armed forces and demonstrated why, quite simply, they are the best in the world," he wrote.

President Bush was said to have a copy of the speech pinned to the wall of his Oval Office in the White House.

Lt Col Collins's regiment, based in Canterbury, Kent, helped secure the oil town of Al Rumalah in the south of Iraq during the war.