Dillon Hillier - One Soldier: A Canadian Soldier’s Fight Against the Islamic State

A platoon photo before we left Afghanistan, around Remembrance Day 2014.

I was very angry at the time this photo was taken, and I thought to myself, This is not what I signed up for.

The beautiful mountains above Sulaymaniyah, where my adventures in Iraq would begin.

At the Peshmerga base in Sulaymaniyah shortly after my arrival. I sported my beret to show regimental pride in the PPCLI, although I was no longer an active member.

A makeshift forward operating base occupied by both the PKK and the Peshmerga, south of Kirkuk.

A crudely fashioned tank made from heavy machinery, which I nicknamed the Kill-Dozer.

Driving to the staging area outside Kirkuk before the battle of Tal al-Ward, 26 November 2014. The gentleman sitting next to me is Brothahan. Hours later he was shot in the face during combat.

Arriving at the staging area across the bridge from Tal al-Ward. Katyusha rockets rained down on the ISIS positions.

A burning oil pipeline as seen from the newly captured ridge at Tal al-Ward.

Me (left) with two Peshmerga I had teamed up with during the fight at Tal al-Ward.

Pulling off the ridge at Tal al-Ward. I had lent this fighter (far right) my British army desert smock.

Loading our gear into the bucket of a truck at Tal al-Ward.

Peshmerga mobile artillery at the Kirkuk train station.

Enjoying the sun at Rashad, northeast of Al-Fallujah, before the shooting started.

Taking a break at Rashad during a lull in the fighting.

Patrolling the front in the Daquq district in the back of a Toyota.

A Russian-made S-60, a 57-millimetre anti-aircraft gun, at a Daquq strongpoint. I loved seeing this weapons platform in action.

Ethan, General Araz and me on the Daquq front.

Manning the trenches of Arabcoy.

Keeping low to avoid ISIS snipers on the Daquq front.

Drinking chai with the officers at a Daquq chai shop.

Ethan (right) and me with a Peshmerga fighter on the night of a big battle in Daquq.

With Sheik Jaffer at his headquarters, days prior to my departure.

Deep in thought after an artillery strike on the Daquq front, shortly after 105-millimetre shells had landed 50 metres away.