Some say that it is the most dangerous album ever recorded, but for the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, fighting and 40C (105F) heat were all part of a day’s work.

Last night the regiment’s 24 pipers were awarded the Best Album prize at the Classical Brit Awards, the first non-professional musicians to be recognised at the ceremony, for the record they produced in makeshift tented studios at their Basra base.

Spirit of the Glen: Journey was recorded in October, during the Dragoon Guards’ six-month tour of duty in Iraq. The regiment saw off stiff competition from established classical artists such as the tenor Andrea Bocelli and the mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins to triumph in the public vote.

Lieutenant-Colonel Felix Gedney, the regiment’s commanding officer, said: “It’s important for them not to forget that they are not a band for me. They’re my tank gunner, my lorry driver, my signals operator. I see them very much as soldiers first.”

The album came on the back of the pipers’ debut release, Spirit of the Glen, which sold more than 300,000 copies, topped the classical charts for 14 weeks and managed to reach No 20 in the pop charts, outselling more conventional artists such as Elton John.

As many in the classical music world gathered for a ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall last night, attended by the Duchess of Cornwall, the band, back from operations, were scheduled to perform at the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo and so were able to send three representatives, including Major Angus Benson-Blair, second in command.

“There seems to be such an overwhelming support from the public for the military. We see it as a massive vote of support,” he said.

The record is thought to be the first commercial album to be produced in a war zone and was recorded after technical staff from Universal Music took advantage of a lull in the fighting to fly out to Iraq. Tom Lewis, an A&R manager at Universal, said: “We did not appreciate what we had let ourselves in for until we were flying in total darkness in a helmet and full body armour. I was terrified. I suddenly realised what our Armed Services do on a daily basis. It was humbling. This is an album people risked their lives to make.”

Major Benson-Blair said that his men had battled through searing heat to make the record. “We got the recording guys to come out, but we didn’t have proper buildings or anything that resembled a recording studio, so we took the officers’ mess out of commission and set up the studio there,” he said.

“I came in one evening from the centre of Basra to do a bit of work. I woke up in the morning, sang on a track and then went out on patrol. For these guys, one minute they were in the recording studio and literally half an hour later some of them were out on patrol in Basra.”

“Most people definitely say that the bagpipes are an acquired taste, but that is when you hear them played badly. When they are played well, by a military band, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.”

The winners

Female Artist of the Year Alison Balsom Haydn Hummel Trumpet Concertos

Male Artist of the Year Gustavo Dudamel Fiesta

Composer of the Year Howard Goodall Eternal Light — A Requiem

Young British Classical Performer or Group Alina Ibragimova

Soundtrack of the Year Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard The Dark Knight

Critics’ Award Sir Charles Mackerras/Scottish Chamber Orchestra

NS&I Album of the Year The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Spirit of the Glen: Journey

Lifetime Achievement in Music José Carreras

Editor's choice

• The 100 Best Films of the Decade
• 70 facts you didn't know about Marvel
• The 50 Biggest Movies Of 2010