The British-ish Army
RUPERT HAMERMORE THAN 2,600 foreigners are fighting for the British Army.
Troops from around the world have been recruited because of a massive shortfall in the numbers joining up at home.
In 1995, just three Fijians were serving in the Army. Today Fiji contributes an astonishing 1,053 soldiers - and in Jamaica figures have soared from 34 to 240. Other troops come from Sweden, Norway and even Germany. Seven years ago there were only 604 foreign nationals in British Army ranks - this year the figure has risen to 2,659. There are also 3,795 Gurkhas, mainly from Nepal, a country which has been a mainstay of the Army for nearly 200 years. Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon recently sent a 10-strong Army team to the Caribbean island of St Lucia to try to recruit up to 500 soldiers. The number of soldiers currently serving is 100,900 - a shortfall of 6,070.
All soldiers from foreign countries are paid the same as British recruits. Privates receive a basic pounds 12,500 a year.
Colonel Alasdair Loudon, 46, who heads recruitment in the Commonwealth said: "We do not recruit in a Commonwealth country unless invited to do so, but we are increasingly finding large numbers of high-quality people wish to join us ."
OUR FOREIGN LEGION
COUNTRY 1995 2002
America 1 6
Antigua 0 2
Australia 78 72
Bahamas 0 1
Bangladesh 1 2
Barbados 8 6
Barbuda 1 0
Belgium 1 0
Belize 0 3
Singapore 2 3
C'wealth others 1 2
Brunei 1 0
Cameroon 0 1
Canada 60 66
Cyprus 4 2
Denmark 2 0
Dominica 1 1
Dominican Rep. 0 2
Egypt 3 1
Falklands 2 1
Fiji 3 1,053
Gambia 0 16
Germany 8 4
Ghana 5 99
Gibraltar 0 1
Grenada 0 14
Guyana 3 3
Hong Kong 6 5
India 13 18
Jamaica 34 240
Kenya 3 24
Malawi 1 6
Malaysia 3 3
Malta 10 6
Mauritius 2 5
Montserrat 2 2
Namibia 0 1
Nepal 4 10
Netherlands 0 1
New Zealand 58 61
Nigeria 1 17
Norway 1 1
Pacific Islands 0 1
Pakistan 2 7
Papua 0 1
Rep of Ireland 203 204
Rhodesia 5 5
Seychelles 0 1
Sierra Leone 2 6
Singapore 0 1
South Africa 9 226
Sri Lanka 2 4
St. Helena 1 22
St. Kitts 2 1
St. Lucia 0 17
St. Vincent 1 168
Sweden 2 1
Switzerland 1 1
Tanzania 1 0
Tonga 0 3
Trinidad & Tobago 10 30
Uganda 2 3
West Indies 9 3
Zambia 0 3
Zimbabwe 26 190
Stateless 0 1
Total 601 2,659
PLUS THE GURKHAS
APRIL APRIL
1995 2002
4,325 3,795
Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.