The British-ish Army

MORE 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

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