Britain's Child Army

international | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Saturday February 03, 2007 16:06

by pat c

Conscription never went away you know. It just became Economic Conscription. It is Working Class kids who will die in the war for oil. Sixteen-year-old Cara is particularly keen. "They told us about the pay, and it's way better than all my cousins
are getting," she says.

Don't forget : James Connolly first came to Ireland in the uniform of a British Soldier, he was an Economic Conscript.

pat c

Britain's child army

Stricken by Iraq and low morale, the British army is on a desperate
recruitment drive. Its new targets? Poorly educated teenagers and young
schoolchildren

On a winter day, 38 schoolchildren gather at Fulwood Barracks in Preston. They are aged between 14 and 16 they have been bussed over from a poorly performing comprehensive in a deprived area. The teachers who have come along with them seem apprehensive. Many of these kids can be unruly; others are quiet but don't perform well in class.

Warrant Officer Nick Froehling, however, is young, friendly and easy going. Within minutes he has the children doing rifle drill, shifting model SA80s from shoulder to arm's length and back down to "at ease" - although Froehling doesn't say "At ease". He prefers the order "Chill".

2,000 shortfall in numbers of actual recruits against targets in October
2006

6.6% of recruits in 2006 were women

7.3% of current army personnel are of an ethnic minority

21 years the largest age-group among personnel

£12,000 starting salary of a new recruit

27 average age of British soldiers killed in Iraq in 2006

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Comments (5 of 5)

John W

by Jerry Cornelius

Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:37

Actually I have dined in the Officers Mess in Cathal Brugha Barracks and I am pleased to report that all of the officers present were capable of using their cutlery. They even passed the port the correct way around the table.

But they dont run potential officer courses where they assume that working class candidates are uncivilised. Nor do they recruit boy or girl soldiers.

boy soldiers

by john w.

Mon Feb 05, 2007 21:18

I suppose that the irish army has no ettiquette and that all irish soldiers are upstanding and perfect! come on lets get real and leave the past behind!

This, lads, is a fish knife

Mon Feb 05, 2007 13:07

Heres a related article about the Barmys Potential Officer Development Course. Full text at link.

What do you think someone needs in order to be an officer in the British army? Grit, no doubt, and determination, plus the ability to lead rank-and-file soldiers both in the barracks and on the battlefield. What about an appreciation of the theatre, and some knowledge of fine wines?

At the Army School of Education in Worthy Down, Hampshire, aspiring officers are given a crash course in the arts and social etiquette, among other things.

Indeed

Mon Feb 05, 2007 09:46

My point exactly. They are still doing it. James Connolly was 14 when he enlisted.

Nothing new under the sun

by A.Nonimouse

Sun Feb 04, 2007 19:44

Britain & the Commonwealth have a Long history of "Boy Soldiers" Nothing new in that. Sean Connery served in the Royal Navy at 16

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Britain's Child Army

Comments (5 of 5)