Peter Rhodes on our small army, hangover-free beer and US dollars in UK politics
The veterans' minister Al Carns claims that, in a major war, the 70,000-strong British Army might be wiped out within six months. Some would call that wildly optimistic.
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The last time a small, professional British Army was sent into action against overwhelming odds was in 1914 when the 70,000 “Old Contemptibles” of the British Expeditionary Force found themselves facing four million Germans. Within three months the BEF had 90 per cent casualties; some battalions virtually ceased to exist.
The big difference between then and now is that in 1914 Britain could call up 450,000 reservists and Territorials to continue the fight. Today we have about 20,000 trained reservists which, to borrow a phrase from Jeremy Clarkson, is diddly squat.
