Reservist age limit now 52.. Commodore Anson ?

[Lancer]

Looking at the raising of the age of those now allowed to join the reserves to 52 reminds me of Admiral Anson's expidition in 1740/44.

He left Portsmouth with his Squadron of vessels composed of six warships and two merchant vessels to sail around the world.

The provision of 500 troops was farcical. No regular troops were made available so 500 invalids were to be collected from the Chelsea Hospital. In this case, the term invalid referred to soldiers that were too sick, wounded or old for active duty but might be able to perform lighter duties. In any case, on hearing details of the proposed voyage, those that could get away did and only 259 came aboard, many on stretchers. To make up for the 241 missing, marines were ordered aboard but these were such fresh recruits that few of them had yet been trained how to fire a gun.

So what go's around comes around guess they will be using us old and bold shortly !

[Corkhead]

I've just enlisted in the paras.

[lovedeanblue]

In an attempt to reach anywhere near their reserve recruiting targets the Govt is resorting to desperate measures...

[geoffp]

I've got a good chance of being accepted as a deckhand on a submarine (If we can find one)

[lovedeanblue]

Desperate need of Engineers and Cooks I hear Geoff. Are you any good rustling up Babies Heads, Train Smash or Yellow Peril ?

[Scoular1]

Does that apply to Wrens also ?

[bluekite]

Desperate need of Engineers and Cooks I hear Geoff. Are you any good rustling up Babies Heads, Train Smash or Yellow Peril ?

Should that read Engineers and Corks ???
I guess the FF can provide the SL Pals Home Guard

[pompeygun]

Does anyone else find the recruitment ads, particularly for the army after extreme redundancies, excruciating.
Bloody nerve IMO.
The idea that you can have an unusually large % of reservists to man your forces in an ever changing world just comes across a extreme penny pinching. Not to mention the problems Reservists have trying to hold down a job whilst having to be away for 3mth or more @ a time.