Birmingham youngsters sign up to Army

Sep 2 2008 Birmingham Mail

BOMB disposal experts, Royal Engineers and infantry recruits filled Birmingham Council House for the city’s largest-ever Army enlistment ceremony.

The 47 Midland teenagers swore allegiance to Queen and Country in front of their proud parents as they took their first step into the military life.

Within just two years, they could be facing militias in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan’s Helmand provinces.

The mood of proceedings at the allegiance ceremony was one of pride and excitement as each new soldier received his certificate from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Coun Chauhdry Abdul Rashid.

Maj Bob Bath, head of Army recruitment for Birmingham, told the families: “These young soldiers will need every bit of support available from here on out.

“The first things they will learn is that they are not as tough as they think they are!

“The second is that they are much more resolute then they may ever have thought.

“We will stretch and test them to show you just what fine soldiers they can be.

“Our reputation rests with them and I know they will not let us down.”

Among the recruits was 16-year-old Liam Molloy, a former pupil at Archbishop Grimshaw School, Chelmsley Wood.

Liam, who was accompanied at the ceremony by his 83-year-old granddad James Chaney, a former RAF and Army serviceman.

He said: “My big brother is already in the Army and I have had the benefit of a bit of an insider’s take on things.

“It has made him a better person so I decided to join up too.”

Dominic Barnes, aged 16, of Walsall Wood, decided to turn his life around by joining the Army.

Dominic, who will join the Mercian Regiment, said: “I used to get in a lot of fights when I was younger but then I realised I had a choice ahead of me.

“All that stuff is behind me now and I will get a fresh start in the Army.”