John Dean
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2004 6:06 am
Post subject: Black Watch nationalities |
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Further to our discussions on the Black Watch recruitment base,
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3608989&thesection=news&thesubsection=world
http://tinyurl.com/5e8uy
reports that :
"The fifth Black Watch soldier to die since the British troops were sent
to cover for American Marines south of Baghdad was named yesterday as
Private Pita Tukutukuwaqa of Fiji. ... Tukutukuwaqa, who was married
and whose wife lives in Suva, had served in Kosovo and Iraq since
joining the Black Watch in Britain in March 2001. "
....
"Tukutukuwaqa's death has drawn attention to the large number of Fijians
serving in the British Army. ... Fijians fought with British soldiers in
World War II, and have served in Malaya, Borneo, Oman and now Iraq. Part
of the foundation for this well-established military tradition is that
many Fijians hold the British royal family in high esteem. But a bigger
part is the high unemployment and low wages at home that have created
the lure of serving the former colonial power. A Fiji Embassy spokesman
in London said more than 2000 Fijians were with British regiments. ...
The Scottish regiments have proved particularly attractive to the
Fijians. "
Apparently known to his Regimental buddies as "big Tukes".
--
John Dean
Oxford
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