A RECRUITING officer is retiring after seven years, during the busiest period for the army since the Second World War.

Major Nigel Walker from the Bournemouth recruiting office has watched hundreds of new recruits take the oath of allegiance – including men killed in Afghanistan.

Soldiers recruited into The Rifles during that period and killed included Riflemen Phil Allen from Verwood and Jonny Allott from Kinson.

The 59-year-old said: “Yes, it’s a risky business.

“But life generally is quite dangerous. It does happen. We have had a few casualties from this area.

“As an army we are very robust about accepting casualties.

“We all understand, we are all trained to understand, the risks involved.

“And when a tragedy does happen we are very supportive of each other.

“But overall the risk isn’t very high when you consider how many soldiers have actually served in Afghanistan over the last 10 years.

“I think as soldiers we are much more robust than the public can imagine.

“It’s the strength of the system and the support which is quite essential.”

Major Walker gives the speech as new recruits join up in front of flags and a photo of the queen.

He said: “I try and reassure them that they are in very capable hands and that they will be given the best training available.

“They have really got to rely on what I call camaraderie and being a member of the team.

“That’s what I base my whole talk around.”

He said recruiting had improved over the seven years, partly thanks to the recession and the war in Afghanistan.

His team get far more applications and the induction has been extended.

The net result is that the men sent on to basic training are of much higher quality.

He also said that during his time the public’s support and understanding of the army had greatly improved, especially thanks to the homecoming and freedom parades.

Major Walker joined the now defunct Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment and will retire in May after just short of 42 years in the army.