RULE BRITANNIA! Seems like there’s some support for the war there. . . .

The prospect of war with Iraq is encouraging a record number of young Britons to join up.

Over the past six months 7,350 recruits have joined the Army, compared with 6,592 for the same period last year. Two years ago the comparative figure was 5,935.

The figures represent a rise of 11.5 per cent on last year and 23 per cent on 2000 and suggest that the Army is likely to recruit a record 15,000 new soldiers. The bulk of the increase is in the infantry, which has suffered most from recruiting problems.

The recruitment boost follows years of failing to attract enough new soldiers to keep the Army at full strength. Despite repeated advertising campaigns all three armed services – particularly the Army – had been unable to meet their targets until recently. The Army has also not been helped by potentially damaging setbacks such as the failure of the Army’s new rifle – the SA80-A2 – in Afghanistan.

One senior military officer told The Telegraph: “There is a direct correlation between the increased recruiting figures and the prospect of a war with Iraq. History has shown time after time that as far as the British public is concerned, recruiting is never a problem when there is a war in the offing.”

Why, that’s an almost Tennessee-like spirit.