Guns for "I cannot believe it's Butter - it must be Coke"

Anyone familiar with the street in Cyprus is aware that the UK garrison is well supplied with their needs for illegal drugs - if not a major source, as a boost to their pay.

Therefore the Sunday Times story "Soldiers in 'guns for coke' scandal" by the usually excellent and accurate David Leppard about soldiers from the 3rd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment swapping seized Iraqi hand weapons for Cocaine in Germany at the rate of 50 grams of cocaine (with a street value of £2,500(?)) for weapons like Glock's (The Yardie's armament of choice here in Manchester) is entirely believable.

During the First World War the Yorkshire Regiment raised 21 battalions. A memorial to the 9,000 men of the Regiment who died, stands in the Soldiers' Chapel in Beverley Minster. 4 Victoria Crosses were awarded to men of the Regiment.

The 3rd Battalion completed a tour of duty in southern Iraq last year and is now based in Warminster, Wiltshire.

Leppard reports " the army is suffering an epidemic of drug abuse" which is rather over - egging the pudding. Drugs have long been as popular amongst the young men and women in the armed forces, at the same level as outside ...... fuelled by boredom and cheap booze and the "macho" culture.