Army warrior takes top role

THE head of the Army head, who joined up at 18, is to lead all UK armed forces.

General Sir Nick Carter, 59, signed up with The Royal Green Jackets and served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo.

He later commanded the 20th Armoured Brigade in Iraq in 2004 and the 6th Division in Afghanistan in 2009/10.

His appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff comes two months after he spoke out to warn that cuts were putting the UK at risk of being left behind by adversaries like Russia. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was “impressed” by his reforms and care for his troops. Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, hailed him as “exceptional at a time of change”. He succeeds Air Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, leaving in June for a NATO role. REFORM Sir Nick