The military have been called in to aid the fight against coronavirus in the UK (Picture: PA)

A British Army convoy pulled up outside St Thomas Hospital in London this morning after Boris Johnson announced an unprecedented set of measures to keep people indoors.

Soldiers delivered personal protective equipment including face masks to help frontline NHS staff with their fight against coronavirus. Members of the 101 Logistic Brigade have been called in to help with the national health crisis which has seen 6650 confirmed cases and 335 deaths.

It comes after the army announced it had 20,000 troops on standby as part of a ‘Covid Support Force’ alongside 10,000 specially trained personnel at ‘higher readiness’ to respond to a civil emergency. Soldiers are even being flown home from Iraq to assist in the battle against Covid-19.



Explaining this morning’s hospital delivery, 101 Logistic Brigade Brigadier Phil Prosser said: ‘The British Army soldier is a citizen soldier and is proud to be part of the nation’s response to this unprecedented challenge.


To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

British Army lorries cross Westminster Bridge towards the Houses of Parliament (Picture: AP)

MoD personnel from 4 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps collected face masks from Liverpool and delivered them to St Thomas’ Hospital in London (Picture: PA)

‘The British Army soldier is a citizen soldier’ (Picture: PA)

Soldiers have been rolled out to help the NHS with their efforts (Picture: PA)

Troops arrive to drop off much needed protective face masks to St Thomas Hospital (Picture: PA)

When does the Government call in the military? The civil authority has all or some capability, but may not be able to act immediately

Rapid transport is needed for an urgent task

Civil authorities don’t have the means to complete a task and it would be unreasonable or too expensive to develop them

There is a definitive need to act and it is clear what the armed forces need to do

Mutual aid and commercial alternatives have been discounted

‘There are some tough times ahead and the nation needs to rise together to respond to those times.

‘What you’ve seen today is a British Army convoy delivering Personal Protective Equipment right to the frontline of the nation’s response to the Coronavirus challenge – standing side by side with the NHS.’

For the latest coronavirus updates and coverage in the UK and around the world click here.

Read the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

A team of 150 personnel have been earmarked to help NHS staff drive oxygen tankers patients in need while the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is helping Public Health England understand the airborne virus and how it spreads.

Previously the military were used to assist with emergency evacuation flights from China and Japan, but now they are dealing with the crisis at home as the infection count continues to soar.

Soldiers load up their trucks the night before this morning’s delivery (Picture: PA)

Thousands of troops are standing by as part of the MoD’s Covid Support Force (Picture: PA)

The army can be used in a number of ways to provide crucial support during civil emergencies (Picture: PA)

When does the Government call in the military? The civil authority has all or some capability, but may not be able to act immediately

Rapid transport is needed for an urgent task

Civil authorities don’t have the means to complete a task and it would be unreasonable or too expensive to develop them

There is a definitive need to act and it is clear what the armed forces need to do

Mutual aid and commercial alternatives have been discounted