Complex sentence: The officers were also recruited from Europe--not from the American colonies--and consisted of English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, Swiss and Germans: it was the first time foreign officers were commissioned at British Army officers.
Split into simpler sentences: The officers were also recruited from Europe--not from the American colonies--and consisted of English, Scotch, Irish, Dutch, Swiss and Germans. It was the first time foreign officers were commissioned at British Army officers.