Graham
05-08-2012, 10:29 AM
SCOTTISH battalions to lose their historic names as one infantry unit cut in defence restructuring
SCOTLAND'S historic regimental names are to disappear under the Government's controversial defence cuts, along with at least one infantry battalion.
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02166/Philip-Hammond_2166059c.jpg
By Auslan Cramb, and James Kirkup
12:49AM BST 08 May 2012
The restructuring will mean the loss of famous names including the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that Army regiments with significant numbers of soldiers from Commonwealth countries were facing abolition or merger.
He also claimed earlier reforms in 2005 effectively did away with the names, and said the Black Watch was now generally known in the Army as 3 SCOTS.
A senior defence source confirmed the names would go between now and 2014 in a move that has prompted an angry backlash from former commanding officers, politicians and service families.
Under the new system, the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), would become just 3 SCOTS, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlands, if it survives the cuts, would become solely 5 SCOTS, and the Royal Highland Fusiliers would be 2 SCOTS.
The Daily Telegraph understands that The Highlanders (4 SCOTS), and the Argylls, are the most likely candidates for abolition, with a decision expected by the end of the month, although there are also concerns about the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a tank regiment based in Germany.
Mr Hammond said the most vulnerable units were those that failed to recruit only in the UK, and made up the numbers from Fiji, the Caribbean and elsewhere.
The Coalition cuts will see the regular Army reduced from 102,000 personnel to 82,000 by 2022 - its lowest level since the Boer war at the end of the 19th century - with some changes taking place over the next two or three years
"Clearly the Army can't get smaller by 17 per cent without losing some units," said Mr Hammond.
"I can't say to you that there will be no loss of battalions in the infantry as we downsize the army. We are looking at the options in the army and the armoured corps."
The two units under threat, in common with all the Scottish battalions, have been meeting their recruiting targets and are in line with the requirement that less than 10 per cent of their soldiers are from overseas.
The Highlanders, an armoured infantry battalion, is currently based near Fallingbostel in Germany while the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is an air assault infantry battalion that has been based in Canterbury since 2003.
A military source said: "There is anger about this. The Scottish battalions have been hitting their recruitment targets and are performing as well as any other units."
Lt Col Sir Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn, former CO of the Black Watch, said the loss of the names was a "tragedy", and the real damage was done seven years ago when historic regiments were amalgamated to become part of Scotland’s single “super regiment” of five regular and two Territorial Army battalions.
He also criticised Mr Hammond's claim that some units no longer had close ties to their traditional recruiting grounds, adding: "It is a nonsense to suggest there is no geographical connection with the Scots battalions.
"People turned out in their droves to see the Black Watch parade through Perth, Dundee, Kirckaldy and Forfar when they recently returned from Afghanistan."
Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, said the Coalition was cutting not just capability but "an enormous part of our history". He added: "Scotland has deep and enduring relationships in the British
"Armed Forces that would end under independence and may now threatened by
the Tory government. Savings must be found, but many will be saddened if this is true and will fear these cuts are rushed and wrongheaded.
"There is now huge uncertainty about the future shape of the Army which is causing worry and concern for service personnel and defence communities the length and breadth of Scotland. The Government have got to come clean about their plans."
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, is also known to have concerns about the regimental names, some of which go back hundreds of years.
But Mr Hammond told The Daily Telegraph: "The ancient cap badges have largely gone, they are attached in brackets to some unit names.
"We have units that are significantly under recruiting. We have units which are recruiting a significant part of their strength from foreign and commonwealth countries."
Angus Robertson, the SNP defence spokesman, said nobody outside Whitehall wanted to see the amalgamation of the Scottish regiments in the first place, adding: "It was a small comfort that the unique identities of the battalions would be preserved. Now even that seems to be at risk.
"The disbandment of these senior units would be an intolerable betrayal by the UK Government. It brings into focus the shocking decline of Scottish recruited units and starkly exposes the extent to which the UK Government are running-down Scotland's defence capabilities." The Nationalists also claim the defence cuts could bolster support for breaking up Britain in the independence referendum.
According to the Government, the restructuring by Gen Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, will make the Army more flexible and powerful.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9251240/SCOTTISH-battalions-to-lose-their-historic-names-as-one-infantry-unit-cut-in-defence-restructuring.html
SCOTLAND'S historic regimental names are to disappear under the Government's controversial defence cuts, along with at least one infantry battalion.
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02166/Philip-Hammond_2166059c.jpg
By Auslan Cramb, and James Kirkup
12:49AM BST 08 May 2012
The restructuring will mean the loss of famous names including the Black Watch, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Royal Highland Fusiliers.
Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, said in an interview with The Daily Telegraph that Army regiments with significant numbers of soldiers from Commonwealth countries were facing abolition or merger.
He also claimed earlier reforms in 2005 effectively did away with the names, and said the Black Watch was now generally known in the Army as 3 SCOTS.
A senior defence source confirmed the names would go between now and 2014 in a move that has prompted an angry backlash from former commanding officers, politicians and service families.
Under the new system, the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS), would become just 3 SCOTS, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlands, if it survives the cuts, would become solely 5 SCOTS, and the Royal Highland Fusiliers would be 2 SCOTS.
The Daily Telegraph understands that The Highlanders (4 SCOTS), and the Argylls, are the most likely candidates for abolition, with a decision expected by the end of the month, although there are also concerns about the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, a tank regiment based in Germany.
Mr Hammond said the most vulnerable units were those that failed to recruit only in the UK, and made up the numbers from Fiji, the Caribbean and elsewhere.
The Coalition cuts will see the regular Army reduced from 102,000 personnel to 82,000 by 2022 - its lowest level since the Boer war at the end of the 19th century - with some changes taking place over the next two or three years
"Clearly the Army can't get smaller by 17 per cent without losing some units," said Mr Hammond.
"I can't say to you that there will be no loss of battalions in the infantry as we downsize the army. We are looking at the options in the army and the armoured corps."
The two units under threat, in common with all the Scottish battalions, have been meeting their recruiting targets and are in line with the requirement that less than 10 per cent of their soldiers are from overseas.
The Highlanders, an armoured infantry battalion, is currently based near Fallingbostel in Germany while the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is an air assault infantry battalion that has been based in Canterbury since 2003.
A military source said: "There is anger about this. The Scottish battalions have been hitting their recruitment targets and are performing as well as any other units."
Lt Col Sir Andrew Ogilvy-Wedderburn, former CO of the Black Watch, said the loss of the names was a "tragedy", and the real damage was done seven years ago when historic regiments were amalgamated to become part of Scotland’s single “super regiment” of five regular and two Territorial Army battalions.
He also criticised Mr Hammond's claim that some units no longer had close ties to their traditional recruiting grounds, adding: "It is a nonsense to suggest there is no geographical connection with the Scots battalions.
"People turned out in their droves to see the Black Watch parade through Perth, Dundee, Kirckaldy and Forfar when they recently returned from Afghanistan."
Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, said the Coalition was cutting not just capability but "an enormous part of our history". He added: "Scotland has deep and enduring relationships in the British
"Armed Forces that would end under independence and may now threatened by
the Tory government. Savings must be found, but many will be saddened if this is true and will fear these cuts are rushed and wrongheaded.
"There is now huge uncertainty about the future shape of the Army which is causing worry and concern for service personnel and defence communities the length and breadth of Scotland. The Government have got to come clean about their plans."
David Cameron, the Prime Minister, is also known to have concerns about the regimental names, some of which go back hundreds of years.
But Mr Hammond told The Daily Telegraph: "The ancient cap badges have largely gone, they are attached in brackets to some unit names.
"We have units that are significantly under recruiting. We have units which are recruiting a significant part of their strength from foreign and commonwealth countries."
Angus Robertson, the SNP defence spokesman, said nobody outside Whitehall wanted to see the amalgamation of the Scottish regiments in the first place, adding: "It was a small comfort that the unique identities of the battalions would be preserved. Now even that seems to be at risk.
"The disbandment of these senior units would be an intolerable betrayal by the UK Government. It brings into focus the shocking decline of Scottish recruited units and starkly exposes the extent to which the UK Government are running-down Scotland's defence capabilities." The Nationalists also claim the defence cuts could bolster support for breaking up Britain in the independence referendum.
According to the Government, the restructuring by Gen Sir Peter Wall, Chief of the General Staff, will make the Army more flexible and powerful.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9251240/SCOTTISH-battalions-to-lose-their-historic-names-as-one-infantry-unit-cut-in-defence-restructuring.html