THE MOST senior soldier in Scotland will tomorrow face the men of The Black Watch in Dundee to explain his part in the decision to merge the regiment into a larger infantry unit.

Major General Euan Loudon, Colonel Commandant of the Scottish Division, will address 300 men of the 1st battalion in City Square at the end of their march through the city.

The parade is one of a number taking place throughout Tayside and Fife to mark the regiment’s return from its second tour of duty in Iraq.

It has taken on greater significance given the decision, announced at the end of last year, to merge The Black Watch into a Royal Regiment of Scotland, thereby ending its historic independence and threatening its family identity.

One senior regimental source said Major General Loudon will address the troops to outline what the merger will mean to them.

“I expect his comments will go down like a lead balloon, given his part in the demise of the Scottish infantry structure,” said the source.

The march will leave Camperdown Street at 2.30 pm tomorrow and will end at Albert Square. The men will then gather in City Square before a civic reception in the city chambers.

Today the 1st battalion will parade through Arbroath, Montrose and Forfar.

The Arbroath parade will start from John Street at 10 am and end at the Abbey. In Montrose, the march sets off from the tourist information office at 12.30 pm and ends at the swimming pool.

The final march of the day, in Forfar, begins at the police station, West High Street, and ends at St James Road.