Details of a new threat to the world-famous Black Watch have sparked a furious reaction in the battalion’s Tayside and Fife heartlands.
Politicians across Courier country, and those further afield, spoke of their outrage following the fresh threat to a battalion so proud of its local links.
Their ire was further fuelled as, less than a decade ago when battalions were amalgamated, it had been promised that cap badges would be retained as a so-called ”golden thread” designed to keep centuries-old traditions alive.
The SNP’s defence spokesman Angus Robertson said: ”The disbandment of these senior units would be an intolerable betrayal by the UK Government. Nobody outside of Whitehall wanted to see the amalgamation of Scottish regiments. It was a small comfort that the unique identities of the battalions would be preserved and now even that seems to be at risk.”
Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said: ”The defence community will be dismayed that history is being dismissed. Philip Hammond seems either oblivious or uncaring about the historic ties that many communities have to army units and vice versa.”
Even coalition ministers appeared horrified by the new threat to The Black Watch.
North-east Fife MP and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: ”It would be a great pity if these famous names of Scottish regiments which have served the crown for centuries should be lost. The regiments and their reputations are an essential part of the fabric of Scottish history. I very much hope that a way can be found to preserve both.”
Perthshire politicians also lined up to express their disgust, particularly targeting the suggestion from Mr Hammond that the battalion no longer draws on support from its traditional recruiting heartlands.
Pete Wishart MP said: ”This is a total betrayal from the Government to the whole history and heritage of our local regiment. Philip Hammond sends these brave soldiers off to war but he shows absolutely no understanding of some of the things that are really important in bonding them together into the efficient, effective fighting force that they are.
”To suggest, as Mr Hammond does, that units like The Black Watch no longer have close ties to their traditional recruiting grounds is absolute nonsense and a slur to both the soldiers of The Black Watch and the communities from which they come.”
Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham said: ”This is precisely what we warned would happen when the UK Government, under Labour, merged the historic Scottish infantry regiments.
”We were assured that, despite the merger, regimental distinctiveness and traditions would be retained the ‘golden thread’ as it was called. Well, that thread has been well and truly snapped and frankly was a fraud from the very start.”
Annabelle Ewing MSP, who was presented with a Red Hackle by Black Watch campaigners for her resistance to the 2006 merger, said: ”Fifers have a real connection with The Black Watch and if Mr Hammond thinks that units like The Black Watch no longer have close ties to their traditional recruiting grounds, he should have seen the crowds that turned up to welcome them home as they marched through Kirkcaldy on their return from Afghanistan so very recently.”
Labour’s Gordon Banks accused the UK Government of making ”some very strange decisions”, branding the proposed restructuring exercise ”needless”.
A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: ”A review of the future structure of the army is ongoing and no conclusions have yet been reached.”
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was accused of an ”intolerable betrayal” after new Government cost-cutting proposals threatened to consign the centuries-old battalion to the history books.
Raised in Perthshire and synonymous with its Tayside and Fife recruitment patch, The Black Watch has one of the proudest records of any UK battalion.
However, its future is at stake after Mr Hammond suggested a new ”restructuring” exercise would lead to both the loss of traditional regimental names and at least one infantry battalion.
Under the proposed new system, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots) would become just 3 Scots.
Meanwhile, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, if they survive, would become 5 Scots and The Royal Highland Fusiliers 2 Scots.
The UK Government is ultimately planning to cut the size of the army from 102,000 soldiers to 82,000.
Stuart Crawford, a former lieutenant colonel who is now a defence policy commentator, said there is growing speculation in military circles that ”at least one, if not two” of the five battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland are at risk, as well as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tank regiment based in Germany.
”The Argylls are on the chopping block and the Highlanders are being dragged up to the gallows,” he predicted.
While there is no suggestion soldiers from The Black Watch will be axed at this stage, the potential loss of a name known and respected throughout the world has been met with fierce opposition.
When quizzed on potential defence cuts, Mr Hammond said: ”I can’t say to you that there will be no loss of battalions in the infantry as we downsize the army.”
Asked specifically about the future of historic ”cap badges” traditional names such as The Black Watch he was reported to have said: ”The ancient cap badges have largely gone. They are attached in brackets to some unit names.”
Mr Hammond added that units at risk were struggling to recruit personnel.
Continued…
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond was accused of an ”intolerable betrayal” after new Government cost-cutting proposals threatened to consign the centuries-old battalion to the history books.
Raised in Perthshire and synonymous with its Tayside and Fife recruitment patch, The Black Watch has one of the proudest records of any UK battalion.
However, its future is at stake after Mr Hammond suggested a new ”restructuring” exercise would lead to both the loss of traditional regimental names and at least one infantry battalion.
Under the proposed new system, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots) would become just 3 Scots.
Meanwhile, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, if they survive, would become 5 Scots and The Royal Highland Fusiliers 2 Scots.
The UK Government is ultimately planning to cut the size of the army from 102,000 soldiers to 82,000.
Stuart Crawford, a former lieutenant colonel who is now a defence policy commentator, said there is growing speculation in military circles that ”at least one, if not two” of the five battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland are at risk, as well as the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tank regiment based in Germany.
”The Argylls are on the chopping block and the Highlanders are being dragged up to the gallows,” he predicted.
While there is no suggestion soldiers from The Black Watch will be axed at this stage, the potential loss of a name known and respected throughout the world has been met with fierce opposition.
When quizzed on potential defence cuts, Mr Hammond said: ”I can’t say to you that there will be no loss of battalions in the infantry as we downsize the army.”
Asked specifically about the future of historic ”cap badges” traditional names such as The Black Watch he was reported to have said: ”The ancient cap badges have largely gone. They are attached in brackets to some unit names.”
Mr Hammond added that units at risk were struggling to recruit personnel.
Continued…