Scots could lose two battalions in review

A FORMER senior Scottish commander has claimed that two infantry battalions from the Royal Regiment of Scotland could still be chopped in an announcement on the future of the army which is expected to be made in the Commons on Thursday.

Colonel Clive Fairweather, formerly second in command of the SAS and one of the most senior officers in Scotland, believes that there is a “good chance” a second battalion may be added to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who are understood to have already been told they are set to be disbanded.

If true, the Highlanders – which has the worst recruitment record in the army, at almost a quarter down on its full compliment – could also be axed.

The Argylls, based in Canterbury and famed as the regiment of the Thin Red Line at Balaclava, is the most junior of the five battalions.

The Highlanders, an amalgamation of the Gordons, Camerons and Seaforths, are the next most junior.

If they go it is likely their names will survive as Territorial Army units or after being merged with the Black Watch.

The review is also set to conclude that the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards tank regiment, based in Germany, will be disbanded, as well as the Coldstream Guards regiment.

Col Fairweather said: “It looks like the Scots are going to get it out of malice because much of the army thinks they should have lost more in the last review.

“But I think there is also an element of racism in that the Royal Regiment of Scotland recruits a lot of Fijians, who of course are foreigners.”

He added: “One battalion has certainly gone and there seems to be a good chance that it may be two.

“That was the original thinking, but the prospect of an independence referendum had seemed to see off the possibility of two going. However, it seems from recent briefings that this option is back.”