Army cuts put four Scottish regimental names in firing line

UP TO four Scottish regimental names are under threat because of plans to reduce the size of the armed forces, according to British Army sources.

Concerns have been heightened following reports that the head of the army, General Sir Peter Wall, has personally warned Prime Minister David Cameron that a fifth of infantry battalions will be lost as a result of the 18,000 reduction in regular forces.

The report appears to confirm fears already raised that at least two infantry battalions in the Royal Regiment of Scotland – the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders based in Canterbury and the Highlanders based in Germany – could be under threat.

The two are the most junior regular battalions in the Royal Regiment – the fourth and fifth – which in the past has been the benchmark used for getting rid of cap badges.

Both battalions represent famous military pasts, with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders formerly the regiment of the Thin Red Line at the Battle of Balaclava and the Highlanders an amalgam of the Gordon, Seaforth and Cameron Highlander regiments.

However, military sources have also suggested that the army may consider using battalion recruitment as a measure for deciding which battalions are scrapped.

This could put the Black Watch, which is currently based at Fort George in Inverness, under threat according to some speculation.

On top of this there are already reports that the government is considering getting rid of the former cavalry regiments and amalgamating heavy armour into infantry regiments.

This would mean the end of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, whose history also includes the Greys, the oldest cavalry regiment of the line in the world, most famous for the capture of Napoleon’s imperial eagle at Waterloo.

However, it is also understood that Defence Secretary Liam Fox has made it clear to MPs that he intends to save cap badges, which has raised speculation that the regular battalions will be switched to a newly enlarged Territorial Army.

Former SAS commander Clive Fairweather, who recently stepped down as an honorary colonel in The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, believes that up to two Scottish infantry battalions could be victims of the government’s cuts.

“The implications are that Scotland will certainly lose one of its battalions, possibly two,” he said. “There are a number of ways the army could set about this. One way to do it is by role – in which case the Argylls in the air assault role might survive.

“Equally, they might get rid of the armoured infantry role in Germany, in which case the Highlanders are at risk and might disband in situ, or the light infantry roled battalions, such as the Black Watch, could be more at risk.”

He added: “More likely it will be done by seniority – in which case Argylls and Highlanders are most at risk.

“Alternatively, they could turn one or two into TA battalions –thus avoiding a humungous row about the loss of famous names, in which case all are at risk – and geography and populations will play a much bigger part in any considerations.”

The Ministry of Defence has said no decisions have yet been made on the future of cap badges. A spokesman said: “These additional manpower cuts are being scoped, and detailed planning is under way to identify a range of options to meet the target of 90,000 by 2015.

“Whilst this planning is ongoing, it would be wrong to speculate on the possible outcomes.”