London, GB | Formerly of New York, Buenos Aires, Fife, and the Western Cape. | Saoránach d’Éirinn.

Super-Regiment My Foot!

As the reader may well be aware, the last remaining six of Scotland’s historic Army regiments, one of which is so old that it is knicknamed ‘Pontius Pilate’s Bodyguard’, are to be merged into a new ‘super-regiment’ of six battallions, to be called the Royal Regiment of Scotland. Furthermore, the Royals Scots and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers are to be merged into a single battallion. In attempt to calm the fury which this announcement unleashed, government ministers promised that the six regiments would retain their historic identities and legacies as they transform into battallions of the new super-regiment by retaining their cap badges.

However, government ministers lie. A few weeks ago the new cap badge of the Royal Regiment of Scotland was unveiled, and all batallions will be required to wear it. It is simple and aesthetically pleasing, but none of these qualities really matter. It will be remembered not for its beauty but for the outrageous betrayal of tradition and common sense which will, I dare say, tar the Royal Regiment of Scotland for a very long time. There are, of course, last ditch efforts by politicians of all stripes and sizes to save the regiments, an important part of both Scotland’s history and present, but there is not much hope. What Downing Street says goes, irrespective of centuries of tradition, common sense, a public outcry, and the will of the people. Strange as it may seem, after these changes Canada will have more Scottish regiments than Scotland.

Meanwhile, Ian Hamilton ruefully mourns the lack of pomp at the recent opening of the Scottish parliament in the Sunday Times.

Published at 9:23 am on Thursday 15 September 2005. Categories: Military Politics Scotland.
Comments

What a damn shame.My guess would be that not a one of the politicians who had a hand in this shameful disregard of Britain’s military history,and in particular Scotland’s contribution with lives lost in writing that same history,have never served.My Dad served proudly with 1st Bn. H.L.I.in Mesopotamia in 1916,one more proud old Regiment fallen victim to political tinkering.Canada’s Highland regiments will suffer a similar fate…it seems that they no longer reflect accurately the ”national mosaic”….a politically correct pile of crap emanating from our ”leaders” in Ottawa.Bloody shame.
Ron Denham W.O.(ret’d) The Royal Canadian Regiment

— Ron Denham 27 Jul 2009 11:25 pm
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