heaven above
October 6th, 2004, 11:52 AM
Backing for regiment merger plan
Senior army officers have confirmed that they want to merge the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
The proposal would reduce the number of Scottish infantry regiments from six to five - in line with government plans to reduce numbers across the UK.
The Army released a statement on Wednesday, two days after a meeting of the Council of Scottish Colonels.
Their conclusions, which would create one large regiment of five battalions, will now be passed to the Army board.
The statement stressed that the proposals remained a recommendation until they secured ministerial approval.
A final announcement will be made before Christmas, with the changes due to come into force by 2008.
Election candidates
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced in July that one Scottish battalion would be disbanded as part of the defence spending review.
The number of infantry regiments in the UK as a whole will be cut from 40 to 36.
The Save the Scottish Regiments group is campaigning against the cuts and is planning to field candidates against Labour at the next general election.
The emphasis will be on preserving and continuing the heritage of the existing regiments though the named battalions
Army spokesperson
Last week the Tories promised to reinstate any regiments which were scrapped under the review - a pledge which was reinforced by leader Michael Howard at the party's conference on Tuesday.
The statement released by the Army on Wednesday said the colonels had considered "all the options" over the future of the regiments and discussed several solutions.
"They recommended the formation of a large regiment of five battalions wearing a common base uniform, with battalion uniform variations," said a spokesperson.
"This will include established regimental names in battalion titles within an over-arching new regimental name.
"The emphasis will be on preserving and continuing the heritage of the existing regiments through the named battalions, which will continue to recruit predominantly in their traditional regimental areas."
The statement confirmed that the council had recommended that the reduction in the number of battalions would be achieved through a "union" of the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/3721088.stm
Published: 2004/10/06 15:51:22 GMT
© BBC MMIV
Senior army officers have confirmed that they want to merge the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
The proposal would reduce the number of Scottish infantry regiments from six to five - in line with government plans to reduce numbers across the UK.
The Army released a statement on Wednesday, two days after a meeting of the Council of Scottish Colonels.
Their conclusions, which would create one large regiment of five battalions, will now be passed to the Army board.
The statement stressed that the proposals remained a recommendation until they secured ministerial approval.
A final announcement will be made before Christmas, with the changes due to come into force by 2008.
Election candidates
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced in July that one Scottish battalion would be disbanded as part of the defence spending review.
The number of infantry regiments in the UK as a whole will be cut from 40 to 36.
The Save the Scottish Regiments group is campaigning against the cuts and is planning to field candidates against Labour at the next general election.
The emphasis will be on preserving and continuing the heritage of the existing regiments though the named battalions
Army spokesperson
Last week the Tories promised to reinstate any regiments which were scrapped under the review - a pledge which was reinforced by leader Michael Howard at the party's conference on Tuesday.
The statement released by the Army on Wednesday said the colonels had considered "all the options" over the future of the regiments and discussed several solutions.
"They recommended the formation of a large regiment of five battalions wearing a common base uniform, with battalion uniform variations," said a spokesperson.
"This will include established regimental names in battalion titles within an over-arching new regimental name.
"The emphasis will be on preserving and continuing the heritage of the existing regiments through the named battalions, which will continue to recruit predominantly in their traditional regimental areas."
The statement confirmed that the council had recommended that the reduction in the number of battalions would be achieved through a "union" of the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/3721088.stm
Published: 2004/10/06 15:51:22 GMT
© BBC MMIV