Freedoms of Burghs and Military Awards

These matters have not yet been resolved:
 

• how the existing lists of Victoria Crosses and Military Awards for each Regiment will be presented, recognised and displayed
  
  Read more . . . . on the background of the Victoria Cross
   
• how Freedoms of Burghs will be recognised i.e. whether existing Freedoms will automatically transfer to the new Royal Regiment
   
• how future awards will be presented, recognised and displayed

New regiment to win freedom of Aberdeen

FRANK URQUHART
The Scotsman
25 February 2006

THE new Royal Regiment of Scotland is set to be conferred with the freedom of the city of Aberdeen when it returns from duty in war-torn Iraq.

It will be the first time a regiment of the British Army has received the Granite City's highest honour since the local regiment, the Gordon Highlanders, was granted the freedom of the city more than 50 years ago.

Members of the city council are expected to approve plans to bestow the honour on the Royal Regiment at next Wednesday's meeting of the full council.

The honour will enable the soldiers of the regiment to march through the city on Saturday, 1 July , with "bayonets fixed, drums beating and colours flying" shortly after their return from the Middle East.

The Royal Regiment of Scotland, created by the controversial decision to merge Scotland's remaining six army regiments into one, is due to be officially formed on 26 March.

A report to councillors notes that:

"The council has received intimation of the desire of the Royal Regiment to march down Union Street on 1 July in exercise of the rights conferred on the Gordon Highlanders in terms of the freedom granted to them.

Officers are of the view that there is no automatic right of 'inheritance' by the Royal Regiment of the freedom granted to the Gordon Highlanders, and that therefore, if it is the wish of the council to enable the Royal Regiment now to exercise rights corresponding to those granted to the Gordon Highlanders, a new conferral of the freedom is required."

Historical Note:

The freedom of the city was granted to the Gordon Highlanders in 1949. Since that date, the army has seen many restructurings. As a result, the Gordon Highlanders have ceased to exist.