JIM MCBETH,
November 2 2005
MILITARY history was made yesterday when the Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS) enlisted its first recruits.
The "nation's regiment" - which will be the largest in the army with 3,500 troops when it is officially formed next March - has been created by a controversial amalgamation of Scotland's regiments.
But a "golden thread" retains their ancient names in seven RRS battalions. All Scottish infantryman will wear the same badge - a crowned lion rampant on St Andrew's Cross - and the "Government 1A" tartan traditionally associated with the Argylls, which was worn by all Scottish fighting men until the 19th century.
Major-General Euan Lowden, the general officer commanding designate, joined recruiting officers at Edinburgh Castle.
He said the RRS offered stability, and an escape from the "inflexibility and insularity" of the old regimental system.
It provided a family-friendly system to reverse a recruitment crisis, he added.
However, the campaign to retain the old regiments, which has gathered more than 100,000 signatures, predicted that the RRS will struggle to recruit.
Jeff Duncan, of Save the Scottish Regiments, said: "There is no affinity with this regiment, which is taking away the heart and soul of our fighting men.
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"The same badge, same tartan, and King's Own Scottish Borderers wearing a kilt, something they never did.
"Our campaign is at a turning point, but it is not inconceivable that we can still prevail."
The petition, signed by political and celebrity supporters, will be delivered to Downing Street on St Andrew's Day.
Meanwhile, the RRS is recruiting 300 squaddies.
Captain Alan Carmichael, of the Argylls, said: "There are five regular and two territorial battalions. Each wear the same insignia, but the old regiments will be identified by battalion hat hackles: red, the Black Watch; blue, the Highlanders; white for the Royal Highland Fusiliers; and black for the Royal Scottish Borderers."
Maj-Gen Lowden said: "The old system stood us in good stead, but it was inflexible and insular.
"The RRS will be the biggest regiment in the army and we've kept the best of the regiments. But men will be able to move with an ease the old system did not allow for.
"For example, you can have a soldier whose wife is committed to being in one place for several years. He can stay with her. I think we've been bold with this model of becoming as big as you can."
However, he added: "It's been emotional, and, yes, there has been pain, but I believe we have something that will stand the test of time."
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