Visitor Comments

Dear Sirs,
It strikes me that the central issue here is the 'overview' of the British government and top brass. They do not see our fierce, unique local loyalties to our historic family regiments as important in the high-tech age. They see the 21st Century as a chance to sweep away all that has been built up and jealously guarded by the blood, sweat' loyalty and sacrifice of generations of our forefathers.

In my view, our 'elders and betters' currently see Scotland as a mere military resource called 'Scotland'. Therefore deep tribal loyalties, more deeply felt in Scotland than elsewhere in the UK, do not matter any more. That is why recruitment funding is being reduced. Instead of budgeting for recruitment and maintenance of 6 separate regiments, they need only now pay for one regiment. Furthermore, the incorporation of part-time volunteer units into the RRoS battalion system smacks strongly of integrating an 'army on the cheap', whereby TA personnel will be used more and more on dangerous active service situations in peace time, in lieu of regulars.

As for the uniform, it seems each battalion will retain their unique dog-tags and perhaps buttons. As for the cap badge, did it really take months of sweat and debate to come up with that piece of meaningless junk? I could have done that in 5 minutes. The Saltire I understand, but a Lion Rampant? Since when has that ever been used on the metal cap badge of a Scottish infantry regiment (excluding certain English, dominion and colony units)? I can understand St Andrew, I can understand thistles, I can even understand the stag's head used by the 1960's Highland Brigade - but a lion? Yes - it was used on cloth formation signs such as the 15th Scottish Div of WW2 and the post-war Scottish Command etc, but never a regimental badge. It looks like a concoction for some fictional army TV series. It was a lazy option, done without any pride.

In conclusion, if the destruction of our regiment does go ahead, the proof of the government's wisdom (or lack of) will be how well the new regiment recruits and holds its personnel. I feel strongly that 'Nemo Me Impune Lacessit' (or should it be 'Nemo Nos Impune Lacessit') is truly the motto of those of us who want to save our regiments, rather than on the badge of this new regiment by committee, which is an insult.

Regards
Lachlan Gow
Chelmsford, Essex
1 October 2005