IAN BRUCE,
Defence Correspondent
Glasgow Herald
November 18 2005
ARMY veterans reacted with fury last night after the architect of the controversial plan to merge Scotland's six historic infantry regiments was named president of the organisation which represents former servicemen north of the border.
Former soldiers who contacted The Herald said they had not been given a say in the appointment as head of Royal British Legion Scotland of General Sir Alistair Irwin, an officer many regard as a traitor to their regimental traditions.
A number threatened to vote with their feet and resign from the 57,000-member RBL in protest unless there was a change of heart or at least a chance to vote on the issue.
Malcolm Nichol, formerly of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, said: "This is a slap in the face for ex-servicemen who have fought so hard to save their regiments from oblivion.
"It is a disgrace that General Irwin should be offered this prestigious position as a reward for sounding the death-knell of regiments he was supposed to represent. We will now see membership of the Legion fall dramatically as veterans leave rather than be represented by him."
Allan Hendry, formerly with the Scots Guards and special forces, said he had been "shocked to the core" when he was told of the appointment. He is now demanding that his RBL branch explain the lack of consultation with its members.
Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart Crawford, formerly of the Royal Tank Regiment, added: "This is a serious error of judgment on the part of the appointing board and shows just how much they must be out of touch with public perceptions.
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"Quite how the RBL can hope for any support from those soldiers whose regiments have been consigned to the dustbin by their new president is beyond me.
"On the other hand, if they're planning to disband the legion, then they've chosen the right man."
Jeff Duncan, campaign manager for the Save the Scottish Regiments organisation, said Scottish soldiers who gave their lives in two world wars and a stream of other conflicts would be "turning in their graves at the spectacle of a senior officer discredited by his own actions being appointed without consultation."
He added: "I think the majority of soldiers and former soldiers as well as campaigners are heartily sick of General Irwin and his ilk. He is chief among those who lacked the personal courage to defend their regiments when they had the chance."
General Irwin, originally commissioned into the Black Watch in 1969, was Scotland's highest-ranking soldier when he retired earlier this year as the army's adjutant-general.
He was also colonel-commandant of the Scottish Division, the honorary committee of senior officers supposed to represent the individual interests of the KOSB, the Royal Scots, the Black Watch, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Highlanders and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the corridors of power.
As revealed by The Herald, General Irwin instead drew up a study paper for the army board's executive committee in which he made the case for amalgamating the six regiments into a new, five-battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland.
A spokesman for the RBL Scotland last night said that General Irwin's name had been "put forward by the outgoing president and considered by the Legion's national executive."
He declined to say if there had been any other candidates and insisted that the membership was made aware of the appointment.
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