March and Rally
to SAVE THE ARGYLLS
STIRLING
2 APRIL 2005.
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have their origins in the formation of the 91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1794. The Identity of the Argylls is under threat. The identity and status of the Argylls must be preserved, along with those of all existing Scottish regiments.
Foreword to the Rally by
Lieutenant Colonel M.R. McVittie
Chairman,
Regimental Association
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders:
The March and Rally in Stirling on Saturday 2nd April is an opportunity for former soldiers of the Scottish Regiments to express their dismay at the loss of one Scottish battalion and as a result of this the loss of identity of the remaining five battalions. This reduction is part of a reduction of four infantry battalions overall forced on the Ministry of Defence by the Treasury. This government is determined to pursue a forward and ambitious foreign policy which has resulted in the British Army being deployed into 5 war zones within six years. However, unlike Education and Health the government is not prepared to fund this policy fully. They rely instead on the resilience and professionalism of the ordinary soldiers of the British Army to carry this policy through.
Not that the MOD itself can be entirely blameless. Huge sums of money have been wasted particularly in the area of defence procurement, Eurofighter and Chinook procurement spring to mind. This wasted expenditure could have maintained the infantry and the Scottish Division’s order of battle for many years to come. ..... more.....
What has been forced on the Army and how the Army intends to deal with these reductions has not been properly thought through.
The amalgamation of the Scottish Regiments is a plan heavily pregnant with the law of unintended consequences.
The loss of identity and the loss of a link with a specific recruiting area will have a significant impact on the future recruiting potential of the proposed Royal Regiment of Scotland.
We demand a stay of “execution” and a rethink, preferably after the pressure of operational tours on the infantry at large, and the Scottish Regiments in particular, has significantly reduced.
In the immortal words of Bruce George MP, Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Committee, “What idiot, thought up this idea . . . “
Major (Retd) C A Campbell
replied to the e-mail put out by Malcolm McVittie, the Chairman of the Regimental Association, about the March and Rally in Stirling on 2nd April 2005, and made some points from the perspective of Regimental Headquarters.
The most significant being, that neither the RHQ nor the Regimental Association were sponsoring this event and they had no involvement in the running of the event.
Tom Slattery
replied in answer to Mr Alistair Campbell's statement.
Why say it then?
Why not?
Unity is strength!
Someone had to stand up and take the initiative and speak up for the Argylls.
We, the old and bold, are the voices of those members who are still serving.
They cannot voice their opinions openly as we can.
In this world, if you do not stand up and speak out, no one will hear you.
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This protest does not undermine anyone's position nor standing, except that of the present day government.
We can support those candidates who are standing against those MP's who are too weak to stand up and be counted when it comes to large issues like saving SCOTLAND'S REGIMENTS.
100% support for the ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS is in all our minds at the moment.
These amalgamations will ensure that new recruits will NOT have a choice when it comes to joining up.
They will be sent to those units who are under-manned at the moment, and will be shuffled around when the situations arise.
In the past, one had the choice of reinforcing the regiments and returning to your own regiment when your task was complete.
This stupid idea that you will join the 'ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND' to serve your time, when for years you have heard all the old soldiers speak of their time in their regiment, the Argylls, and the times they enjoyed with their mates.
You want to join your regiment and be with your mates whom you have been brought up with.
And families for years, have sent their sons to join 'their Regiment'.
So just think carefully when you are signing up.
Are you going to get YOUR regiment of choice?
No, you will get a battalion that is under-manned, and will have to be happy with that.
If The Chief of General Staff (the PARA) and the MoD and the Defence Secretary have made their minds up for the changes, then they won't mind if we, the ex-members, voice our dismay and disgust at this stupid and backward step that they have taken.
'Boots on the Ground' is the word folks!
High-tech weaponry and equipment need constant updating to be able to keep up with changing technology (just look at your computers today.)
This high-tech soldiering will cost even more billions to keep, in the belief that it will get the job done.
Just ask those lads and lassies serving in the Iraq and Afghanistan firing lines.
They are constantly waiting for boots, uniforms, vehicles and ammunition to be sent, but the idiots at the MoD prefer to spend large sums of taxpayers cash on playing war games on their computers back in Whitehall.
And considering this attitude, that the British soldier is the best in the world, of course he is, but he is lead by donkeys!
The Regimental Association will always receive our support, but it must also do its part by speaking out on our behalf and not hiding away in some office in the Castle just to protect someone's job, or the opinion of the Col of the Regiment.
Keep focused on 'OUR REGIMENT', a Scottish Regiment and a very proud regiment, with proud serving and ex-serving members.
Go out on the 2nd of April, tell them that you are not happy about it.
Scotland needs its family regiments and its sons to serve their country.
We have a long and distinguished history with its individual tartans and cap badges.
Let us keep it that way!
SAVE THE ARGYLLS...........ONCE AGAIN!
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