IAN BRUCE,
Defence Correspondent
Glasgow Herald
November 29 2005
THE army's top brass "lost patience" with Scotland's fight to retain its six historic infantry regiments before ordering an about-turn on promises to allow the Jocks to retain their individual headgear, The Herald can reveal.
Members of the force's executive board were also lobbied by senior figures representing English and Welsh regiments due to be absorbed into large formations, who claimed that the Scots were being given preferential treatment.
Some said Scotland should have lost two regiments instead of one, on the grounds of poor recruitment. The Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers are being forced to amalgamate into a single battalion next year.
Others complained that, while Scots units were allowed to keep their old titles – the Black Watch, 3rd battalion of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland – units from other parts of the UK were losing all traces of their former identity.
|
A senior officer told The Herald: "General Sir Mike Jackson, the chief of the general staff, has become particularly annoyed at the resistance to his treasured reorganisation north of the border. He and others in positions of power rapidly lost patience with the Scots."
Despite pre-general election promises that the Scottish regiments would be allowed to wear their old headgear and distinctive hackles, the army's dress committee ruled last week that all soldiers in the new RRS will wear the same Glengarry forage cap with artificial blackcock feathers on parade or ceremonial duties.
They will be allowed their old hackles only when wearing combat kit and out of the public eye.
The award will be the last granted to any of Scotland's six existing infantry regiments before they are effectively disbanded and reformed into battalions of the controversial new Royal Regiment of Scotland next year.
|
