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Technical hitch for the rebel veterans.
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A motion to force Lieutenant-General Sir Alistair Irwin to resign as honorary colonel of the Black Watch has been overruled on a technicality.
The move to oust the man regarded by many as the architect of last year's decision to merge Scotland's six historic infantry regiments into a single large unit was launched on Saturday by former Black Watch soldiers. However, it was ruled out of order because it was not submitted in writing two months before his regimental association's annual general meeting in Perth. General Irwin, who retires as the Army's adjutant-general in the next few weeks, was first asked to join campaigners in the battle to preserve regimental identities and reverse the Army board's ruling. When he refused, he was asked to step down voluntarily as the honorary colonel responsible for fighting the regiment's corner in Whitehall. When he again refused, a motion calling for his forced resignation was proposed and seconded. Robert Gurdon, chairman of the regimental association, intervened to prevent a potentially embarrassing vote which insiders say would have seen the effective sacking of Scotland's most senior soldier from the post. After a hasty consultation of Black Watch association standing orders, it was decided to overrule the protesters. |
Jeff Duncan, campaign manager for the Save the Scottish Regiments organisation, said yesterday: "The Black Watch association members have done everything possible to allow General Irwin to be supportive of the regiment whose interests he is supposed to represent.
"They are totally justified in calling for his resignation after his refusal to support the campaign now he is in a position to do so. "It speaks volumes that he has declined. In our view, it leaves his position untenable and his reputation within Black Watch circles in ruins." General Irwin was not available for comment and the regimental association is under Ministry of Defence orders to refer all media inquiries to its own press officers. Under Army board plans, the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers are to amalgamate and be merged with the Argylls, the Highlanders, the Royal Highland Fusiliers and the Black Watch into a new, five-battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland. Campaigners, who staged months of protests against the plan, say the move will wipe out 300 years of history and individual regimental loyalty. However, the Ministry of Defence says the move is a necessary restructuring to make the infantry more flexible and deployable. |
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