Sadly the day has come

**macwilkin** · 28th March 06, 09:12 AM

From the BBC Scotland news page today.

"And there's an end to an auld sang."
-- The Earl of Seafield

Army regiments merger goes ahead

Ceremonies to mark the creation of a single Scottish Army regiment have been held across the UK and elsewhere.
The old six infantry regiments have become battalions of the new Royal Regiment of Scotland (RRS).

Major General Euan Loudon, the General Officer commanding the Army in Scotland, led the re-badging ceremony at Edinburgh Castle.

He told onlookers that it marked the start of a new chapter in the story of the Scottish soldier.

Maj Gen Loudon said: "Change may be painful but it has come to visit us in our day and generation and it follows on from a remarkable record of service in the antecedence regiments.

"This new regiment of ours will take time to establish its own personality, but those of us who have experienced change before know that it will do so with rightly placed confidence."

He added: "What we are not going to do, as we move forward into this new era is to create an amorphous mass, abandon the regimental system, or see these changes in terms of winners and losers."

'Sad day'

The Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Black Watch, The Highlanders and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders form four battalions of the new regiment.

Later this year the King's Own Scottish Borderers and the Royal Scots will merge to form the 1st battalion RRS.

The Ministry of Defence said the restructuring will ensure 21st Century military commitments can be met.

Opponents have argued it could weaken recruitment while the Tories have branded the move "dangerous" cost cutting.

The Scottish National Party said it was a sad day for all who had fought to save Scotland's historic regiments.

In Scotland, the main parade and re-badging ceremony took place at Edinburgh Castle.

Maj Gen Loudon presented the new headdress to representatives from the battalions.

The KOSB and Black Watch held ceremonies in Northern Ireland, while The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders marked the event in Canterbury, Kent.

Around the world, formation parades also took place in Iraq for The Royal Scots and The Highlanders and in Cyprus for The Royal Highland Fusiliers.

Territorial Army units around Scotland will hold their re-badging ceremonies at drill nights starting from Tuesday.

Jeff Duncan, spokesman for the Save the Scottish Regiments Campaign, said Scotland was losing something very important for no good reason.

He added: "The Labour government have betrayed the regimental brotherhood for the sake of saving money. And that's what's so despicable."

SNP MP Pete Wishart said: "These regiments served us with such distinction for centuries and have been effectively abolished with a stroke of a pen."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/h...nd/4850276.stm

Published: 2006/03/28 13:41:03 GMT

© BBC MMVI

**ByDand** · 28th March 06, 09:26 AM

nuff said

**Moosehead** · 28th March 06, 09:36 AM

A sad day indeed. On the bright side, the Scottish Regiments in Canada remain and will continue to do so.

**highlander_Daz** · 28th March 06, 09:43 AM

I feel physically sickened about this, these mighty regiments that have protected Britain for generations for centuries and defeated Hitler and Saddam, wiped out by a disgrace of a Government that, the members none of which are fit to lick the boots of these servicemen and Women, The Black watch and Scots guards were both deployed in Iraq recently, and the very name of the Black watch strikes fear into the enemys hearts, Royal regiment of Scotland? whats this doing to troop morale, I really do despair!!

**cavscout** · 28th March 06, 09:54 AM

This is a sad event. I never like to see the end of such an honorable era and brotherhood.

I'd also like to celebrate the honor these men are showing by submitting to the civilian leadership. This one special characteristic is what makes the militaries of our nations such an awesome weapon. In any muslim nation this would be a catalyst to a coup or rebelion. Our warriors have pledged an oath to the common welfare and even in this situation, maintain that oath.

I mourn with you brothers, but I commend you on your heritage which will not be forgotten and lost from us.

**The Supreme Canuck** · 28th March 06, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by Moosehead

A sad day indeed. On the bright side, the Scottish Regiments in Canada remain and will continue to do so.

Not quite. With the restructure in the late 60s and early 70s, many were either disbanded, made into reserve units, or were incorporated into the Royal Canadian Regiment. Our Black Watch, for instance, was split up in 1970. Battalions 1 and 2 were incorporated into 2 Battalion RCR, and Battalion 3 was formed into the current reserve unit based in Montreal.

Their page is here.

And I don't think the RCR or the Princess Pats are higland regiments. I know that the Van Doos aren't.

The highland regiments get no respect.

Edits: Idiot spelling mistakes.

**Moosehead** · 28th March 06, 10:03 AM

Canada's Scottish Regiments have always been Reserve units, with the exception of the Black Watch and it was only Regular Force from '53-'70. So, again with the exception of the RHRofC, it remains business as usual. And no, the RCR, PPCLI and R22eR are not Highland Regiments.

**macwilkin** · 28th March 06, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Moosehead

Canada's Scottish Regiments have always been Reserve units, with the exception of the Black Watch and it was only Regular Force from '53-'70. So, again with the exception of the RHRofC, it remains business as usual. And no, the RCR, PPCLI and R22eR are not Highland Regiments.

And -- the RCR, the Patricias and Lord Strathcona's all have pipers. The latter does so in honour of Donald Smith, Lord Strathcona, who raised the original regiment for the South African (Boer) War. LS was originally from Forres, Scotland.

The Strathconas wear the Mackenzie of Seaforth Tartan.

Cheers,

Todd

(honourary Strathcona)