World Affairs Board - View Single Post - The Demise of the Scottish Infantry Regimental Tradition

S-2 · 09-20-2007, 11:32 AM

"Thus, a recruit from Perth could opt for The Black Watch, someone from Inverness, the Highlanders, someone from Glasgow the RHF and so on.

That, at least, was the theory and was also what most politicians and those who campaigned on behalf of the regiments understood by the Golden Thread, as it was advocated by the likes of General Sir Mike Jackson, former chief of the general staff, and Major General Euan Loudon, then the senior Army officer in Scotland.

However, it turns out that, like other promises made at the time of the merger, this one concerning recruitment also turns out to be not worth the paper it wasn't - unfortunately - printed on. In a letter to fellow generals and other senior officers, the new honorary colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Maj-Gen Andrew Graham, indicates that far from being allowed to join their battalion of choice, new recruits would be held in a pool and "will go to the battalion that is most in need".

Thus is one of the most important strands of the Golden Thread broken. And while it is understandable for opposition politicians to blame the Government for this breach of faith, it is more accurate to relate that it was senior officers, like Gens Jackson and Loudon, as well as Lt Gen Alistair Irwin, formerly colonel-commandant of the Scottish Division, who made most of the merits of this link with tradition. But if this link is being constantly eroded by the actions of senior officers, what price the maintenance of regional regimental identities?"

Glyn said-

"They are not to be trusted, they have no military experience themselves. What they know about service traditions and esprit-de-Corps could be put on a single childs hair with a lump of coal. Nothing!"

Glyn,

Cochrane seems to think the issue here rests as much with the Army as the politicians. Here, at least, the generals have the experience and are the guarantors of any existing service tradition. Any truth to Alan Cochrane's contention in your view?

09-20-2007, 11:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
S-2 *Military Professional* Join Date: 09-11-06 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 2,544 Country:	Glyn Reply "Thus, a recruit from Perth could opt for The Black Watch, someone from Inverness, the Highlanders, someone from Glasgow the RHF and so on. That, at least, was the theory and was also what most politicians and those who campaigned on behalf of the regiments understood by the Golden Thread, as it was advocated by the likes of General Sir Mike Jackson, former chief of the general staff, and Major General Euan Loudon, then the senior Army officer in Scotland. However, it turns out that, like other promises made at the time of the merger, this one concerning recruitment also turns out to be not worth the paper it wasn't - unfortunately - printed on. In a letter to fellow generals and other senior officers, the new honorary colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, Maj-Gen Andrew Graham, indicates that far from being allowed to join their battalion of choice, new recruits would be held in a pool and "will go to the battalion that is most in need". Thus is one of the most important strands of the Golden Thread broken. And while it is understandable for opposition politicians to blame the Government for this breach of faith, it is more accurate to relate that it was senior officers, like Gens Jackson and Loudon, as well as Lt Gen Alistair Irwin, formerly colonel-commandant of the Scottish Division, who made most of the merits of this link with tradition. But if this link is being constantly eroded by the actions of senior officers, what price the maintenance of regional regimental identities?" Glyn said- "They are not to be trusted, they have no military experience themselves. What they know about service traditions and esprit-de-Corps could be put on a single childs hair with a lump of coal. Nothing!" Glyn, Cochrane seems to think the issue here rests as much with the Army as the politicians. Here, at least, the generals have the experience and are the guarantors of any existing service tradition. Any truth to Alan Cochrane's contention in your view? __________________ "This aggression will not stand, man!" Jeff Lebowski Last edited by S-2 : 09-20-2007 at 11:44 AM.