Army stamp of change as super-unit cap badge is unveiled

The Scotsman ^ | Wed 17 Aug 2005 | GETHIN CHAMBERLAIN

[SittinYonder]

THE army yesterday unveiled the emblem that it hopes will help stamp a sense of identity on Scotland's new super-regiment and reverse a worrying slump in recruitment north of the Border.

Admitting that the war in Iraq and uncertainty over the future of the Scottish regiments had hit recruitment, Major General Euan Loudon, Scotland's most senior serving soldier, said he hoped that the public would now accept the merger of the country's existing infantry regiments into the Royal Regiment of Scotland and begin to take a pride in the new unit.

The first step in the creation of the new regimental identity came at Edinburgh Castle yesterday with the unveiling of the cap badge, which has already received Royal Assent.

[SittinYonder]

Good bye to the Black Watch and the Highlanders, hello The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

I've always thought the Black Watch had one of the best regimental names. I hate to see this dissolution of these traditional, famous and historically significant Scottish Regiments.

[SittinYonder]

For those who want to read but don't want to register, bugmenot:

Iain.Martin@scotsman.com
imartin

[SittinYonder]

The Black Watch in Crimea:

http://www.army.mod.uk/img/royalsignals/orgs/3Div/black%20watch%20crimea.jpg

[SittinYonder]

The SNP leader, Alex Salmond, said: "It is tragic that our historic Scottish regiments should be stripped of their cap badges and stripped of their identities. Amalgamating the regiments will destroy the all-important local links which have meant so much to families and communities across Scotland."

To my understanding of it, the only comparison the U.S. has to "these local links" is something like the state's national guards.

[Riley]

Of course, the US used to have locally tied and recruited regiments, as well. The 20th Maine. The 1st Tennesee Infantry. There were many others. I think that the Army became uncomfortable with the idea after the Civil War- where it became apparent that whole units might have allegiances that conflicted with national war aims.
So now, you serve next to the Kid from Brooklyn and the farmer's son from Iowa and the cowboy from Texas, and so on.

National Guard and Reserve formations are territorial by their very nature- you can't recruiit and train a reservist in California and expect him to go to Nebraska every month for his drills.

It's a shame to see this happen to the Scottish regiments. I think that a lot of their strength is in their traditions. One still speaks of 'the family regiment' over there. I also think that it's a mistake.

[Future Snake Eater]

So now, you serve next to the Kid from Brooklyn and the farmer's son from Iowa and the cowboy from Texas, and so on.

I think I saw that movie...

[SittinYonder]

the US used to have locally tied and recruited regiments, as well. The 20th Maine. The 1st Tennesee Infantry. There were many others.

It's a shame to see this happen to the Scottish regiments. I think that a lot of their strength is in their traditions. One still speaks of 'the family regiment' over there.

Right on both counts! I don't see how this will help with recruitment, although I believe when they first came up with the idea of disbanding the traditional regiments recruitment was not the issue.