New Development in Scottish "Super-Regiment" Story

[macwilkin]

Check out this story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4157274.stm
Shameful...

It's the "Crucified Moose" part duex:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Aden/700.htm

Scroll about half-way down the page and you'll see the badge I'm referring to.

Todd

[bubba]

So they go from the crucified moose to the crucified cat. This is an improvement?

[sav]

So they go from the crucified moose to the crucified cat. This is an improvement?

Absolutely not...

[Colin]

It's the "Crucified Moose" part duex:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Aden/700.htm

Scroll about half-way down the page and you'll see the badge I'm referring to.

Todd

Good slogan on the crucified Moose!

[macwilkin]

Good slogan on the crucified Moose!

A tip o' the glengarry to the lads of the Argylls for that one, Colin -- they despised the badge! :mrgreen:

T.

[Colin]

A tip o' the glengarry to the lads of the Argylls for that one, Colin -- they despised the badge! :mrgreen:

T.

But as a MacKenzie, I like it just fine.

[macwilkin]

But as a MacKenzie, I like it just fine.

True, Colin -- really, both badges are not "bad" looking badges per se, just the meaning behind them.

That is the one thing I will give the Highlanders credit for -- the new badge they adopted in 1994 combined elements of the Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforths & Camerons) and the Gordons, just as the Highlanders have used all three tartans (Cameron of Erracht, Mackenzie of Seaforth and Gordon) as part of the regimental uniform.

Cheers,

Todd

[An t-Ileach]

My family has an historic involvement with the ASH (not me, I served elsewhere).

But it struck me when the stupid idea was first mooted to amalgamate the Six that the only way to preserve the traditions and history of Scotland's soldiers was to keep at least two (not one) "big" regiments - one formed around the First of Foot and the other around the Black Watch (the Royal Highland Regiment) as they were the first regiments raised (in the Royal Scots' case in the 17th Century; and the Black Watch in the 18th).

But many of us British ex-servicemen have had a hunch for a long time that the government is hell bent on forging a Corps of Infantry, in the long run, with numbered regiments having no local affiliations at all.

So they'll even change the historic numbering of the surviving regiments (if any of the old ones do) - so 1st Infantry Regiment won't be the Royal Scots, 22nd won't be The Cheshire Regiment, and 42nd won't be The Black Watch. Quite why they want to do this is a moot point.

[Mike n NC]

There is an ongoing battle here in the states that is very much like this. The United States Army has been trying to gain control of the Marine Corps and get it away from the Navy for years. Using the argument that anphibous assult is a thing of the past and that a modern, combined infantry would be ever so much better (horsepoop).
Unfortunately I fear the USMC is about to shoot themselves in the foot with all the changes they have been pushing for in their attempt to become an independent service and away from the USN. The Navy has pretty well held the Army off over the years but if the Commandant becomes an independent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (and the Junior Officer at that even should he be the Chairman) the USA will be all over them (the old ugly on a ape thing). Should they become part of the Army the Marine Corps would be ruined, the Army improved by a small bit and the world a sadder place for it. I have had the honor of fighting with both forces and there is no question in my mind, the USA takes a way back seat to the Corps.

Mike

[James]

On a lighter note-as a very young officer many--many years ago-the Colonel rather than the commanding oficer of my Bn spoke to us-how he'd been a very young commanding officer in WW1.

Telling us:-

Going back a bit futher, my county regiment had been formed from two numbered regiments-and there were still in his day officers who refused tio use the County name and called the service bns-by their old numbers.

Come forward a bit-in the 60's I served alongside an officer who on his mess kit wore numbered buttone-because his grandfather had been commissioned in a numbered regiment-and he was 'dammed' if he was going to go against family tradition. He by the way got a good medal in Korea.

The point being that depending on needs-military necessity these things will change: it is a great shame-but that is the reality of the military.

The problem as ever is to find a balance and preserve the best of the old without losing the ability and spirit to fight today. Sadly the retention of ephemerals will not offer that ability and spirit.

James