Battalion of Royal Welsh faces axe.

**keithwill38** · 02-07-2012, 08:34

I think the cronies in Westminster are to scared to axe any Scottish Reg due to the up coming referendum there,but like somebody previous pointed out they are having trouble recruiting,and surely we do not need all them Guards Bn,s,but all in all i suppose it boils down to which Regts senior officers serving and retired have the bigger balls

**ap1** · 02-07-2012, 08:40

Agreed Wil. Keep a Welsh/Scots/Irish Guards, and bin either the Coldstreamers or Grenadiers. Their historical contribution is no more or less than our old regiment. As you say its old boys stuff.

**Paul Davies 701** · 02-07-2012, 12:47

Will hit the nail on the head. The Government are afraid to touch any of the Scotish Regt because of the referendum on Scotish Independence coming up and they fear a backlash. Traditionally, the "old boys" network won't touch the English Cavalry or Guards Units so its obviously they will go for the Regt that will offer them the least resistance, even though recruitment from Wales is higher than anywhere else in the UK.

The writing is on the wall, this Government won't be happy until we're all just one large nameless units like our American counterparts. For all her faults (and there was a few) this would never have happened in Thatchers days

**Barry69** · 02-07-2012, 16:20

Its seems the plan was always to cut the battalions and to make it easier they renames them the same ie 1st and 2nd Btns Rifles,Mercian,Royal Welsh, as now they can say well you can keep one Btn, Oh thanks, as if to say we will disband the RRW the effect and protest against would of been greater!!!! Cunning Government Military advisor's, we aint that stupid! It saddens me to see our fine regiments axed in such away - Who do we the Inf have in our corner ?

**jcj** · 04-07-2012, 10:18

According to the Guardian today a leaked document states that the QDG are safe but a Bn of the R Welsh is going to axed.

The proposals, whose publication has been delayed by Downing Street because of their sensitivity, show historic units to be axed include the third battalion of the Yorkshire regiment and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the fifth battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. One battalion will be lost from the Royal Welsh, the Mercians and the Royal Fusiliers.

The battalions to be saved include the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, the Queen's Dragoon Guards and the Royal Dragoon Guards. The Parachute Regiment's three battalions will be spared.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/ju...vealed-in-leak

**keithwill38** · 04-07-2012, 11:35

Why save all them tankies when there is now a dire shortage of big and little tanks due to mothballing etc,and why oh why do we need more than 4 Bn of guards,there will come a time in the not to distant future when somebody will say "oh ****" why did we scrap all those infantry regiments

**rikoshea** · 05-07-2012, 11:23

Disgrace to hear about the cuts and amalgamation of the 2 R Welsh battalions. I wonder if Cameron or sideshow Clegg will deliver the brown letters personally to our boys in Helmand who are spilling their blood on the battlefield daily to fight for a government that cares so little for them. In a country who's head of state shakes hands with a known IRA terrorist in the name of peace and progress leaves a very bad taste in the mouth of many service personnel who have dedicated their lives to support this country home and abroad. What's the difference between getting shot by The Taliban
disguised as afghan police in cold blood or by being stabbed in the back by your own government - none

**northwalespieboy** · 06-07-2012, 19:04

So Welsh soldiery that has served the Crown since the middle ages is stabbed in the back by politicians and the Guards centric MOD establishment. It defies belief that one third of Welsh infantry strength is sacrificed; whilst infantry battalions who are unable to recruit in their own areas and are reliant on foreign soldiers remain untouched. Thursday 5 July 2012 must surely be one of the most shameful days in the history of the British Army and as for the Welsh Secretary, Cheryl Gillan, if she had a shred of honour she would resign now as she has failed lamentably in her supposed duty of representing Wales at UK government level. My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the victims of this act of treachery, the Royal Welshmen who’ll be made redundant and future Welsh soldiers who will end up serving in non-Welsh regiments once vacancies for the Welsh Guards and Royal Welsh are filled.