Army cuts 'bitterly disappointing'

03 July 2012

A senior army commander has said he is "bitterly disappointed" at plans to cut a battalion from his own regiment as part of the Ministry of Defence's army restructuring plans and that the decision will be wrong for both defence and the army.

Brigadier David Paterson OBE, Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, wrote to Chief of the General Staff (CGS) General Sir Peter Wall to ask for more detail on the rationale behind cutting his regiment's second battalion, effectively halving the size of the regiment, after being informed of the move at a previous meeting.

In the letter, published in The Daily Telegraph, Brigadier Paterson wrote that he was "bitterly disappointed" when he was informed of the decision during a meeting with the CGS and that his regiment was "amongst the strongest in raw manning and deployable strength" in the army.

It was his duty as Colonel to explain the decision to his officers, he wrote, adding that he would "also have to explain to my Fusiliers in a fully manned battalion why they are likely to be posted to battalions that cannot recruit".

"This will not be an easy sell especially to the WOs' and Sgts' Mess and also to the MPs from our recruiting areas who will undoubtedly want to see the detailed data and reasoning," he wrote.

The MoD's Army 2020 plans will see the number of regular troops cut from 102,000 to 82,000 by 2020, with plans for a large increase in the role and number of reservists to take the total combined strength up to 120,000 personnel.

Commanders are to be given more information on the final restructuring plans just 24 hours before they are announced in Parliament by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, a move which is expected on 5 July.

"This is not long enough for my commanding officers to brief their men and cannot be right," wrote Brigadier Paterson of the decision to give 24 hours' notice.

"I seek your authority for commanding officers to brief their own soldiers in a timely manner rather than they hear it on Sky News or read it in the newspapers (which have almost got it right already through the inevitable leaks).

"In selecting 2 RRF for disbandment and in creating a single battalion Fusilier Regiment we are not best serving defence, the army, the Queen's Division or the Regiment. If challenged or scrutinised by, for example the media, it cannot be presented as the best or most sensible military option."

Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said that criticism from such a senior military figure was "serious".

"The government is presiding over an erosion of trust and a decline in military morale," said Murphy.

"The impact on capability and the criteria used for army changes must be clearly explained. Tough decisions are necessary, but ministers' continued speculation and delay has only heightened uncertainty and a sense of disarray.

"The government must ensure that anyone made redundant is provided with post-Service opportunities, including for service families."