Historic Warwickshire regiment is being ‘sacrificed’ by our politicians

This is the view of a former Lieutenant Colonel in the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, which was formed in the county during the 1600s and is now being axed as part of Government cuts to the armed forces.

Sixty-nine-year-old John Rice of Leek Wooton, who retired from the regiment in 1988 after 25 years’ service, said: “If you are going to cut the army, the first place you look is those regiments which are struggling to recruit soldiers.

“That points towards the regiments in Scotland. But they are making no cuts there. Why?

“The politicians are trying to support the anti-independance lobby in Scotland.

“The English regiments are being sacrificed for the sake of the Scottish regiments.”

Mr Rice is a trustee of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers’ Museum at St John’s in Warwick - which he believes may also be under threat of losing its funding from the Ministry of Defence.

Another man who served in the 2nd Battalion is 72-year-old Keith Talbot, who was Sergeant Major at the end of his 16 years’ service in 1986.

Mr Talbot, who lives in Hampton Magna, said: “It’s up to strength so it seems a bit strange that it’s being targeted. But I don’t think it’s going to be saved at this late stage.

“The army has been continuously reduced since 1945. We have got to adapt. But I don’t think we can be asked to do some of the jobs that we have done in the past.

“There are also cuts in the police and fire service. It’s going to be very difficult.”

Mr Talbot, who is the secretary of the Warwick branch of the Royal British Legion, urged any serving soldiers or their families who may be affected by the cuts to get in touch with the charity by calling 024 7631 2974.

The defence secretary Philip Hammond last week announced that 17 units are to axed from the British army as part of reforms that will reduce the number of soldiers to 82,000. Among these are the 2nd Fusiliers, whose most famous serving soldier was Bernard Law Montgomery - or ‘Monty’, the most successful British General during the Second World War.

To sign a petition urging the Government to reconsider the decision to axe the 2nd Battalion, visit epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35724