ARmy Rumour SErvice

Telegraph today. Usual irrelevant nonsense but better-written than the petition I suppose.

"Cuts to Welsh Cavalry

SIR – The Government is cutting the Army from 102,000 to 82,000. The Queen’s Dragoon Guards (QDG), more commonly known as the Welsh Cavalry, is one of the armoured regiments that may be considered for cutting or amalgamation.

It is Wales’s only armoured regiment, while Scotland has two and England eight. Wales has only four regular units, but they are highly valued by the people of Wales and they give young Welshmen the opportunity to serve in the Armed Forces, while joining regiments with a distinctly Welsh identity

Cutting the QDGs, with their antecedents going back nearly 350 years, would not represent simply a sentimental loss but would attract widespread disapproval throughout Wales.

The regiment is just back from Afghanistan and will lead the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee parade through Cardiff on June 2. It would be a sad reflection of the diminished state of Welsh representation in the Army if, in future, Wales could hardly muster a marchpast for royal occasions. This marginalisation could well give the Welsh a push in the same direction as the Scots, down the path to independence.

Richard Goldsbrough
Kingsclere, Hampshire"

It´s actually quite boring being called `Taff´all the time and I only had to put up with that crap in Juniors for 18 months,every other Regiment has its own recruiting area so why should the Welsh who provide nearly 10% of the Army´s strength be any different whether RAC or Infantry.
As BAOR is on the way out it might be better to station Regiments or Divisions in their recruiting areas avoiding the `Baggage´as one RSM put it of wheinging wives missing their families and causing good soldiers to give up their careers,the kids wouldn´t have to change schools every couple of years etc.
QDG is apparently near top of the list for amalgamation due to it´s cunning plan of becoming `The Welsh Cavalry´,and escaping the last cull,even MOD news calls them this in their reports;I´ve been out for over 30 years so I shouldn´t be bothered or give a flying fcuk but Wales like the North of England has been stripped of its industry and there aren´t a lot of steady jobs for young lads there anymore.Letting them serve with their mates is the least the MOD can do for their loyalty though I sometimes think `Ich Dien´or `I Serve´ is more of a curse than a motto as getting killed or maimed for those slimy bastArds in London is certainly not worth the lack of respect that the Welsh commitment to their defence receives.

If they want to save money give the ceremonial duties and donkey wolloping to the TA or civvies,the bands are full of oiks who don´t want to be medics because they´re musicians so what do the mounted element think they are?If you want to be a tourist attraction then get the London Tourist Office to pay for the costs instead of the MOD.There must be hundreds of ex Wollopuers and civvies absolutely fcuking gagging to ride around London and getting paid for it,or charge them for the honour ;)Oh I think Jorrocks is knocking on my door..............................!