7 gunner
this was a criticism levelled at the para regiments in 1947
I should start by saying I am Ex RGJ, I'll forever claim that a Rifleman is the worlds best infantryman....but since I am not up my own arse and know full well that all regiments have different cultures, traditions, and roles, with my thinking head on I know that it is utter bollocks for me to claim superiority...just as it is for a Para or anyone else.
Nonetheless I shall use my own Regiment, and some other personal experience in an attmpt to enlighten.
The opinion of one Infantry officer from 60 years ago is hardly helpful when considering the Army in 2004. So lets leave that aside or I'll have to bring in probably the two greatest soldier Britain has ever had (The Duke of Wellington and Sir John Moore) and that would be equally pointless.
My father joined the Grenadier Guards in 1948, there was certainly some concern that too many Guardsmen were interested in transfering to the Paras in the early years of his service. From what he tells me this had nothing to do with any idea that Para's were superior, but more to do with the type of disclipline meted out in Guards battalions not being to everyones taste. Consequently, I believe in 1951, the Guards Independent Parachute Company was formed. My father went to this company. Later, when 22 SAS required reinforcement for Malaya The Parachute Regiment formed The Independent Parachute Squadron to provide them. However, when permannent expansion of 22 SAS was necessary it was the Guards unit that was chosen (so my father the joined 22 SAS) and the Para Reg unit was disbanded May 1957. Does that prove that the Guards were better soldiers than the Para's? My father would not (seriously) suggest that, although he certainly would to wind up a Para.
The Parachute Reg famous for putting courage and aggression at the top of thier shopping list for recruits. That reflects thier origins. Formed to instert behind enemy lines lightly armed a Paratrooper needs both of those things in spades. That does not mean that other soldiers do not have them, but we would certainly agree that a Para does or should.
My own Regiment was formed when the Army still wore red coats, fired muskets, soldiers were largely illiterate and discipline was installied by the liberal use of the lash. But warfare was changing and certain enlightened officer saw that there was a need for inteligent, independent, self disciplined, soldier who could use thier own initiative to accomplish task. The Regiments very first standing orders reffered to "the thinking rifleman" and for the first time laid down orders that officers were to put their mens welfare first. The culture of "the thinking rifleman" still exists today and if I were to single out one attribute that the regiment has as a consequence of its historical culture it is that it is a forward looking regiment. It has been innovative sine the time it was formed, being the first British mechanised infantry and glider borne infantry for example. Conversely the Parachute Reg hangs on tenaciously to the single role ot was formed for. So does the fact that RGJ put intelligence, innovation and innitiative at the top of thier shopping list mean that Para's are thick by comparison? Well I have worked with Para's on ops and on courses and I wouldn't say so.
Apologies for using my own Regiment as an example, I certainly am not aiming to put them on a pedestal and I am well aware that many infantry regiments have thier own particular strengths.
Nothing wrong with some competition, nothing wrong with "bigging up" your own lots. But fer fucks sake don't start believing your own propoganda. Lighten up a bit. You'll all need each other when you are in the brown stuff, indeed your regiment has been got out of it by other infantry in the past, as mine has, so you can bet you'll be dying to see them roll up again one day and you won't be calling them craphats when they do.