Who is the enemy?

It is Armed Forces Day and army morale is low – according to the Telegraph at least. The prospect of a 20 per cent cut in personnel is provoking anger in the ranks, which the civilian can perceive dimly by looking at the posts left on the Army Rumour Service.

Rumours of amalgamation and abolition have been circulating for some time in the run up to next week’s announcement. The Telegraph reports that historic English regiments are going to be remoulded, especially those that rely on foreign recruits (usually from the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands). Two of the so-called ‘Super Regiments’, the Yorkshire Regiment and the Rifles, are set lose a battalion each, while there is likely to be a merger of the Royal Anglians, the Princess of Wales’s and the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to form a new ‘Super Regiment’. The last Welsh cavalry regiment is expected to join the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (itself the product of 3 previous reorganisations), and there will be substantial reductions to the artillery and logistics corps.