Such disregard is callous and short-sighted

“Surely reform can be achieved without the need to destroy three centuries of tradition.”

FOR NEARLY three hundred years The Black Watch has been an integral part of the life of Tayside and Fife, including Dundee. Over that time tradition and community bonds have made the battalion indispensible to our area.

Many people have a family connection to the battalion, including my own family. My grandfather Hugh Macdonald died on November 22, 1941 while serving with The Black Watch and is buried in the military section of the cemetery in Gibraltar.

I have visited his grave and I have seen the care and dedication given by the War Graves Commission to the final resting places of the young men of The Black Watch and other serving personnel who did not make it home.

The dedication shown by the people of Tayside and Fife to The Black Watch cannot be reduced to financial considerations alone, and one wonders if the government fully understands the resonance that The Black Watch has for our communities.

Their seeming disregard for the history and traditions of our historic battalions is as short-sighted as it is callous. The damage that could be wrought for short-term financial gain will be much harder to fix in the future and the disrespect shown to veterans and their families, as well as current service personnel, will be extremely difficult to right.

If it is agreed that the armed forces require some measure of reform then surely that can be achieved without the need to destroy three centuries of tradition.

The modern British Army is a sophisticated organisation that serves our nation bravely and competently but the battles and challenges of the future are unlikely to look like those of the past; whether it is warfare itself, peace-keeping, delivering humanitarian aid and support or defending our islands, the conditions which our soldiers face are rapidly changing and that may require military reform.

However, I believe any changes must be based on the traditions that have served our armed forces so well for centuries. Esprit de corps and tradition are important parts of military life and it would be an unwise government that would so readily dispense with them for short-term financial gain.

The government’s announcement that no changes were to be made to the traditional regimental structure is welcome, but that does not mean the future of The Black Watch is guaranteed.

What it means is that those regiments which are not axed altogether, because of personnel cuts, will be allowed to keep their traditional identity. We could face a situation where The Black Watch is axed, while other traditional regiments remain.

For the government reform means cuts and it is that which we must now fight.

The people of Tayside and Fife have sent a very clear message to the government that any plans to axe The Black Watch will be a terrible error in judgement and while the government seek reform they must do so in a way that respects and builds on, not destroys, the traditions of our military units.

I am very proud that my grandfather Hugh Macdonald fought against the rise of fascism and as such I will make the case in the Commons and in Dundee that reform need not mean the end of three centuries of loyal and brave service.