Duke joins campaign to save historic regiment

THE Duke of Wellington has urged Army chiefs to preserve the name of Yorkshire’s historic regiment, as speculation grows over an imminent Government decision where it is feared 650 soldiers from the region will be axed.

As revealed by the Yorkshire Post last week, it is widely believed that Ministry of Defence (MoD) chiefs embarking on the biggest round of cuts to the military since the Second World War have already agreed one of the three regular Yorkshire Regiment battalions will go.

One of those under threat is the 3rd Battalion (the former Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) despite its troops currently fighting in Helmand where five were killed in a single explosion in March this year.

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Now Arthur Wellesley, the 8th Duke of Wellington and the regiment’s deputy colonel-in-chief, is campaigning against the plans.

The 96-year-old, who won the Military Cross in the Second World War, has written to the head of the Army, General Sir Peter Wall, urging him to save the name of the regiment.

He has been backed by Major General Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, the former commander of the Queen’s Household Cavalry and Guards and the last colonel of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment before it was amalgamated into the Yorkshire Regiment in 2006.

An escalating row is taking place over the Government’s handling of the cuts, with critics claiming it is a “done deal” which battalion will go and condemning the Government for waiting for a politically opportune moment to announce its plans while leaving soldiers and their families in the dark.

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Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has confirmed whole units “inevitably will be lost or will merge” as the Army shrinks from 102,000 soldiers to 82,000 under plans which have been set out in the strategic defence and security review.

The Yorkshire Post understands it is more likely the 3rd Battalion will be merged, while another Yorkshire Regiment battalion is axed altogether.

In a statement released over the weekend, Keighley and Ilkley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins, who served with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, dismissed speculation that a final decision has been made to cut the 3rd Battalion as part of the defence review.

“I have spoken to Philip Hammond, and received a personal assurance that no final decisions on the future of any Army regiments have been taken,” he said.

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“He also made clear to me that any such decisions would only be made in full consultation with UK military commanders.

“For such idle and baseless speculation to be thrown around whilst the brave soldiers of the 3rd Battalion are carrying out vital operations on the ground in Afghanistan is simply appalling.

“It reflects poorly on the individuals responsible, who should know better.”

The Government has said despite the cuts there is no question of abandoning the regimental system, but a slimmed-down Army would mean an increased reliance on private military contractors and part-time reservists, whose numbers are set to double to 30,000 over the next decade.

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An MoD spokeswoman said: “The Army is currently considering re-design options as the Army reduces to 82,000.

“No decisions have been taken.

“The regimental system is fundamental to the fighting power of the British Army today and we are not going to change it.”