Defence cuts could spell end for historic battalions

Speculation is growing as many of eight of the existing 36 battalions could be at risk as the Army cuts some 12,000 posts in the next four years.

The coalition confirmed last month that the Army would be reduced to its smallest size since the Boer War by 2015 when British troops are due to have withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Army top brass are said to have warned Downing Street that some historic names could go despite a pledge by the Conservatives in opposition to restore names lost when Labour reorganised services in 2006, breaking with 300 years of military tradition.

The changes, which critics claimed would make cuts easier to make in future, led to the formation of the Yorkshire Regiment with the amalgamation of the Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment, The Green Howards and The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment.

It comprises four battalions: 1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales’s Own; 2nd Battalion, Green Howards; 3rd Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment; and 4th Battalion, Territorial Army.

Army planners are believed to be looking at cutting between five and eight battalions from the infantry.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said there would be a gradual move towards the new Army structure to avoid an adverse impact on operations.

“These additional manpower cuts are being scoped and detailed planning is under way to identify a range of options to meet the target of 90,000 by 2015. Whilst this planning is ongoing it would be wrong to speculate on the possible outcomes.”