2nd Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers “Call to Arms”

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Photo: Jan Harwood

The Fusiliers at the Town Hall

400 Ex-servicemen from the region are set to march on the Houses of Parliament next month, to protest at Government plans to disband our historic battalion.

Former members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Royal Lancashire Fusiliers will join with comrades from Northumberland, Warwickshire and London on October 18, to demonstrate the strength of feeling over moves to axe the 2nd Battalion (2RRF).

They argue that the decision was taken for political reasons only and is a betrayal of loyal soldiers who have died and risked their lives for their country.

Under the Strategic Defence and Security Review, 2RRF is one of nine regular Army battalions in line to be disbanded in 2014, with the loss of 600 service personnel.

The First Battalion, also made up of professional soldiers, will remain untouched, while the Fifth Battalion – which is Territorial Army and has a strong presence in the county – will benefit from a £1.8billion plan over the next 10 years to boost reserve forces. The Government’s aim is to double the number of reservists by 2020, from 15,000 to 30,000, to act as an ‘adaptable’ support corps.

The debate was secured following a presentation to the Backbench Business Committee last Tuesday, with the help of Mary Glindon MP and Ian Liddell-Grainger MP. The application was supported by 13 MPs who, in most part, have constituency links with the Regiment.

Mr Baron said: “The debate is excellent news. We will be able to air all the issues, and then vote on the matter. There is a gross injustice in axing 2RRF.

“A letter from and meeting with the Secretary of State for Defence on August 14 has confirmed that 2RRF is the only infantry battalion to be cut for political rather than military reasons. Otherwise, more poorly-recruited Scottish battalions would have been axed, but this is not happening.

“Following the granting of a meeting between the Secretary of State and all interested MPs, this debate will maintain the pressure on the Government to think again. I urge all ex-Fusiliers to join us on October 18 at Parliament in order to make clear the strength of feeling on this issue.

Heywood Township Chairman Cllr Alan McCarthy in his capacity as Rochdale Council Armed/Reserve Forces and Cadet Association Representative along with Harry Mills Lancashire Veterans Association Chairman will join the 400 Fusiliers March on Parliament.

Cllr Alan McCarthy has requested that he be allowed to address Parliament before the debate starts.

Cllr McCarthy moved the original Motion to Rochdale Council to save the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers with the motion being followed by all other Greater Manchester Councils and supported unanimously by all political parties.

In moving the original motion, Cllr McCarthy stated: “By now members of Council will be aware of the Governments’ proposals for dangerously reducing the numbers of the Army. Up to 600 soldiers are at risk of losing their jobs with the closure of 2nd Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers because of government cost-cutting.

Brigadier David Paterson, the commander of The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, has warned: The Ministry of Defence plans to axe historic battalions is unfair on troops, undermines the Army and could threaten future military operations,

The 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, one of the best manned Battalions in the Army was chosen by the Chief of the General Staff to be disbanded meaning loyal, well trained Fusiliers from this fully manned Battalion are likely to be posted to less successful Battalions that cannot recruit or retain their own troops.

The regiment recruits from across Greater Manchester, especially Bury, Rochdale and Salford. The infantry battalion's illustrious roots can be traced back to the Bury-based Lancashire Fusiliers. Soldiers who gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars and famously earned 'six Victoria Crosses before breakfast' in the Gallipoli landings of 1915. And at the end of WW1 had won more VC`S than any other regiment in the entire British Army.

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was formed on April 23rd 1968 from, The Royal Fusiliers, The Royal Northumberland, The Royal Warwickshire and the Lancashire Fusiliers. The Regimental make up is as follows:

A T/A Battalion

1st Battalion (Armoured Warrior Force)

2nd Battalion (A Fast reaction Force)

Can we as a nation really support losing such a capability?

The Lancashire Fusiliers gained the freedom of the Borough of Rochdale at a special meeting of Council on Thursday 5 May 1947, with the ceremony of honouring on 2 August 1947 This is the highest form of recognition that a civic authority can bestow on a regiment The Fusiliers are Freemen of Rochdale and the regiment is an integral part of our history, with troops and their families making a great sacrifice throughout the generations. From the 17th century, members of the Regiment have fought and died all over the world for Great Britain. “They have defended us and it is right that we support them now.”