2RRF Honour Guard marches off the square

Fusiliers will continue with 1RRF

Since February 2013, ex-members of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers have paraded outside the gates of No 10 to coincide with the Cabinet’s weekly meeting. The former soldiers have been marking their disagreement with the MoD’s plans to disband 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (2RRF) as part of the Coalition Government’s Army reforms. This is despite 2RRF being one of the best-recruited units in the British Army and the battalion having seen continual action over the past decade.

The Honour Guard has formed part of the wider campaign to persuade the MoD to reverse its position to disband 2RRF. Since the announcement that 2RRF was to be cut in July 2012, the campaign has seen over 500 ex-Fusiliers march on Parliament in October 2012 and again in October 2013. There have been two back bench Parliamentary debates, as well as representations during Parliamentary debates, PMQs and Defence questions. Outside Parliament, the Regimental Associations have organised their own campaigns, which have included petitions and articles in local newspapers.

However, in light of the fact that it seems the disbandment will unfortunately go ahead, a decision has been taken that the Honour Guard will cease on Tuesday 27^th May 2014. Representatives from the media would be very welcome to attend the final guard, which will take place outside the Downing Street gates at 10.00am.

John Baron MP said,

“The Honour Guard has been integral to our campaign to save 2RRF. It is a great testament to the passion felt by Fusiliers that it has been maintained for so long and in all weathers. Whilst deeply disappointed with the decision to axe 2RRF, we take comfort from the strength of the Regimental Association and the fact the Regiment will continue in 1RRF and 5RRF.”

“The misguided plan to replace 20,000 Regulars with 30,000 Reservists will produce un acceptable capability gaps and false economies. We should be strengthening our Armed Forces, particularly at a time of growing uncertainty.”

Col (Rtd) Ian Brazier, Chairman of the Fusiliers Association, said,

“The Fusiliers Association has proudly maintained an Honour Guard at the gates of Downing Street in order to remind the Government that we do not accept the way  2RRF was ‘substituted’ into disbandment. The deeply flawed Army 2020 plan, combined with almost non-existent recruitment, is disastrous for Britain. The Secretary of State for Defence betrays a woefully inadequate grasp of military issues and seems to be labouring under the illusion that the British public believes that cuts mean progress.”