Authorities dig in to support Fusiliers’ campaign

Warwickshire County Council agreed last week to do everything in its power to persuade Parliament not to axe the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.

And at a meeting of Warwick District Council last Thursday all but three councillors voted in favour of vice chairman Cllr Richard Davies’ motion for the authority to call upon the government to reconsider its plan.

In an impassioned speech to members, Cllr Davis, (Con, Kenilworth St John’s) said: “I bring this motion simply because I have a sense of fair play and that sense is outraged by what is beginning to happen to this regiment.

“Our armed forces have a long and glorious history of bravery, complete obedience and for putting service before self.

“Our governments have a long and ignoble history of treating our armed forces shamefully and of relying on the code of silence , the vows of obedience that prevent our armed forces from defending themselves from their most deadly enemy - politicians and civil servants.”

Veterans, including those who had served with the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers which was absorbed in 1968 to make up the four-battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, attended the meeting and applauded Cllr Davies from the public gallery.

Cllr George Illingworth (Con, Kenilworth Abbey), who served in the TA for 36 years, seconded the motion.