The Staffords Must Go

Cannock Chase MP Aidan Burley opposes the MoD's recent decision to scrap the name “The Staffords”.

He said: I understand that the decision by the MOD on which battalions to cut was made among other things on their recruitment record”

“This is quite surprising as unlike several army battalions in Scotland that are to be retained. The Staffords have had no history of poor recruitment.”

The Army is set to lose 17 major units as it cuts 20,000 soldiers by 2020.

Soldiers from both Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent for the past 300 years have fought together as one under the regiment name The Staffords.

The Staffords history dates back to Lichfield in 1705 where at the Kings Head Pub Colonel Luke Lillingston formed the 1^st Staffordshire regiment.

This includes service in countries such as Martinique, South Africa, Flanders, Gallipoli, Anzio and Arnhem. The Staffords have also fought in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Chair of the Staffordshire regimental Association and ex Stafford Dave Lovell has started an online petition to save the Staffords name.

He said: “Were going to fight to ensure the name of the Staffords is kept going and the Army continues to carry the Staffordshire knot.”

Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond when making the announcement to MP’s said changes are needed to fill the £38 billion black hole left by the previous Labour government.

Over 5000 soldiers have signed an online petition opposing the decision to scrap the former name of their regiment.

The Sentinel newspaper has combined its petition to keep the name of The Staffords with the Staffordshire Regimental Association.

Assistant Editor Martin Tideswell said it is pure “nonsense” to get rid of the name. 

Staffordshire MPs including Aidan Burley have written to the Prime Minister expressing their concerns this decision will have upon the soldiers and their families.

Burley said: “I hold out the hope at the very least the name and traditions of The Staffords can be kept alive”

“As part of the Mercian Regiment through a merger with the 1^st or 2^nd Battalions.”