154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC

Organisation

The Regiment is under Operational Command (OPCOM) of 101 Logistic Brigade within the Army's Support Command.

It is part of the Royal Logistic Corps and consists of a RHQ and four squadrons:

154 (Scottish) Regiment is 'twinned' with 27 Regiment RLC, based in Aldershot in England. 27 Regiment RLC is a regular 'third line' regiment and part of 101 Logistic Brigade.

Primary Equipment

Each of the task squadrons is equipped with the Leyland-DAF Demountable Rack Off Load and Pick up System (DROPS), which is a Medium Mobility Load Carrier (MMLC). It is capable of carrying 15 tonnes of stocks or equipment cross country, either in an ISO container or loaded directly onto its demountable flat rack. This capacity can be doubled by the coupling of a King trailer.

In addition to the DROPS vehicle, the Squadrons are equipped with the JCB 525 rough terrain fork lift truck; a number of different types of Landrover for both general use and acting as communications vehicles; field catering equipment; and modern weapon systems, including the 5.56mm Rifle (SA80 A2).

154 Regt RLC's domestic vehicles are 6T and 9T variants of the MAN Support Vehicle (MAN SV) (the military version of the MAN SX).

Soldier Trades

To enable the Squadrons to operate their vehicles and equipment, its soldiers are trained and skilled in a wide variety of trades; these include: Drivers, Communication Specialists, Chefs, Military Clerks and Combat Medical Technicians.

RHQ

The Scottish Transport Regiment is commanded from the Regimental Headquarters (RHQ), which is based in Dunfermline.

Squadrons

Each Squadron has a Squadron Headquarters (SHQ) and three Troops. Initially, all recruits join X Ray Troop (which, in the case of 230 (Edinburgh) Sqn, is named MacKay Troop after Colonel David MacKay, the Honorary Colonel to the Scottish Transport Regiment from April 2004 to April 2011). They remain there until they complete their basic trade qualifications (B3); for driver trades, this also means that they must obtain category B (Car) and C (HGV 2) licences. Once they have their B3 qualification, trained soldiers move into one of the 2 task troops (A and B Troops) or the SHQ. At this stage, driver tradesmen can opt to train as a communications specialist.

Sports and Competitions

154 (Scottish) Regiment Royal Logistic Corps has a long tradition of success at team sports and competitions; and is currently the:

Regimental History

The regiment was formed on 1 April 1993 by the amalgamation of 153rd (Highland) Regiment and 154th (Lowland) Regiment of the Royal Corps of Transport. It originally comprised a headquarters squadron and four transport squadrons. An additional rations squadron was established in 1999, but has since been transferred to 159 Regiment RLC.

Regimental Hymn

The Regimental Hymn was written by Major Jim Smith MBE, the Padre to the Scottish Transport Regiment from 1999 to 2010.

(Sung to the tune of Onward Christian Soldiers)

Regimental Pipes and Drums

154 (Scottish) Regiment the Royal Logistic Corps currently has no formed Pipes and Drums, although it formed an affiliation with the Dunfermline and District Pipe Band, which has become known as the Dunfermline District & Scottish Transport Regiment Pipe Band, who practice at the Army Reserve Centre in Dunfermline on Monday and Thursday Nights between 19.00 - 21.00hrs under the direction of their Pipe Major, Mr Donald McPhee.

Tartan

From the formation of The Highland Divisional Transport and Supply Column ASC (TA) in 1908, the antecedents of the STR did not have an official Regimental Tartan. Indeed, it was not until 1937, when 51st Highland Divisional RASC (TA) formed the Regiment’s first Pipes and Drums, that this lack of a Regimental Tartan became an issue. In 1937, the Commanding Officer, Lt Col T Harris Hunter OBE, gained the consent of Princess Arthur of Connaught for the Pipes and Drums to wear the Red MacDuff Tartan. Princess Arthur was Duchess of Fife – where the RHQ was based and remains to this day – and her husband, Prince Arthur of Connaught, was the first Colonel in Chief of the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), the forerunner of the RCT and thence the RLC. The official designation of the Regiment’s Tartan is No16 Red MacDuff (Ancient).

The name MacDuff means 'son of the dark one' (MacDhuibh in the Gaelic) and the MacDuffs are descended from the same ancient royal house as Shakespeare's Macbeth. Traditionally, MacDuff was the first Earl of Fife; he opposed Macbeth and helped Malcolm to the Throne. Fife is, of course, the home of the Regimental HQ, which is based in Dunfermline. The MacDuffs, under their earl, had the privilege of crowning the king and of always being in the front ranks of his army - a position of great honour. In 1306, Robert the Bruce had Duncan MacDuff, Earl of Fife, imprisoned for seven years, as he had been a supporter of the Comyns. The motto of the MacDuff clan is Deus Juvet: God Assists.

Head Dress and Cap Badge

From 1937 until 1978, the Red MacDuff tartan was worn only by the Regiment’s Pipes and Drums. On 9 January 1978, authorisation for the wearing of the wearing of a diamond shaped 1 ³⁄₄ inch Red MacDuff backing to the cap-badge was granted by the Army Dress Committee to both 153 (Highland) Artillery Support Regiment RCT and 154 (Lowland) Transport Regiment RCT. This was ratified by the Corps Dress Committee (RCT) on 9 February 1978. The change in dress was unfunded (and remains unfunded) and took some time to complete, with 221 (Glasgow) Sqn RCT being the last to change (29 January 1979).

In July 2009, a request was made to the Corps Dress Committee to allow the STR to adopt the Tam o' Shanter (TOS) to reinforce the Scottish Identity of the STR, support unit ethos and support unit recruiting and retention. This change was agreed at the 334th Meeting of the RLC Dress Committee and the Scottish Transport Regiment now wear the TOS rather than the dark blue beret of the Royal Logistic Corps. While the cap badge of the STR is the same as that of the Royal Logistic Corps, all ranks wear a diamond shaped patch of MacDuff Tartan behind the cap badge.

153 Highland Artillery Support Regiment's 239 (Highland) Transport Sqn, which was formed in 1967 from the Fife and Forfar Yeomanry, was allowed to retain the Atholl Bonnet as their head dress. However, this tradition was not retained when the squadron reroled as C (Fife and Forfar / Scottish Horse) Squadron, The Scottish Yeomanry, on 1 November 1992 (later to be amalgamated with the Queen's Own Yeomanry in 1996).

Tactical Recognition Flash (TRF)

As a regiment in the Royal Logisitc Corps, 154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC wears the TRF of the Royal Logistic Corps.

Footwear

Unlike the remainder of the Royal Logistic Corps, the Officers and Warrant Officers Class One all wear highland brogues when parading in No 2 Dress.

Pipes and Drums

The Regiment's Pipes and Drums wear the MacDuff Ancient Tartan and doublets of piper green with white facings. Their feather bonnets carry a red, white and blue hackle denoting the colours of the Royal Corps of Transport. To denote their fully combatant status pipers and drummers are armed with the Highland Dirk with senior ranks carrying the Sqian Dubh (Black Knife) which is worn in their hose. The Pipe Major carries a banner affixed to the drone of his pipes, bearing the device - or cypher - of the Regimental Honorary Colonel. The baldrik, worn by the Drum Major is a ceremonial item which originates in the drummers sash in which drummers used to carry their drumsticks. A pair of miniature silver drumsticks is still fitted to the baldrik.