I AM totally disgusted with the dismemberment of my old regiment. It seems that the Government is determined to destroy all the values that we stood for.

When I joined the Army in 1970, at the age of 15, the regiment had only several years previously amalgamated to the form The Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment. This was, of course, an amalgamation of the Royal Berkshire and Wiltshire regiments. Although there were some moans and groans it soon stabilised and we became proud members.

The most important factor was the maintenance of battle honours and the proud history of both regiments. More recently, after the amalgamation with the Royal Gloucestershire Regiment there was much concern and in fighting as to which honours, cap badges, even museums, would be more predominant.

There is surely a sensible limit on how far history can be crushed into a disposable entity.

From the age of 15 I learned to stand up for what I felt was right! I was and still am a very patriotic and loyal subject to the crown and to the services of this country.

Nothing could be more demoralising than to find that the recently formed regiment is to be sliced up and discarded in this way.

They are tinkering not just with tradition and moral values but with the very essence and structure of our armed forces and indeed the country as a whole.

M VERTANNES

(Ex Corporal 1st Battalion)

Thorney Park, Wroughton