Protesters fight to save 2nd Fusiliers 18.10.12
46Around 400 former Fusiliers have marched through Whitehall in protest at defence cuts.
They are angry that the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is being scrapped.
The protesters are campaigning for the Government to reverse its decision.
The 2nd Battalion is due to amalgamate with the 1st Battalion in 2014 as part of the Army 2020 restructuring. Another four infantry Battalions are also being cut.
They claim axing the 2nd Battalion is a political fix designed to save two poorly recruited Scottish Battalions ahead of a referendum vote.
The protest coincided with a backbench motion tabled by former Fusilier officer and now MP John Baron, who also presented a petition to Downing Street.
It saw the Government suffer a defeat as it lost by 57 votes to 3, but because it was a backbench business debate the vote is not binding on the government.
John Baron MP said: "These Army cuts are a big mistake but if there are to be cuts then military logic should prevail.
"Government interference to save poorly recruited Scottish battalions smacks of a political fix in the lead-up to the Scottish referendum."
For more informatio visit www.bfbs.com/news/uk/protesters-fight-save-2nd-fusiliers-61228.html