THE Government yesterday confirmed that historic Army units would be scrapped to save money, renewing fears that one of the region’s famous infantry battalions could go.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said the Army would in the future rely heavily on private military contractors and reservists, whose numbers are expected to double to 30,000.

He confirmed that some units would be scrapped and others merged in the coming years as the Army scaled back its regular strength from 102,000 to 82,000.

According to reports, four infantry battalions and two cavalry regiments will be disbanded or amalgamated.

It is thought the Yorkshire Regiment will be among the units to lose a battalion, alongside the Mercian Regiment, with further cuts expected in Scotland.

Sources said last night that they feared that of the four Yorkshire battalions, the 2nd Battalion, formerly The Green Howards, would go.

The Army traditionally disbands battalions with the shortest lineage, meaning the 3rd Battalion, formerly the Duke of Wellington’s, would be the first to go. However, while the two other full-time battalions recruit in the heavily populated areas of West Yorkshire and Humberside, it is thought that the 2nd Battalion’s more sparsely populated recruitment patch of North Yorkshire and Teesside could put it at risk.

Mr Hammond confirmed yesterday that demographics would play a part in deciding which units would go.

He said: “Against a background of an increasing UK population overall, it is projected there will be about 12 per cent fewer males by 2020 in the typical infantry recruiting age range.

“Although all regions face this decline, there is local variation: in particular, the South and South-East of England will see the lowest decline.

“So while we are determined to maintain an effective regimental system, it must be based on the realities of today and the primacy of capability. That means focusing on analysis of recruitment performance, demographic trends and future recruiting needs.”

The speech came a few weeks before the publication of a report into the Army in the decades to come.