ARMY chief Ken Gillespie says he wont bow to pressure and overturn a decision to axe a bagpipe band because the army is short by about 1700 troops and needs trained soldiers, not pipers.
He said the decision to axe the Royal Australian pipe and drum band followed a series of reviews and was based on advice to former army chief Lieutenant General Peter Leahy from his generals advisory committee.
“The commanding officers of the battalions of the regiment also agreed with me that the priorities were for their manpower to be employed and trained in other areas,” he said.
Army defends decision to drop pipe and drum band | Herald Sun.