The soldier at the centre of controversy over Bermuda Regiment promotions is to quit the Island's part-time army, The Royal Gazette can reveal.

But, according to Regiment insiders, Maj. Nick Moore is to resign his commission to take up a high-flying job overseas -- not because of a long-running row which has rocked Warwick Camp.

Yesterday, Deputy Governor Tim Gurney told The Royal Gazette : "I am not aware at the moment that he has resigned. I don't think the Governor has had a formal resignation.'' Mr. Gurney added that he could not discuss the reasons for individual officers' resignations.

But he said: "On occasion, there are members of the Regiment whose career interests mean that, sadly, they have to leave.'' Maj. Moore could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

His decision to quit, however, is set to leave the way clear for just-promoted Regiment adjutant Edward Lamb to take over as Commanding Officer at Warwick Camp when current CO Lt. Col. Patrick Outerbridge stands down next year. Maj.

Lamb -- formerly a Captain and full-time adjutant -- was pushed up the ranks in an unusual move which saw him promoted without a period as an Acting Major.

Normally, the role of adjutant is given on the understanding that the officer serves out his contract as a Captain -- with the possibility of being leapfrogged by part-time officers.

But Maj. Moore -- a Bermudian former British Army regular -- and another Major had their ranks backdated. Maj. Moore's promotion covered his period as Acting Major.

Soldier leaves Some officers claimed Maj. Lamb's promotion was unfair -- while others insisted there was nothing in the rules to prevent it and precedents had been set in the past.

And a pro-Lamb officer added that all officers of Major's rank had to be considered for the top job, irrespective of seniority at the time.

The Regiment was rocked earlier this year by a row over the future of the part-time defence force -- with claims of a split in the Officers' Mess along racial lines.

That prompted a probe which recommended better communications in a bid to avoid internal warfare.

Earlier, some officers wrote to Premier Jennifer Smith and Governor Thorold Masefield to complain about the Regiment.

They claimed black officers had been left feeling out of step with the way the Regiment was being run and the role of then-staff officer UK officer Maj.

David Napier.

But others defended the current system and Lt. Col. Outerbridge and said there had "always been confrontation'' between some Bermudians and UK advisors on secondment.