Royal Welsh Explained

Unit Name:The Royal Welsh
Dates:1 March 2006 – present
Motto:"Ich Dien" "I Serve"
"Gwell angau na Chywilydd" ("Better Death than Dishonour")
Country:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Type:Line Infantry
Role:1st Battalion – Armoured Infantry
3rd Battalion – Army Reserve
Size:Two battalions
Command Structure:Union Division
Garrison:RHQ – Cardiff
1st Battalion – Tidworth
3rd Battalion – Cardiff
Ceremonial Chief:The King
Ceremonial Chief Label:Colonel in Chief
Colonel Of The Regiment:Maj Gen Chris Barry
Identification Symbol Label:Tactical Recognition Flash
Identification Symbol 2:White (ORs only)
From Royal Welch Fusiliers
Identification Symbol 2 Label:Hackle
Identification Symbol 3:R WELSH
Identification Symbol 3 Label:Abbreviation
March:Quick – Men of Harlech
Slow – Forth to the Battle
Mascot:Persian Goat (Shenkin IV)[1]
Battles:
Anniversaries:St David's Day – 1 March

The Royal Welsh (R WELSH) (Welsh: Y Cymry Brenhinol) is an armoured infantry regiment of the British Army. It was established in 2006 from the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Foot) and the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot).

History

The regiment's formation was announced on 16 December 2004 by Geoff Hoon and General Sir Mike Jackson as part of the restructuring of the infantry and it was actually formed on St David's Day, 1 March 2006. The Royal Welsh initially consisted of two Regular Army battalions, plus an Army Reserve battalion. The former regiments formed part of the battalion title (in brackets):[2]

The 1st battalion deployed to Afghanistan in October 2007, October 2009[3] and April 2012.[4]

In July 2007 the 2nd battalion deployed to Iraq[5] and between 2009 and 2011 the battalion deployed companies to Afghanistan.[6]

The 2nd battalion merged with 1st battalion to form a single battalion, the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh on 2 April 2014.[7]

Structure

The 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh is a Regular Army armoured infantry battalion based at Tidworth Camp. It comes under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade with HQ at Bulford Camp in Wiltshire.[8] [9]

The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh is an Army Reserve light infantry battalion based at Maindy Barracks in Cardiff, with company locations in Swansea, Pontypridd, Aberystwyth and Colwyn Bay. Paired with 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, it also comes under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade.[10] [11]

Regimental museum

The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh is at The Barracks, Brecon.[12] Meanwhile is based at Cardiff Castle[13]

Traditions

The regiment's cap badge is a representation of the Prince of Wales's feathers (formerly the cap badge of the Royal Regiment of Wales), while the hackle of the Royal Welch Fusiliers is worn by all NCOs and Other Ranks. Queen Elizabeth II was the new regiment's Colonel-in-Chief until her death in September 2022.[14]

The regiment includes a goat, presented by the monarch; this is not a mascot but a ranking soldier. Lance Corporal William Windsor retired on 20 May 2009; a replacement, Fusilier William Windsor, was appointed on 15 June 2009.[15] [16]

Regimental Band and Corps of Drums of The Royal Welsh

The Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh is an all-brass band within the British Army. Formed of 30 soldiers who are all members of the Army Reserve, it can provide a marching band, a concert band or a fanfare team.[17]

In October 2009, due to £54m of Ministry of Defence budget cuts affecting front line services including the war in Afghanistan, all bookings from end of October 2009 until April 2010 were cancelled. This covered the Autumn Rugby Union Internationals and Remembrance Day. Band members agreed to honour all charity appearances during this period, but without pay.[18]

Regimental Colonels

Regimental Colonels have been as follows:

Freedoms

The regiment has received the Freedom of several locations throughout its history. As of 2019 the regiment has received the freedom of 28 local authorities;[23] these include:

Alliances

Lineage

1880[47] 1921 Name changes 2006 Delivering Security in a Changing World
23rd (Royal Welsh Fusiliers) Regiment of FootThe Royal Welsh FusiliersThe Royal Welch FusiliersThe Royal Welsh
24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of FootThe South Wales BorderersRoyal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)
41st (The Welsh) Regiment of FootThe Welsh RegimentThe Welch Regiment
69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Royal Welsh: New regimental goat evades Army capture. BBC News . 2 February 2018 . 2 February 2018.
  2. News: In detail: army restructuring plans. BBC. 16 December 2004. 24 May 2014.
  3. Web site: 11 Light Brigade to replace 19 Light Brigade in Afghanistan . 15 July 2009 . Ministry of Defence . 30 April 2016 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20090716125434/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/11LightBrigadeToReplace19LightBrigadeInAfghanistan.htm . 16 July 2009 .
  4. News: RC – Southwest - Task Force Helmand . 17 September 2012 . International Security Assistance Force(ISAF) . 19 April 2012 . unfit . https://web.archive.org/web/20121230144128/http://www.isaf.nato.int/subordinate-commands/rc-southwest/index.php . 30 December 2012 .
  5. Web site: The Royal Welsh return from Iraq. 11 December 2007. Wales on line. 30 April 2016.
  6. Web site: 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh: Soldiers in Cardigan march. BBC. 28 September 2012. 30 April 2016.
  7. Web site: In pictures: Parade commemorates historic merger of Royal Welsh Regiment's 1st and 2nd Battalions . Wales on line. 4 April 2014 . 30 April 2016.
  8. Web site: Army basing announcement. 26 April 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160814181412/http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf. 14 August 2016.
  9. Web site: Transforming the British Army: An Update. 7. Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2016.
  10. Web site: 3rd (United Kingdom) Division | The British Army . Army.mod.uk . 2018-04-10.
  11. Web site: Royal Welsh | The British Army . Army.mod.uk . 2006-03-01 . 2018-04-10.
  12. Web site: The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh. 20 April 2014.
  13. News: Regimental museum to open doors. BBC News. 19 February 2010. 12 June 2018.
  14. Web site: Cardiff set for royal visit from The Queen as she presents the Royal Welsh Regiment with its new colours. 17 April 2015. Wales on line. 30 April 2016.
  15. News: Retiring army goat's new zoo home . BBC News . 20 May 2009 . 22 May 2010.
  16. News: Soldiers choose regimental goat . BBC News . 15 June 2009 . 10 June 2010.
  17. Web site: Regimental Band and Corps of Drums. Ministry of Defence. 30 April 2016.
  18. News: Army cutbacks hit regimental band. BBC Wales. 16 October 2009. 8 November 2009.
  19. Web site: Court Circular . The Times . 5 April 2022.
  20. Web site: A right Royal family affair for distinguished military family as Queen prepares to come to Cardiff. 8 June 2015. Wales on line. 4 June 2018.
  21. Web site: This rare footage shows the moment the Queen came face to face with chiefs of the Royal Welsh. 14 March 2016. Wales on line. 4 June 2018.
  22. https://www.defenceiq.com/events-internationaldismountedsoldier/speakers/major-general-chris-barry-cbe Major General Chris Barry CBE
  23. Web site: The Royal Welsh: One of the Army's oldest regiments is 300. BBC. 7 September 2019. 22 June 2020.
  24. Web site: Royal Welsh receive freedom of the city of Bangor . North Wales Chronicle . 26 July 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120325062713/http://www.northwaleschronicle.co.uk/news/104432/royal-welsh-receive-freedom-of-the-city-of-bangor.aspx . 25 March 2012 . live .
  25. Web site: Freedom honour for Royal regiment. 25 September 2010. walesonline.
  26. Web site: Royal Welsh to get freedom of Blaenau Gwent . South Wales Argus . 2011-01-25 . 2019-03-11.
  27. Web site: WalesOnline . Freedom honour for Royal Welsh Regiment . 3 February 2011 . Wales Online . 2019-03-11.
  28. News: Royal Welsh receive freedom of Blaenau Gwent - BBC News . BBC News . 19 February 2011 . 2019-03-11.
  29. http://www1.bridgend.gov.uk/democracy/mayor/freedom-of-the-borough.aspx Freedom of the Borough
  30. Web site: Royal Welsh to receive freedom of Flintshire and Caernarfon. North Wales Daily. Post. 23 April 2009.
  31. Web site: Royal Welsh Freedom of The Royal Town of Caernarfon. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/R5IOsKWdvtk. 2021-12-12 . live. CaernarfonOnline. 25 April 2009. YouTube.
  32. Web site: Royal Welsh Regiment to receive Freedom of Caerphilly County Borough - Caerphilly.Observer. 21 September 2010.
  33. Web site: Regiment to get freedom of the borough. WalesOnline. 15 September 2010.
  34. Web site: The Royal Welsh Freedom of the borough, Blackwood and Caerphilly. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/ejNMOoKDKYY. 2021-12-12 . live. steveorido. 26 September 2010. YouTube.
  35. Web site: March celebrates town centre revamp. 8 June 2013. BBC.
  36. Web site: The Royal Welsh to march at Cardigan Freedom Parade. WalesOnline. 26 September 2012.
  37. Web site: Soldiers in county freedom parade. 28 September 2012. BBC.
  38. Web site: Royal Welsh given the Freedom of Conwy. North Wales. Live. 20 September 2010. northwales.
  39. Web site: Royal Welsh given the freedom of Denbighshire. Alex. Hickey. 13 June 2011.
  40. Web site: Monmouthshire freedom plan is 'honourable tribute' to soldiers. South Wales Argus. 13 January 2011 .
  41. Web site: Freedom parade aims to keep inconvenience to a minimum in Abergavenny.
  42. Web site: Neath Port Talbot residents salute troops. 2 April 2009. Wales Online. 31 March 2020.
  43. Web site: Royal Welsh given Freedom of Pembroke . Western Telegraph. 2018-09-14 . 2019-03-11.
  44. Web site: Royal Welsh soldiers marched through Pontypridd watched by thousands. James. McCarthy. 8 October 2016.
  45. Web site: Freedom of the Borough. 5 June 2010 .
  46. Web site: Honorary Freedom . Government of the United Kingdom . 2019-03-11.
  47. News: The London Gazette. Page 3300-3301. Childers Reform. 27 October 2016. 24992. Government of the United Kingdom. 1 July 1881.

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