This year, 2015, commemorates the centenary of the Welsh Guards. Royal Central takes a look at the history of the Guards as well as some of the upcoming events celebrating their 100th anniversary.
The Guard of Honour stand outside St Paul’s Cathedral for the Ceremonial Funeral of Baroness Thatcher, a Guard of Honour of the Welsh Guards from the Queen’s Household Regiments.
The Queen’s colour is partly covered in black cloth.
Since its founding 100 years ago, the Welsh Sentinels have fought in virtually every key conflict the British Army has engaged in since World War I with the exception of the Korean War and the First Gulf War.
The Welsh Guards began when King George V issued a Royal Warrant on 26 February 1915. At its start the Regiment took its place together with the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, the Scots Guards and the Irish Guards.
The response to join was so overwhelming that on 1 March 1915, the Regiment mounted its first King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace on St David’s Day.
The Welsh Guards would soon find themselves as part of the Guards Division in France fighting in France on 27 September during the Battle of Loos. Exceeding expectations, the battle became their first battle honour. The Regiment’s first Victoria Cross was awarded to Sergeant Robert Bye at Pilckem in July 1917.
The Regiment increased to three Battalions during World War II. The 1st Battalion fought in all the campaigns of North West Europe. In 1939 The 2nd Battalion was composed and fought in Boulogne in 1940, whilst the 1st Battalion was in Belgium as a component of the British Expeditionary Force.
During the Battle of Arras in May 1940, the Regiment’s second Victoria Cross was bestowed upon Lieutenant Christopher Furness. Furness died engaging the enemy in hand-to-hand combat.
In 1941, a 3rd Battalion was raised and fought throughout the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns. Shortly after World War II, the 3rd Battalion disbanded and the 2nd Battalion put on hold.
During the latter half of the 20th century, the 1st Battalion served at home in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Egypt, Germany, Aden, Cyprus and Belize. They also were part of the 1982 campaign in the Falklands.
During the last decade, the 1st Battalion has deployed on two tours of Bosnia and tours of Northern Ireland, Iraq, Kosovo. They were also deployed on several tours of Afghanistan.
The Regimental motto is Cymru Am Byth (Wales forever) and its cap badge is the Leek. The Colonel of the regiment is The Prince of Wales, with The Queen as Colonel-in-Chief.
As well as their operational role, the Welsh Guards have ceremonial duties too. They provide the guard for Her Majesty at her royal residences as one of the five Foot Guards Regiment in the Household Division.
Whilst carrying out this duty the Battalion mounts from Wellington Barracks in central London, however the regiment is formally based in Cavalry Barracks in west London.
Welsh Guards NCO in his winter Greatcoat.
When performing its ceremonial role, the Battalion provides the Guards at St James’s Palace and Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London. Additional ceremonial tasks and parades include Trooping the Colour and Guards of Honour for visiting heads of state and other state events.
The regiment wears the famous red tunics during the summer months, however changes to grey greatcoats during the winter.
To distinguish between the regiments of the Foot Guards, one can look at the spacing of buttons on their tunics during the summer. The Welsh Guards wear their buttons in sets of five. another way is to look at the bearskin worn by all guardsmen. The Welsh Guards bear a white and green plume on their bearskins.
The Battalion participated in the wedding of Prince William to the then Catherine Middleton back in 2011. The Welsh Guards provided the Guard of Honour in the Buckingham Palace forecourt as the remainder of the Battalion lined the processional route on Horse Guards.
You can find out more about the Welsh Guards on the British Army’s website, by clicking here.
Photo credits: Mikepaws and Mike George via photopin cc
