Home

About Us

Subscribe


Advertise

Other Publications

Diary

Notices

Offers

Gallery

More Features

People, Places & Events

Obituaries

Book Reviews

Forthcoming Publications

Contact


Advertisers




THE WELSH GUARDS CENTENARY - 1915-2015
by Colonel T C S Bonas
formerly Welsh Guards
Regimental Adjutant



Soldiers of the Welsh Guards - in the trenches

Winston Churchill visits the Welsh Guards -
Guards Armoured Division - 1944

On 6th February 1915, the Major General, Sir Francis Lloyd, met the Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, and discussed King George V’s wish that a Regiment of Welsh Guards be formed. ‘When do you wish them to be ready?’ he asked Kitchener. ‘Immediately’ was the response. ‘Very well sir … They shall go on Guard on St David’s Day’. The Royal Warrant was signed on 26th February 1915, and two days later the Battalion mounted its first King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace, on 1st March 1915, St David’s Day. The Captain of the Guard was the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Murray-Threipland, formerly Grenadier Guards, and Lord Kitchener dined with him at St James’s that evening. On 19th March, the leading company was given the title of ‘Prince of Wales Company’ and just before departing for France on 17th August, the Battalion received its first Colours from The King. The Battalion went into action at Loos on 27th September 1915 and its first Victoria Cross was won by Sergeant Robert Bye at Pilckem in July 1917.

Between the wars the 1st Battalion was stationed in Cologne, Egypt and Gibraltar, where it was at the outbreak of war in 1939. During the Second World War it expanded to form three Battalions. The 1st Battalion fought in all the campaigns in North West Europe. The 2nd Battalion was formed in 1939 and fought in Boulogne in 1940, whilst the 1st Battalion was in Belgium as part of the British Expeditionary Force. In May 1940, at the Battle of Arras, the Regiment’s second Victoria Cross was won by Lieutenant the Hon Christopher Furness, who was killed in action. In 1941, a 3rd Battalion was raised and fought throughout the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns.

Meanwhile, the 1st and 2nd Battalions formed part of the Guards Armoured Division, the 1st Battalion as infantry and the 2nd Battalion as an Armoured Battalion. The two Battalions working together were the first troops to re-enter Brussels on 3rd September 1944 after an advance of 100 miles in one day, in what was described as ‘an armoured dash unequalled for speed in this or any other war’.

Shortly after the war, the 3rd Battalion was disbanded and the 2nd Battalion was placed in suspended animation. In the second half of the last century the 1st Battalion served in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Palestine, Egypt, Germany, Aden, Cyprus and Belize, as well as forming part of the task force that fought in the Falklands campaign in 1982, the Battle Honour for which is now borne on the Colours. Exercises have been conducted all around the world, including in the USA, Canada, Greece, Belize, Norway, the Falklands, Kenya, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Poland and France.

Since the turn of the 21st century the 1st Battalion has deployed on operational tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Kosovo, Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2012. The Battalion last trooped its Colour in 2013, and is currently based in Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, Surrey.

2015 marks a very unique and special year for the Regiment as it celebrates one hundred years of service to the Sovereign and country. During the year, the Regiment is holding a number of events with the theme of celebration and remembrance underpinning them. The former to celebrate 100 years of service but the latter to pay our respects to the nearly 1,500 who have paid with their lives in war and on operations since our formation in 1915, not to mention the countless others wounded. Our Centenary Year was launched in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 6th February when Wales played England in the opening match of the Six Nations. The Regimental Band played and there was a large Battalion presence in the stadium.

St David’s Day will be celebrated in Cardiff on 1st March, and on 7th March the Welsh National College of Music in Cardiff and Drama are putting on a special show with music performed by the Regimental Band and College musicians as well as College actors to celebrate our centenary. In April, Her Majesty The Queen presents New Colours to the Regiment at Windsor Castle and the Battalion will Troop the Queen’s Colour on the Queen’s Birthday Parade on 13th June. In September, the Regiment has two battlefield tours to France and Belgium to honour our fallen and later that month we lay up our Old Colours in Caernarfon in North Wales. We will spend nearly a week marching in various parts of Wales and in October the Regiment will be granted the Freedom of the City of Newport, a great honour. Our Centenary Year will end with Remembrance Sunday in November where we will lay a wreath at the Guards Memorial on Horse Guards, London preceded by a service in the Guards Chapel. During the course of the year generations of Welsh Guardsmen and their families will come together to mark this special anniversary in our history.

The Regiment is also publishing a book, Bearskins, Bayonets & Body Armour, Welsh Guards 1915-2015, by the well-known military author and broadcaster, Trevor Royle. The book traces the history of the Regiment from its formation during the First World War to its most recent combat deployment in Afghanistan. Containing more than 500 photographs, many never published before, this is a detailed official record and an intimate insight into the Regiment. The book is available now at a reduced price of £15 (normal price £30) + p&p until 30th April, and all proceeds will be donated to the Welsh Guards Charity. A review of the book and details of where to purchase it appear in the Book Reviews section.

Further details of Welsh Guards events in 2015 will be published in the next edition of The Guards Magazine and are available from RHQ Welsh Guards.


Liberation of Brussels - 1944

Welsh Guardsmen in Afghanistan

© Crown Copyright