| The Welch Regiment | |
|---|---|
Badge of the Welsh Regiment (before 1921) |
|
| Active | 1881–1969 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Type | Infantry |
| Role | Line Infantry |
| Size | 1–2 Regular Battalions 1 Militia and Special Reserve Battalion |
| Garrison/HQ | Cardiff |
| Motto | Gwell angau na Chywilydd (Better Death than Dishonour) |
| March | Quick: Ap Siencyn (Son of Jenkin) |
| Mascot | Goat |
| Anniversaries | Gheluvelt, 31 Oct |
The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch") was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.
Contents |
It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st (Welsh) Regiment of Foot and the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot. It was the county regiment of Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire and Pembrokeshire and recruited from South and West Wales throughout its existence. It should not be confused with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Foot), which recruited generally from Mid Wales and North Wales.
On 1st January 1921, the name of the regiment was officially changed to the Welch Regiment, reflecting the 'Old English' spelling.
It originally consisted of two regular battalions (the 41st Foot and 69th Foot becoming the 1st and 2nd battalions respectively), one Militia battalion (the Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry) and four Volunteer battalions (1st (Pembrokeshire), 2nd (Glamorgan) and 3rd (Glamorgan) Volunteer Battalions and the 3rd Glamorganshire Volunteer Rifle Corps). A further 44 battalions were raised at various points in time for Territorial, Volunteer and War service.
The 1st Battalion was stationed in Berlin at Brook Barracks in Spandau. This was at the height of the Cold War and in 1961 came the erection of the infamous Berlin Wall. The Battalion incurred numerous duties within the defence parameters of the City such as the Ice Keller duties of an armoured escort to a 8 year old boy from his home on the Iron Curtain border to his school in Spandau and return. The Corps of Drums were trained to become a Mines and Explosives response team (EOD) to help the Royal Engineers in time of trouble. After the shooting of Peter Fechter who was left to die on the wall, the allied forces arranged for a military ambulance to be stationed on Checkpoint Charlie in the American Zone. This was crewed by members of the Corps of Drums together with the RAMC staff and they would have to enter East Berlin and risk their lives to rescue any persons shot on the east side of the wall by the East German guards {VOPOS - Volkspolizei} and take them to an East Berlin hospital. Also the Battalion contributed to the guarding of the famous Berlin Train, that operated through East Germany to Berlin.
The 1st Battalion became the Demonstration Battalion stationed first at Netheravon and then Warminster in Wiltshire.
The 1st Battalion took up their last overseas posting to Hong Kong and were stationed at Stanley Fort. Here they carried out internal security duties, Border patrol and ceremonial duties.
The 1st Battalion The Welch Regiment amalgamated with The 1st Battalion The South Wales Borderers to form the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales 24th/41st. The traditions of both Regiments were handed to the Royal Regiment of Wales and the battle honours carried into the new Regiment.
(Prior to 1881)
(Post 1881)
The Regiment was awarded the following battle honours:
1. Awarded for the services of the 69th Foot.
2. Awarded in 1909 for the services of the 69th Foot, with the badge of a Naval Crown superscribed 12th April 1782.
| Preceded by 41st (Welsh) Regiment of Foot |
The Welsh Regiment 1881–1969 |
Succeeded by Royal Regiment of Wales |