Royal Welsh

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Royal Welsh
Royal Welsh.png
Cap badge of the Royal Welsh
Active 1 March 2006–
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
Type Line Infantry
Role 1st Battalion – Light Infantry
2nd Battalion – Armoured Infantry
3rd Battalion – TA Reserve
Size Three battalions
Part of Prince of Wales' Division
Garrison/HQ RHQ – Cardiff
1st Battalion – Chester
2nd Battalion – Tidworth
3rd Battalion – Cardiff
Motto "Ich Dien" (German)
"I Serve"
March Quick – Men of Harlech
Slow – Forth to the Battle
Mascot Persian Goat (Shenkin III)
Anniversaries St David's Day – 1 March
Commanders
Colonel in Chief HM The Queen
Colonel of
the Regiment
Major General Roderick John Murray Porter MBE
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash R WELSH TRF.PNG
Hackle White (ORs only)
From Royal Welch Fusiliers
Abbreviation R WELSH

The Royal Welsh (R WELSH) (Welsh Y Cymry Brenhinol) is one of the new large infantry regiments of the British Army. Its 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 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Regiment of Wales), is to be scrapped as part of the Army 2020 defence review.[1] After the restructuring and reorganisation of the army in 2006, the Royal Welsh is one of three regiments to trace its lineage and recruits primarily from Wales.

Contents

Formation [edit]

The Royal Welsh consists of two regular battalions, plus a TA battalion, and was created through the merger of two single battalion regiments. The former regiments formed part of the battalion title (in brackets):

  • 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers ) (ex 1st Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Foot)) – a light infantry battalion based since August 2008 at Dale Barracks Chester. This follows a 2 year tour in Cyprus. Under Army 2020, this will be the only Royal Welsh Battalion in the regular army and it will re-roled as an armoured infantry battalion, under 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade.[2]
  • 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Regiment of Wales) (ex 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)) – an armoured infantry battalion based at Lucknow barracks Tidworth. The Battalion is set to be scrapped as part of the Army 2020 defence review.[1]
  • 3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh (TA) (ex Royal Welsh Regiment) -TA Battalion which incorporates the Regimental Band.

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. HM The Queen is the new regiment's Colonel-in-Chief.

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.[3][4]

Regimental Band [edit]

The Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh is the last all brass band within the British Army. Formed of 30 soldiers within the Third Battalion, the Territorial Army section, it is renowned for its versatility, able to provide:

  • Marching Band
  • Concert Band
  • Fanfare Team

In October 2009, due to £54M of Ministry of Defence budget cuts to plough into frontline 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 will not be paid.[5] These budget cuts have since been reversed and the Band continue to perform.

Alliances [edit]

Order of precedence [edit]

Preceded by
The Mercian Regiment
Infantry Order of Precedence Succeeded by
The Royal Irish Regiment

Lineage [edit]

Lineage
The Royal Welsh The Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) The South Wales Borderers
The Welch Regiment The 41st (Welsh) Regiment of Foot
69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot

References [edit]

External links [edit]