Welsh Guards
| Welsh Guards | |
|---|---|
Cap Badge of the Welsh Guards, representing a leek (stereotypically associated with Wales through Welsh cuisine)
|
|
| Active | 1915–present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom
|
| Branch |
 British Army
|
| Type | Foot Guards |
| Role | 1st Battalion – Light Infantry |
| Size | One Battalion |
| Part of | Guards Division |
| Garrison/HQ | RHQ – London 1st Battalion – Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright |
| Nickname(s) |
The Taffs The Foreign Legion (WWII) |
| Motto(s) |
"Cymru am Byth" (Welsh) (Wales Forever) |
| March | Quick – Rising of the Lark Slow – Men of Harlech |
| Anniversaries | 1 March (St David's Day) |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Major General Richard Stanford MBE Regimental Lieutenant Colonel Major Smith |
| Colonel-in-Chief | Elizabeth II |
| Colonel of the Regiment |
HRH The Prince of Wales KG KT OM AK QSO PC ADC(P) |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash |  |
| Plume | White/Green/White Left side of Bearskin cap |
| Abbreviation | WG |
The Taffs
Major General Richard Stanford MBE Regimental Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant-Colonel, G. R. Harris MBE DSO, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion
The Welsh Guards (WG), (Welsh: Gwarchodlu Cymreig), part of the Guards Division, is one of the Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. It was founded on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of George V.
The Welsh Guards came into existence on 26 February 1915 by Royal Warrant of George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards, "..though the order to raise the regiment had been given by the King to Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, on 6 February 1915." They were the last of the Guards to be created, with the Irish Guards coming into being in 1900. Just three days later the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards mounted its first King's Guard at Buckingham Palace on 1 March 1915 – St David's Day.
On 17 August 1915 the 1st Battalion sailed for France to join the Guards Division to commence its participation in the First World War. Its first battle was some months after its initial arrival, at Loos on 27 September 1915. The regiment's first Victoria Cross came two years later in July 1917 awarded to Sergeant Robert Bye.
Soon after the end of the war in 1918 the 1st Welsh Guards returned home and where they would be based for much of the inter-war period, performing training and ceremonial duties, such as the Changing of the Guard and Trooping the Colour. In 1929 the 1st Welsh Guards deployed to Egypt where they joined the Cairo Brigade where they stayed for only a brief period of time, returning home in 1930. Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War the 1st Welsh Guards were dispatched to Gibraltar where they remained upon the outbreak of war in September 1939. The 2nd Battalion, Welsh Guards was created in 1939.
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Wikipedia