Content deleted Content added
Removing Royal_Welch_Fusiliers_Crest.jpg; it has been deleted from Commons by Ellywa because: per c:Commons:Deletion requests/File:Royal Welch Fusiliers Crest.jpg. |
Tassedethe (talk | contribs) +hat |
||
| (39 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{
{{about||the march composed by John Philip Sousa|The Royal Welch Fusiliers (march)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 23rd Regiment of Foot<br/>Welch Regiment of Fusiliers<br/>Royal Welch Regiment of Fusiliers<br/>Royal Welch Fusiliers
| image = Royal Welsh Fusiliers Cap Badge.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| dates = 16 March 1689 – 28 February 2006
| country = {{flag|Kingdom of England}} (1689–1707)<br/>{{flag|Kingdom of Great Britain}} (1707–1800)<br/>{{flag|United Kingdom}} (1801–2006)
Line 16 ⟶ 17:
| current_commander =
| garrison = [[Hightown Barracks]], [[Wrexham]]
| ceremonial_chief = [[
| colonel_of_the_regiment = [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] Brian Plummer
| nickname = The Nanny Goats<ref name="Burnham">{{cite book |last1=Burnham|first1=Robert|last2=McGuigan|first2=Ron|year=2010|title=The British Army against Napoleon|location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire|publisher=Frontline Books|isbn=978-1-84832-562-3|page=125}}</ref><br />The Royal Goats<ref name="Burnham"/>
|patron=
| motto = ''[[Ich Dien]]''
Line 30 ⟶ 31:
| identification_symbol_label = Tactical Recognition Flash
| identification_symbol_2 = White
|
}}
The '''Royal Welch Fusiliers''' ({{lang-cy|Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig}}) was a [[line infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]] and part of the [[Prince of Wales' Division]], founded in 1689 shortly after the [[Glorious Revolution]]. In 1702, it was designated a [[fusilier]] regiment and became '''The Welch Regiment of Fusiliers;''' the prefix "Royal" was added in 1713, then confirmed in 1714 when [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] named it '''The Prince of Wales's Own Royal Regiment of Welsh Fusiliers.'''▼
▲The '''Royal Welch Fusiliers''' ({{lang-cy|Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig}}) was a [[line infantry]] [[regiment]] of the [[British Army]], and part of the [[Prince of Wales's Division]], that was founded in 1689; shortly after the [[Glorious Revolution]]. In 1702, it was designated a [[fusilier]] regiment and became the '''
It retained the archaic spelling of ''Welch'', instead of ''[[Wales|Welsh]]'', and ''Fuzileers'' for ''Fusiliers''; these were engraved on swords carried by regimental officers during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.antique-swords.com/AD77-1803P-Royal-Welsh-Fuzileers-Fusiliers-Officers.html|title=Napoleonic Welch Fuzileers Sword|publisher=Antique Swords|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> After the 1881 [[Childers Reforms]], its official title was '''The Royal Welsh Fusiliers''', but "Welch" continued to be used informally until restored in 1920 by Army Order No.56.▼
▲It retained the archaic spelling of ''Welch'', instead of ''[[Wales|Welsh]]'', and ''Fuzileers'' for ''Fusiliers''; these were engraved on swords carried by regimental officers during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.antique-swords.com/AD77-1803P-Royal-Welsh-Fuzileers-Fusiliers-Officers.html|title=Napoleonic Welch Fuzileers Sword|publisher=Antique Swords|access-date=8 April 2018}}</ref> After the 1881 [[Childers Reforms]],
It should not be confused with the [[Welch Regiment]], a different unit (formed in 1881 from the 41st and 69th) which recruited in South and West, rather than North Wales, and became part of the [[Royal Regiment of Wales]] or '''RRW''' in 1969.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/firstminister/2014/8705942/?lang=en |title=Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum safeguards valuable First World War memories |date=15 April 2014 |publisher=Welsh Government |access-date=23 May 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417025614/http://wales.gov.uk/newsroom/firstminister/2014/8705942/?lang=en |archive-date=17 April 2014 }}</ref>
Line 45 ⟶ 46:
===Formation; 1689 to 1773===
The regiment was raised by [[Henry Herbert, 4th Baron Herbert of Chirbury|Henry Herbert]] at [[Ludlow]] on 16 March 1689, following the 1688 [[Glorious Revolution]] and exile of [[James II of England|James II]].<ref>Cannon, p. 1</ref><ref name = Frederick302>Frederick, pp. 302–6.</ref><ref name = RegtsRWF>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060103213315/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/023RWF.htm RWF at Regiments.org.]</ref> It served throughout the 1689 to 1691 [[Williamite War in Ireland]], including the [[Battle of the Boyne]] in July 1690,<ref>Cannon, p. 5</ref> and the [[Battle of
On the outbreak of the [[War of the Spanish Succession]] in 1702, it became the '''
In 1714, [[George I of Great Britain|George I]] gave it the title of the '''
[[File:Colored Print Battle of Minden 1785.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|[[Battle of Minden|Minden]], 1 August 1759, an action still celebrated as [[Minden Day]]]]
Following the 1751 reforms that standardised naming and numbering of regiments, it became the '''23rd Regiment of Foot (Royal Welsh Fuzileers)
When the [[American Revolutionary War]] began in 1773, the regiment was posted to [[British North America|North America]].<ref>Cannon, p. 89</ref> The [[light infantry]] and [[grenadier]] companies took heavy losses at the [[Battle of Bunker Hill]] in June 1775;<ref>Cannon, p. 93</ref> it participated in nearly every campaign up to the [[Siege of Yorktown]] in September 1781.<ref>Cannon, p. 113</ref> At Yorktown, it was the only British regiment not to surrender its colours, which were smuggled out by a junior officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mikelynaugh.com/Yorktown/pages/IMG_3076.htm|title=Sign at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Redoubt in Yorktown, Virginia|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>
Line 62 ⟶ 63:
Apart from [[Egypt]] and the [[Battle of Alexandria (1801)|Battle of Alexandria]] in 1801 and the [[Invasion of Martinique (1809)|Invasion of Martinique]] in 1809 the regiment saw little action in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] until being sent to the [[Peninsular War|Peninsula]] in 1810.<ref>Cannon, p. 134</ref> Between 1811 and 1814, it fought in many of [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Wellington]]'s actions, including the battles of [[Battle of Albuera|Albuera]], [[Second Siege of Badajoz (1811)|Badajoz]], [[Battle of Salamanca|Salamanca]], [[Battle of Nivelle|Nivelle]] and [[Battle of Toulouse (1814)|Toulouse]].<ref>Cannon, pp.136–150</ref> At the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in June 1815, it was part of Lieutenant Colonel [[Hugh Henry Mitchell|Hugh Mitchell]]'s 4th Brigade in the 4th Infantry Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.garethglovercollection.com/PrivateThomasJeremiah.htm |title=A Short Account of the Life and adventures of Private Thomas Jeremiah 23rd or Royal Welch Fusiliers 1812–37 |publisher=The Gareth Glover Collection |access-date=24 May 2014 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402070835/http://www.garethglovercollection.com/PrivateThomasJeremiah.htm |archive-date=2 April 2009 }}</ref>
In the nineteenth century, the regiment took part in the [[Crimean War]], the [[Second Opium War]], the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|Indian Mutiny]] and the [[Third Anglo-Burmese War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/illustration/third-anglo-burmese-war-royal-welsh-royalty-free-illustration/1154126750|title=The Storming of Zeedaw: Royal Welch Fusiliers lying down in position for the attack before dawn|date=7 June 2019 |publisher=Getty Images|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref>
The [[Cardwell Reforms]] of 1872 linked most infantry regiments in pairs, but because the 23rd already had two battalions it was unaffected. Cardwell also introduced 'Localisation of the Forces', which established permanent regimental depots in county towns and brigaded the regular regiments with their local [[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]] and [[Volunteer Force|Volunteer]] battalions.<ref>Spiers, pp. 195–6.</ref> For the 23rd, this included:<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = List>''Army List'', various dates.</ref>
* 23rd Brigade Depot at [[Hightown Barracks]] in [[Wrexham]] from 1873<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |title=Training Depots 1873–1881 |publisher=Regiments.org |access-date=16 October 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210172841/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/depot/1873.htm |archive-date=10 February 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Royal Anglesey Light Infantry]] – ''converted to Engineers in 1877''<ref name = FrederickMil>Frederick, pp. 162–4.</ref>
* [[Royal Flint Rifles]]<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = FrederickMil/>
* [[Royal Denbigh
* [[Royal Carnarvon Rifles]]<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = FrederickMil/>
* [[1st Administrative Battalion, Denbighshire Rifle Volunteers]]<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = WestlakeDen>Westlake, ''Rifle Volunteers'', pp. 57–8.</ref><ref name = RegtsDen>[https://web.archive.org/web/20051226171148/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/rwf-4.htm 4th Bn RWF at Regiments.org.]</ref>
* [[
The [[Childers Reforms]] of 1881 took Cardwell's reforms further. The regiments were given names rather than numbers the regiment officially became '''The Royal Welsh Fusiliers''' on 1 July 1881,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24992|pages=3300–3301|date=1 July 1881}}</ref> although "Welch" was used informally until restored in 1920 by Army Order No.56.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fortyfirst.org/the-regiment-1719-to-now.html|title=The Regiment, 1719 to Now|first=Jim |last=Yaworsky|publisher=The Forty First|access-date=31 March 2019}}</ref> The depot became the 23rd Regimental District depot, and the militia and volunteers became numbered battalions of their linked regiment (though the Royal Flint Rifles joined the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps]]<ref name = FrederickMil/><ref>Frederick, pp. 242–3.</ref>):
* [[3rd (Royal Denbigh and Merioneth Militia) Battalion, Royal
* [[4th (Royal Carnarvon Militia) Battalion, Royal
* [[1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] – ''from 1st Denbighshire Volunteers'''<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = WestlakeDen/><ref name = RegtsDen/>
* [[2nd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] – ''from 1st Flintshire & Carnarvon Volunteers'''<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = WestlakeFlint/><ref name = RegtsFlint/>
* [[3rd Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers]] – ''formed in 1897 from the Carnarvonshire companies of the 2nd VB''<ref name = Frederick302/><ref name = WestlakeCarn/><ref name = RegtsCarn/><ref name = WestlakeFlint/><ref name = RegtsFlint/>
The 1st battalion served in the 1899 to 1902 [[Second Boer War]];<ref name = WestlakeWelsh/>
The 2nd battalion was stationed at [[Hong Kong]] from 1898 to 1902, and served in the multinational force involved in the [[Boxer Rebellion]] in China in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/royal-welch-fusiliers |title=The Royal Welch Fusiliers | publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref> They fought alongside the [[United States Marine Corps]] (see pages
===20th century===
[[File:Colour of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Regimental Colour]] of the 6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, a Territorial unit of the Royal Welch Fusiliers<ref>{{cite web |title=6th (Caernarvonshire and Anglesey) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers |url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=880 |website=Wartime Memories |access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>]]
[[File:5th_Battalion,_Royal_Welsh_Fusiliers_Cigarette_Card.jpg|thumb|Player's cigarette card showing a [[Pioneer (military)|pioneer]] of the 5th (Flintshire) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers in 1908 in full dress uniform.]]
The [[Haldane Reforms]] of 1908 converted the remaining Militia into the [[Special Reserve]] (SR) and the Volunteers into the [[Territorial Force]] (TF).<ref>Dunlop, Chapter 14.</ref><ref>Spiers, Chapter 10.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=
* [[3rd (
* [[4th (Denbighshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers|4th (Denbighshire) Battalion]] (TF) at Poyser Street, Wrexham<ref name = WestlakeDen/><ref name = RegtsDen/>
* [[5th (Flintshire) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers|5th (Flintshire) Battalion]] (TF) at Castle Precinct in [[Flint, Flintshire|Flint]] (since demolished)<ref name = WestlakeFlint/><ref name = RegtsFlint/>
Line 99 ⟶ 100:
The 1st and 2nd battalions served on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] from 1914 to 1918 and took part in some of the hardest fighting of the war, including [[Mametz Wood Memorial|Mametz Wood]] in 1916 and [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele or Third Ypres]] in 1917.<ref name=James>James, pp. 66–8.</ref><ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/royal-welsh-fusiliers/|title=Royal Welch Fusiliers|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=3 July 2016}}</ref> Claims in 2008 they participated in the semi-mythical [[Christmas truce|Christmas 1914 Football Game]] with the Germans have since been disproved.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.christmastruce.co.uk/frelinghien.html |title=Frelinghien |publisher=Christmas Truce |access-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228090201/http://www.christmastruce.co.uk/frelinghien.html |archive-date=28 December 2009 }}</ref>
A number of writers fought with the regiment in France and recorded their experiences; [[David Cuthbert Thomas|David Thomas]] (killed 1916), [[Robert Graves]] and [[Siegfried Sassoon]] all served with the 1st Battalion. [[
[[J. C. Dunn|J C Dunn]], a medical officer with the 2nd Battalion who had also served in the [[Second Boer War|1899–1902 Boer War]], published ''The War the Infantry Knew'' in 1931. A collection of letters and diary entries from over 50 individuals, it is considered a classic by military historians for its treatment of daily life and death in the trenches.<ref>{{cite web |title=The War the Infantry Knew: 1914–1919, by Captain J.C. Dunn |url=https://www.educationumbrella.com/curriculum-vital/book-review-the-war-the-infantry-knew-by-captain-jc-dunn |website=Educationumbrella |access-date=16 July 2019}}</ref>
''[[Good-Bye to All That]]'' by Robert Graves was first published in 1929 and has never been out of print; in one anecdote, he records the Regimental Goat Major being charged with 'prostituting the Royal Goat' in return for a [[Stud (animal)|stud fee]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Graves |first1=Robert |title=Goodbye to all that |date=1929 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0141184593 |page=71}}</ref> Graves also edited ''Old Soldiers Never Die'', published in 1933; a rare example of the war seen by an ordinary soldier, it was written by [[Francis Philip Woodruff|Frank Richards]], a pre-war regular recalled in 1914, who served on the Western Front until the end of the war.<ref>{{cite book|last=Richards|first=Frank|title=Old Soldiers Never Die|publisher=Naval & Military Press|date=2001|isbn=978-1843420262}}</ref> The poets [[David Jones (artist-poet)|David Jones]] and [[Hedd Wyn]], killed at Passchendaele in 1917, were members of Kitchener battalions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1920/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820074913/http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/article/1920/ [[File:Hedd Wyn Grave at Artillery Wood Cemetery 7.jpg|thumb|upright|left|150px|The grave of Welsh poet [[Hedd Wyn]], killed at Passchendaele in 1917]]
====First World War; Territorial and War Service====
The TF battalions raised 2nd and 3rd Line battalions; in addition, the regiment raised over a dozen 'war service' battalions, informally known as [[Kitchener's Army|Kitchener]] or [[Pals battalion]]s.<ref name = James/><ref name = trail/><ref>Peter Simkins, ''
The 4th (Denbighshire) Battalion was one of the first TF units to see active service, landing in France in November 1914, where it remained until January 1919.<ref name = James/><ref name = trail/><ref>{{cite web |title=4th Denbighshire Battalion |url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=878 |website=Wartime Memories Project |access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref> Between 1915 and 1918, another 10 Royal Welch Kitchener battalions also fought on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], including the battles of [[Battle of Loos|Loos]], [[Battle of the Somme|the Somme]] and [[Battle of Passchendaele|Passchendaele]]; a number of these were disbanded in early 1918 due to manpower shortages. The poets [[David Jones (artist-poet)|David Jones]] and [[Hedd Wyn]] served with The 11th (Service) Battalion landed in [[Thessaloniki|Salonika]] in November 1915, where it remained for the duration of the war.<ref name=James /><ref>{{cite web |title=11th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers |url=https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/battalion.php?pid=7380|website=Wartime Memories Project |access-date=2 April 2019}}</ref>
Line 124 ⟶ 127:
[[File:The British Army in France 1940 F2913.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Men of the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers celebrate St David's Day, 1 March 1940]]
During the Second World War, the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers was a [[Regular army|Regular Army]] unit and part of the [[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]], assigned to the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]]. It served in France in 1940 with the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]].<ref>Joslen, p. 240</ref> The battalion fought in the short but fierce battles of [[Battle of France|France]] and [[Battle of Belgium|Belgium]] and was forced to retreat and be evacuated during the [[Dunkirk evacuation]]. After two years spent in the United Kingdom, waiting and preparing for the invasion that never came ([[Operation Sea Lion]]), the 1st RWF and the rest of 2nd Division were sent to [[British Raj|British India]] to fight the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] after a string of defeats inflicted upon the British and Indian troops. The battalion was involved in the [[Burma Campaign]], particularly the [[Battle of Kohima]], nicknamed ''[[Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]] of the East'' due to the ferocity of fighting on both sides, that helped to turn the tide of the campaign in the [[South-East Asian theatre of World War II|South East Asian theatre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.burmastar.org.uk/stories/2nd-british-division/|title=2nd British Division|publisher=Burma Star Association|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=29 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929081558/https://www.burmastar.org.uk/stories/2nd-british-division/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The 2nd Battalion was part of [[29th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|29th Independent Infantry Brigade]] throughout the war. In 1942, it fought in the [[Battle of Madagascar]], then part of [[Vichy French]], before being transferred to the [[South-East Asian Theatre of World War II|South-East Asian Theatre]]. In 1944, the battalion and brigade became part of [[36th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|36th British Infantry Division]], previously an Indian Army formation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/36_Indian_Infantry_Division.pdf|title=36th Division|publisher=British Military History|access-date=3 July 2016|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923194908/http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/webeasycms/hold/uploads/bmh_document_pdf/36_Indian_Infantry_Division.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:The British Army in Burma 1944 SE2889.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Royal Welsh Fusiliers move forward on a jungle path near Pinbaw, [[Burma]], December 1944]]
Line 140 ⟶ 143:
The 8th and 9th battalions never saw action abroad, remaining in the UK throughout the war in a training role, supplying trained replacements to units overseas. In this capacity, the 9th battalion served with the [[80th Infantry (Reserve) Division (United Kingdom)|80th Infantry (Reserve) Division]] and the 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division.<ref>Joslen, p. 374</ref>
[[File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 B12617.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[3-inch mortar]] of the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 8 December 1944]]
In the summer of 1942, the 10th battalion was converted into the [[6th (Royal Welch) Parachute Battalion|6th (Royal Welch) Battalion]], [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]].<ref>Horn, p. 270</ref> The 6th Parachute Battalion was assigned to the [[2nd Parachute Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd Parachute Brigade]], alongside the [[4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment|4th]] and [[5th (Scottish) Parachute Battalion|5th]] Parachute battalions, originally part of the [[1st Airborne Division (United Kingdom)|1st Airborne Division]]. The battalion played a small part in the [[Allied invasion of Italy]] during [[Operation Slapstick]], an amphibious landing aimed at capturing the port of Taranto. After that, the 2nd Para Brigade became an independent brigade group. The brigade took part in [[Operation Dragoon]], the Allied invasion of Southern France, being the only British troops to do so (see [[2nd Parachute Brigade in Southern France]]).<ref>Harclerode, pp. 425–426</ref> In late 1944, the brigade was sent to Greece to support pro-Western forces in the [[Greek Civil War]], a forgotten but brutal episode now seen as the first act of the post-1945 [[Cold War]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nachmani |first1=Amikam |title=Civil War and Foreign Intervention in Greece: 1946–49 |journal=Journal of Contemporary History |date=1990 |volume=25 |issue=4 |pages=490–494 |doi=10.1177/002200949002500406 |jstor=260759 |s2cid=159813355 }}</ref>
In 1938, the 5th Battalion transferred to the [[Royal Artillery]] as 60th Anti-Tank Regiment and in 1939, added a 2nd-Line duplicate, 70th Anti-Tank Regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nigelef.tripod.com/regtsumm.htm|title=Field Artillery Formations and Regiments of the Royal Artillery in World War 2|access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref> Unlike 1914–1918, there were relatively few service battalions, one being 11th (Home Defence) Battalion, raised in 1939 as part of the [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]].<ref name = RegtsRWF/> Formed in 1940, the 12th battalion became [[116th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery]] in January 1942 and served with [[53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division|53rd (Welsh) Division]] until disbanded in December 1944.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ware |first1=Jonathan |title=116 (Royal Welch) Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment |url=http://www.jonathanhware.com/116-rw-light-anti-aircraft-regiment.html |website=Jonathan Ware |access-date=1 April 2019 |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401110054/http://www.jonathanhware.com/116-rw-light-anti-aircraft-regiment.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Barton|first1=Derek|title=116 Light AA Regiment RA(TA)|url=http://www.ra39-45.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/laa/page110.html|website=The Royal Artillery 1939–1945|access-date=27 February 2017}}</ref>
===Post Second World War===
The 2nd Battalion Royal Welch remained overseas after the Second World War, with a posting to Burma (still a colony until 4 January 1948) and performed internal security duties. On 7 March 1947 a party aboard a train were ambushed by bandits and seven soldiers were killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2084605/william-gordon-burgoyne/#&gid=2&pid=1|title=Commonwealth War Graves Commission}}</ref><ref>
The regiment did not take part in the [[Gulf War]], but did perform several tours in [[Northern Ireland]] ([[Operation Banner]]) before being deployed to the Balkans.<ref name=nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers|title=Royal Welch Fusiliers|publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=24 May 2014
During the [[Yugoslav Wars]], the regiment came to attention when 33 of their men and 350 other [[United Nations|UN]] servicemen part of [[UNPROFOR]] were taken hostage by Bosnian Serbs at [[Goražde]] on 28 May 1995.<ref>{{cite hansard | house=House of Commons |title=Sittings of the House| url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199495/cmhansrd/1995-05-31/Debate-1.html | date = 31 May 1995 | column_start = 999 | column_end = 1009}}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{cite news|title=Conflict in the Balkans: The Peacekeepers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/30/world/conflict-in-the-balkans-the-peacekeepers-at-risk-british-troops-keep-watch.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=30 May 1995}}</ref> The situation caused some political debate as the UN troops had been given orders only to "deter attacks" and did not have a mandate or adequate equipment to fully defend the mainly Muslim town of Goražde, which was initially declared "safe" by the UN, thus rendering them exposed when armed members of the [[Army of Republika Srpska]] ([[Bosnian Serb]] Army) ignored the [[NATO]] ultimatum and attacked the town without warning. The regiment managed to hold off the Bosnian Serbs until they were forced to retreat into [[bunker]]s – those who did not make it quickly enough were taken hostage – and remained trapped underground while [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|BiH Army]] reinforcements arrived and fought back. The [[commanding officer]], Lt Col [[Jonathon Riley (British Army officer)|Jonathon Riley]] (later promoted to Lieutenant General), broke with protocol and directly reported to then Prime Minister [[John Major]] about the situation over the phone while in the bunker.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Commander in Bosnia mission impossible|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2534831.stm|publisher=BBC|date=5 December 2002}}</ref> All the men were eventually safely rescued. An unprecedented five gallantry awards, seven [[Mention in Despatches|mentions in despatches]] and two [[Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service|Queen's Commendations for Valuable Service]] were awarded to the regiment.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bosnia's troops' tally of medal set a record|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bosnia-troops-tally-of-medals-sets-a-record-1346463.html|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|date=10 May 1996}}</ref> Although the incident was largely unreported at that time, the regiment was credited in hindsight by observers for saving the town from a possible genocide—after failing to take Goražde, the Bosnian Serbs continued south to [[Srebrenica]], where they would [[Srebrenica massacre|massacre]] over 8,000 [[Bosniak]]s.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fusiliers' battle to save Bosnians|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2535155.stm|publisher=BBC|date=5 December 2002}}</ref>
===Amalgamation===
It was one of only five line infantry regiments never to have been amalgamated in its entire history, the others being [[Royal Scots|The Royal Scots]], [[Green Howards|The Green Howards]], [[Cheshire Regiment|The Cheshire Regiment]], and [[King's Own Scottish Borderers|The King's Own Scottish Borderers]]. However, in 2004, it was announced that, as part of the restructuring of the infantry, the Royal Welch Fusiliers would merge with the [[Royal Regiment of Wales]] to form a new large regiment, the [[Royal Welsh]].<ref name=nam/>
To honour the links between the regiment and the United States Marine Corps on the 16 September 1945 a set of Marine colours were presented to the regiment at the parish church in Wrexham to commemorate their close connection (see page 32 in official USMC paper published in 1995).<ref name=usmc/>
Line 173 ⟶ 176:
==Victoria Crosses==
The following members of the regiment were awarded the Victoria Cross:
* Captain [[Edward William Derrington Bell]], [[Crimean War]] (20 September 1854)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.victoriacrossonline.co.uk/edward-w-d-bell-vc/4585969261|title=Edward William Derrington Bell VC, CB|publisher=The Comprehensive Guide to the Victoria Cross and George Cross|access-date=
* Lieutenant [[Thomas Bernard Hackett]], [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]] (18 November 1857)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=22248|page=1482|date=12 April 1859}}</ref>
* Company Sergeant Major [[Frederick Barter]], [[First World War]] (16 May 1915)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29210|page=6269|date=29 June 1915}}</ref>
Line 179 ⟶ 182:
* Corporal [[James Llewellyn Davies]], First World War (31 July 1917)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30272|supp=y|page=9260|date=4 September 1917}}</ref>
* Corporal [[Joseph John Davies]], First World War (20 July 1916)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=26 September 1916 |page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>
* Lt-Colonel [[Charles Doughty-Wylie]], First World War (26 April 1915)<ref>{{cite web|last1=Freeman|first1=Colin|title=How Gertrude Bell Caused a Desert Storm|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/museums/10651309/How-Gertrude-Bell-caused-a-desert-storm.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/museums/10651309/How-Gertrude-Bell-caused-a-desert-storm.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Telegraph|date=21 February 2014 |access-date=23 April 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Private [[Albert Hill (VC)|Albert Hill]], First World War (20 July 1916)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=26 September 1916|page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>
* Colour-Sergeant [[Luke O'Connor]], Crimean War (20 September 1854)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=21971 |date=24 February 1857 |page=659 }}</ref>
Line 234 ⟶ 237:
*''2006: Regiment amalgamated with [[The Royal Regiment of Wales]] to form [[The Royal Welsh]]''
==
The regiment had an alliance with the Canadian [[Royal 22nd Regiment|Royal 22e Régiment]] from 1927 until its amalgamation in 2006; this alliance included the frequent exchange of personnel between the two regiments.<ref>Serge Bernier, ''Le Royal 22e Régiment 1914-1999, Art Global, 1999, pp 87 and 88 and Serge Bernier, ''Le Royal 22e Régiment'' (Les Editions GID, 2013), PP 60 and 61.</ref>
==Regimental mascot==
As with the Royal Regiment of Wales, the regiment traditionally had a goat, never called a mascot. The tradition dated back to at least 1775, and possibly to the regiment's formation. The goat was always named 'Billy'.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/8100259.stm|title=Soldiers choose regimental goat|publisher=BBC|date=15 June 2009|access-date=24 May 2014}}</ref>
Line 243 ⟶ 250:
As a [[fusilier]] regiment, the RWF wore a [[hackle]], which consisted of a plume of white feathers mounted behind the cap-badge of the modern beret.<ref name=cemetery/> The full dress of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, as worn by the entire regiment until 1914, included a racoon-skin hat (bearskin for officers) with a white hackle and a scarlet tunic with the dark blue facings of a Royal regiment. This uniform continued to be worn by the RWF's Corps of Drums and the Regimental Pioneers until the merger of 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyc-techwriters.com/militaria/british_helmets1.htm|title=British Headdress (1856–current)|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref>
==Regimental Prayer==
The Regimental Collect (or prayer as it is also known as) was in Welsh:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oremus.org/labarum/booklets/regtcollectsprayerspdf.pdf |title=Regimental Collects|access-date=14 December 2023}}</ref>
{{blockquote|Tragwyddol Dduw, a gyfododd trwy dy nerth yr Arglwydd Iesu Grist o’r meirw, gynnal fe weddiwn, gwrhydri hynafol y Ffiwsilwyr Cymreig, fel yr oddefwn galedi yn ôl ei esiampl, ac y cyfodwn gydag ef i lewyrch fel yr hal yn dy deyrnas, trwy’r un Iesu Grist ein Harglwydd. Amen.}}
And in English:
{{blockquote|Eternal God, whose strength raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, uphold, we pray thee, the ancient valour of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, that we may ever endure hardship after his example, and may rise with him to shine as the sun in thy Kingdom, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.}}
== See also ==
Line 254 ⟶ 269:
* {{cite book| last = Barclay | first = C. N.| year = 1956| title = The History of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Second World War| publisher = Wm. Clowes & Sons| location = London| oclc = 36762829}}
* Maj A.F. Becke,''History of the Great War: Order of Battle of Divisions, Part 2a: The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56)'', London: HM Stationery Office, 1935/Uckfield: Naval & Military Press, 2007, {{ISBN|1-847347-39-8}}.
*{{cite book|first=Richard|last=Cannon|author-link=Richard Cannon|title=Historical Record of the Twenty-third, or the Royal Welch Fusiliers |
*{{cite book|last=Cole|first=Howard N|title=On Wings of Healing: The Story of the Airborne Medical Services 1940–1960|publisher=William Blackwood|location=Edinburgh, United Kingdom|year=1963|oclc=29847628}}
* Col John K. Dunlop, ''The Development of the British Army 1899–1914'', London: Methuen, 1938.
Line 271 ⟶ 286:
* [http://www.rwfia.org/index.htm Royal Welch Fusiliers in America]
* [http://www.rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/index.php The Royal Welch Fusiliers Forum]
* [http://www.colwyn-bayrwf.org.uk Colwyn Bay RWF Comrades Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081024025447/http://www.colwyn-bayrwf.org.uk/ |date=24 October 2008 }}
* [http://www.clwyd-gwyneddacf.org.uk Clwyd and Gwynedd ACF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317142517/http://www.clwyd-gwyneddacf.org.uk/ |date=17 March 2010 }}
* [http://www.britisharmedforces.org/i_regiments/roywelchfus_index.htm British Light Infantry Regiments – Royal Welch Fusiliers]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140225230345/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers Royal Welch Fusiliers] – [[National Army Museum]]
Line 280 ⟶ 295:
{{Royal Welsh}}
{{Regiments of Foot}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers| ]]▼
[[Category:Fusilier regiments of the British Army]]
[[Category:Fusilier regiments]]
▲[[Category:Royal Welch Fusiliers| ]]
[[Category:Welsh regiments of the British Army]]
[[Category:1689 establishments in England]]
| |||
