Royal Welch Fusiliers

Royal Welch Fusiliers. The Royal Welch Fusiliers was a prestigious line infantry regiment of the British Army, founded in 1689 during the Glorious Revolution to support the new monarchs, William III and Mary II. It was the oldest Welsh regiment in the army, with a continuous history of over 300 years, renowned for its distinctive traditions and formidable service in major conflicts from the Battle of Blenheim to the Gulf War. The regiment was amalgamated in 2006 to form part of the Royal Welsh.

History

The regiment was raised by Lord Herbert of Chirbury at Ludlow in March 1689, originally designated as a fusilier unit to protect artillery trains. It first saw action in the War of the Spanish Succession, fighting with distinction at the Battle of Almansa in 1707. During the American Revolutionary War, it served in several key engagements, including the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Yorktown. The 19th century saw extensive service in the Peninsular War under the Duke of Wellington, notably at the Battle of Albuera, and later in the Crimean War at the Battle of Inkerman. In the First World War, the regiment expanded to 38 battalions, enduring the horrors of the Battle of the Somme and the Gallipoli Campaign. During the Second World War, it fought in the Battle of France, the North African Campaign, the Italian Campaign, and the Normandy landings, later seeing post-war service in Korea, Cyprus, and Northern Ireland.

Regimental traditions

The regiment maintained a fiercely guarded set of customs, most famously the annual celebration of St. David's Day where a leek was worn and eaten. Its mascot was a goat, a tradition dating to the American Revolutionary War, presented from the royal herd at Windsor Great Park. The uniform featured a unique "flash" – five black ribbons at the back of the collar – a legacy of the powdered pigtail, officially abolished in 1808 but retained by the regiment by special permission of George IV. The regimental march was "The Men of Harlech", and its quick march was "The British Grenadiers". Officers' mess silver included a famous Minden Bowl, commemorating the Battle of Minden.

Battle honours

The regiment was awarded numerous battle honours, reflecting its long and global service. Key honours from the early period include Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde. Napoleonic era honours encompass Corunna, Salamanca, and Waterloo. Victorian conflicts added Alma, Inkerman, and Sebastopol. First World War honours are particularly extensive, including Mons, Ypres, Loos, Somme, Arras, and Cambrai. Second World War honours feature Dunkirk, El Alamein, Anzio, Normandy, and Kohima. Later honours from conflicts such as the Korean War include the Imjin River.

Colonels and notable personnel

The first Colonel was Lord Herbert. Other notable Colonels included William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, and Prince George, Duke of Cambridge. Distinguished officers who served with the regiment include Sir Thomas Picton, who commanded a division at Waterloo; Field Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood, a Victoria Cross recipient; and Major-General Sir John Gellibrand. The renowned war poet Siegfried Sassoon served with the regiment during the First World War, as did fellow poet Robert Graves, who documented his experiences in "Good-Bye to All That". Other notable figures include H. H. Asquith, the former Prime Minister, who served as Honorary Colonel.

Memorials and museums

The primary regimental museum is located at Caernarfon Castle in Gwynedd, with a further collection at the Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum in Wrexham. A prominent memorial to the regiment's fallen in the First World War and Second World War stands in the form of a bronze statue at Whitehall in London, part of the National Memorial Arboretum. The regiment is also commemorated in the Welsh National War Memorial in Cardiff and on numerous local war memorials throughout Wales. Its archives and substantial collection of silver are held at the National Army Museum.

Category:Infantry regiments of the British Army Category:Military units and formations established in 1689 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 2006