"Design Details: The DuraFlag Welsh Guards features the flag associated with the Welsh Guards, a regiment of the British Army. The flag typically displays a deep blue field with a central emblem, which may include elements such as the regiment's badge or the Welsh dragon. The emblem often includes a depiction of a dragon, representing Welsh heritage and pride, or the Welsh Guards' insignia, reflecting their role and history within the British Army. Background: The Welsh Guards are one of the five regiments of Foot Guards and are known for their role in ceremonial duties and operational deployments. The flag represents the regiment’s proud heritage and the traditional connection to Wales, showcasing their distinctive identity within the British Army. Material Quality: Crafted from high-quality knitted polyester (150gsm), this flag is designed to endure various weather conditions while maintaining its vivid colors. The durable material ensures that the blue field and central emblem remain bright and well-preserved over time. High-Resolution Printing: Advanced dye-sublimation printing technology is used to achieve precise and vivid color reproduction. This process ensures that the flag’s blue field and central emblem are depicted with clarity and impact. Enhanced Durability: The flag features double-stitched seams and a robust header, enhancing its strength and resistance to fraying. These features help the flag remain intact and functional under different weather conditions, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. Flexible Mounting Options: Equipped with options for rope and toggle/clips, the DuraFlag Welsh Guards can be easily mounted on various systems. It is ideal for ceremonial displays, military events, or personal collections that honor the Welsh Guards' heritage. About DuraFlag: DuraFlag is dedicated to producing high-quality flags that celebrate military and historical symbols with respect and accuracy. Each flag is meticulously crafted to ensure both durability and functionality while highlighting the unique aspects of its design."

Jackie, South African baboon Welsh Fusiliers goat The pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille kept two lion cubs (Whiskey and Soda); the 2nd Battalion of the Welsh Regiment had a goat (Taffy IV); the South African 3rd Transvaal Regiment awarded a baboon named Jackie the rank of Private; Australians took a koala to war with them, and the American 102nd Infantry Regiment proudly boasted the most decorated dog of the First World War, Sergeant Stubby, who participated in seventeen engagements and was wounded twice.* The British Imperial War Museum estimates that at least 16 million animals served in the First World War, assisting in military efforts.** The role of horses in the war has received increased attention since the 1982 publication of Michael Morpurgo’s children’s novel War Horse (as well as the release of the award-winning play and movie based on the book), but other animals also played a critical part. Camels, mules, donkeys, canaries, pigeons, cats, and dogs were used to transport supplies, detect gas attacks, send messages, hunt rats, rescue the wounded, scout enemy territory, and keep watch as sentries. Care for wounded horses, WWI postcard from "The Sphere" (newspaper) Just as importantly, animals provided comfort and companionship, reminding soldiers of home and of the ordinariness of life before the war. Many units had mascots, and soldiers often smuggled pets with them or adopted stray animals they found at the front. Cats were popular for their prowess in killing the millions of rats that swarmed the trenches, but for many soldiers, dogs were fondly regarded as man’s best friend. It is estimated that over 50,000 dogs accompanied the armies on both sides of the conflict. Tragically, animals also became military targets and casualties of war. It is estimated that as many as eight million horses died during the First World War, and countless other animals were also killed in the line of duty. Edward de Stein, an officer in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, wrote in memory of a trench dog who had endeared himself to all who knew him. ELEGY ON THE DEATH OF BINGO, OUR TRENCH DOG —by the Trench Bard (Major E. De Stein) Weep, weep, ye dwellers in the delvèd earth, Ah, weep, ye watchers by the dismal shore Of No Man's Land, for Bingo is no more; Northumberland Fusilier with Sammy, the regimental dog He is no more, and well ye knew his worth, For whom on bully-beefless days were kept Rare bones by each according to his means, And, while the Quartermaster-Sergeant slept, The elusive pork was rescued from the beans. He is no more, and, impudently brave, The loathly rats sit grinning on his grave. Him mourn the grimy cooks and bombers ten, The sentinels in lonely posts forlorn, The fierce patrols with hands and tunics torn, The furtive band of sanitary men. The murmuring sound of grief along the length Of traversed trench the startled Hun could hear; The Captain, as he struck him off the strength, Let fall a sad and solitary tear; 'Tis even said a batman passing by Had seen the Sergeant-Major wipe his eye. The fearful fervour of the feline chase He never knew, poor dog, he never knew; Content with optimistic zeal to woo Reluctant rodents in this murky place, He never played with children on clean grass, Nor dozed at ease beside the glowing embers, Nor watched with hopeful eye the tea-cakes pass, Nor smelt the heather-smell of Scotch Septembers, For he was born amid a world at war Although unrecking what we struggled for. Yet who shall say that Bingo was unblest Though all his Sprattless† life was passed beneath The roar of mortars and the whistling breath Of grim, nocturnal heavies going west? Unmoved he heard the evening hymn of hate, Unmoved would gaze into his master's eyes. For all the sorrows men for men create In search of happiness wise dogs despise, Finding ecstatic joy in every rag And every smile of friendship worth a wag. The poem displays a tender humor as it uses formal language and an elevated style to mourn the loss of a small dog with the undignified name of “Bingo.” Although he was “impudently brave,” the poem provides no list of the animal’s heroic deeds, and yet “well ye knew his worth.” Bingo’s value lay in how well he was loved. Men showed their devotion to the dog by sneaking bones from food rations and stealthily liberating pork from beans – treats that were then shared with Bingo. From the highest military authorities to the lowliest sanitation men assigned to maintain the unit’s latrines, everyone loved the trench dog. Across ranks and assignments—cooks, gunners, sergeants and lonely sentinels— all felt his loss; some wept. Sergeant Stubby, mascot of the AEF's 102nd Regiment Bingo lived a short and hard life, never experiencing the simple doggy delights of chasing a cat, playing with children, or sleeping beside the calm safety of a hearth, “For he was born amid a world at war.” The war shaped the dog’s life, though he knew nothing of its causes or purpose. Instead, he found his purpose in love. Above the roar of the guns, Bingo’s ears were tuned to his master’s voice. Surrounded by the chaos of human hate and killing, he “Unmoved would gaze into his master’s eyes.” Smiles and unlooked for treats brought him ecstatic joy and reminded his human friends of the precious worth of friendships formed during war. For another post on dogs at war, see "The Mascot Speaks." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Statistics on Sergeant Stubby are from Alan Taylor’s “World War I in Photos: Animals at War,” posted to the Atlantic website 27 April 2014. Those wishing to learn more about Stubby may be interested in Ann Bausum’s book Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation. **Imperial War Museum website, “15 Animals that Went to War. † Spratt's was the first company to mass-produce dog biscuits.

The Welsh Regiment Blazer Badge ICH DIEN Bullion And Wire Badge Blazer Badge British Army Military Hand Embroidered Regimental Badges Handmade with excellent quality. Made on black felt with silver bullion and wire Padded backing measurements are 10cm high and 9.5cm wide. Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd class signed for large letter. International track and signed large letter. Please ask for combined postage if you are buying more then one item for international delivery. Please feel free to contact us for any custom made badges or if you need any of our items in bulk purchases. We will be able to offer you discounted prices. We can make any hand embroidered, machine embroidered or bullion/wire any size any quantity for military, Air Force, navy, clubs and fashion wear. Please contact us directly for further information. We have years of experience in producing embroidery. Father and son business Thank you for your interest. We are happy to answer any questions.

Members of the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh spent a day trying to find a Fusilier Shenkin IV, which has been given the royal seal of approval

The lowly leek, which resembles a scallion on steroids, is a national emblem of Wales. Did you know that on March 1, St. David's Day, patriotic Welsh and those of Welsh descent wear a leek on their clothing? (I'm guessing not a REAL one but a pin??) Also, it is tradition that soldiers in the Welsh regiments eat a raw leek on St David's Day. Posted for ZWT II.

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, by Don Troiani Dear Reader, After the polling concluded, we had one vote for a spotlight on British soldiers in North America, and two votes for examining an 18th century soldier's diary. So, in an effort to appease both parties, today, we are examining the Journal of William Digby, a British soldier in the American War of Independence. Digby's journal chronicles his experience from 1776 to his capture by the American rebels at Saratoga in 1777. William Digby's journal was printed in the late 19th century by James Phinney Baxter. While Baxter describes Digby as "a manly spirit guided by an unswerving instinct to justice," Digby's motives for joining the British army were likely similar to most other soldiers in the Kabinettskriege period. Lt. William Digby joined the 53rd (Shropshire) Regiment, and was a member of the Grenadier company. (For quick reference, one of those guys in the furry hats at the top of the page.) Even if he had not specifically told us this, we could guess, as only the Grenadier and Light Infantry companies of the 53rd participated in the events he describes. Like many soldiers, Digby composed his journal in an unspecified time after the campaign concluded, possibly at the request of "a particular friend," who he alludes to in the preface of the journal. Digby wisely adds that a disclaimer that some of his information may be incorrect, as he is only human. Soldiers to North America: Digby begins his narrative with the 53rd's journey to America aboard the transport ship Woodcock, in April of 1776. Like many of the soldiers fighting for the British crown, Digby had never been aboard a ship before in his life. He describes what it felt like to see an iceberg for the first time, and lists the numerous types of wildlife encountered on the Atlantic voyage. The sea still held mythic appeal for many soldiers, and despite complaining about the cold and fog, he often describes fanciful, non-factual events, such as swordfish attacking whales. While the specifics of his account are non-factual, he is probably relaying information he received from the sailors on the ship, who might have witnessed a blue marlin impale a whale at some point. (This does occasionally happen- see here for details.) On the 7th of May, Digby described confusion, as the fleet approached the shoreline at night, and many ships, including his own, nearly went aground on the southern tip of Newfoundland. As the fleet neared America, Digby shared that many soldiers believed that Quebec and the rest of Canada had already fallen to the American rebels. On the way up the Saint Lawrence seaway, the Woodcock met with the Hope, a messenger ship headed back to England. The soldiers were told that if they wished, this ship would carry letters to loved ones back home to England. Transatlantic mail was a tricky business in the 18th century, and family back in England often heard almost nothing from soldiers for the entire length of a campaign. For servicemen currently overseas, who have the ability to call home, having to wait six weeks for letters from home would seem unbearable. Digby makes it clear that the soldiers felt extreme uneasy while on board ship. At one point in the night, on May 20th, Digby's transport ran into the warship Providence. One the Grenadiers in his regiment panicked, thinking that the ship was about to sink; tried to jump onto the Providence, and was killed in the process. Upon finally reaching mainland Canada, the regiment was, "all in great spirits on leaving the ships." Most of the soldiers felt much better upon reaching dry land. With life on board ship concluded, Digby and the rest of the men of the 53rd prepared to face the rebel forces still in Canada. The adventures of William Digby will continue, with a post about his life in North America, and a post about his combat experiences in the 1777 Saratoga campaign. Thanks for reading, Alexander Burns

Signed - The Welsh Guards - Famous Regiments series by John Retallack. 1st 1981. Hardback complete with dust wrapper. 177p including index. Signed by John Retallack to the title page. A super quality book considering it`s age. Minor imperfections only. Looks unread. D/J within a clear cover. Hard to find in this particular condition. Not unique, but collectable. Thanks.

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of The Royal British Legion, there is a series of special events in Llandudno today, including displays on the promenade. This special mascot made an appearance o…

Our regimental crest wall art pieces are a wonderful, personalised gift that look great both inside and out. Personalisable with any text, they are made from 1.5mm steel, powder coated with a zinc primer for a long-lasting exterior finish. Supplied complete with matching screws and fixings for easy installation. Supplied in a black finish as standard, with other colours available on request. Overall size 495x381mm - we can make this item in any size on request. Personalisation banner size 33x6cm. Don't see your cap badge? Contact us - we can make it! This is an official licensed product - intellectual property of the Secretary of State for Defence is used under licence.

This intriguing collection of around 200 photographs illustrates the distinguished service of a South Wales regiment which can be traced back to the early eighteenth century and which had close links to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea. It illustrates the history of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Welsh Regiment, formed from the 41st (The Welch) […]

[Photo] Carriers of 1/5th Welch Regiment, British 53rd Division crossing the Meuse into Holland, 20 Sep 1944

B 15052. Men of the 4th Royal Welch Regiment construct a dug-out by the side of a knocked-out German StuG III assault gun near Weeze 3 March 1945.

"Home Service Dress", the correct name for the ceremonial uniforms of the five regiments of Foot Guards in the British Army. Also known as "Full Dress" Order of Dress, it is one of fifteen Orders of Dress in the British Army, covering dress orders for mess, barracks, combat, tropical, etc., though some are now being made obsolete, and not all are applicable to every regiment. Royal Parks artwork. The Household Division is the most senior Division within the British Army. It comprises two regiments of Horse Guards (Cavalry: the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals) and five regiments of Foot Guards (Infantry: Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards). Historically they have been the personal protection force to the Monarch, formed for this purpose one year after The Restoration of the Monarchy of 1660, although some can trace their lineage back before this date. As such, they mount the guard for the Royal Household (Royal residences) that sit within the Army's London District, which is geographically defined as within the M25 road network, being Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. In addition to public duties (ceremonial and guard mounts), all members are trained for, and deployed on, active service in combat roles, with combat support roles for Musicians. In addition to the ceremonial uniform distinctions between the regiments shown above, there are also regiment-specific buttons, shoulder strap badges, collar badges and brass belt clasps. There are further ceremonial uniform rank and appointment distinctions. For example, Warrant Officer is a RANK, and someone of that rank can be APPOINTED as a Drum Major. Rank and some of the Appointment (there are many) uniform distinctions include; ~ OFFICERS: Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant; ~ WARRANT OFFICERS (WO): - Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1): Coat of Arms on right arm. Appointed as Garrison Sergeant Major (GSM), Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM), Band Sergeant Major and occasionally Drum Major; - Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2): Crown surrounded by wreath on right arm. Appointed as Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS), Company Sergeant Major (CSM) and Drum Major; ~ NON COMMISSIONED OFFICERS (NCO): - Colour Sergeant (CSgt); three large gold chevrons with Colour (flag) superimposed, right arm. - "Gold" (or "Full") Sergeant (Sgt) - three large gold chevrons, right arm. - Lance Sergeant (LSgt) - three large white worsted cotton chevrons, right arm; - Corporal (Cpl) - two large white worsted cotton chevrons, right arm; ~ PIPER: Scots Guards pipers in Pipes and Drums - Highland Dress uniform, Irish Guards pipers in the Drums and Pipes - uniform of the London Irish Rifles (their original piping tutors). ~ DRUMMER (Dmr): All members of the Corps of Drums are addressed as Drummer (including fifes, cymbalist) - tunics embellished with Royal lace. Also Drummers in the Pipes and Drums. ~ GUARDSMAN (Gdsm) (shown in the photo). "Private" until 1920 and still so in non-Household Division infantry regiments. ~ MUSICIAN (composed of all non-officer ranks) - "winged" epaulettes, cut feather bearskin plumes rather than horse hair plumes, except Grenadier Guards. The button spacing referred to in the picture occurs on the chest, cuffs and skirt (rear) of the tunic, and refers to the seniority of the regiment. For example, the Scots Guards are considered third in seniority, the 3rd Regiment of Foot Guards, with buttons grouped in three's. Both the Coldstream Guards and the Scots Guards can trace their history back further than the Grenadier Guards, however the Grenadier Guards have served the Monarchy the longest. The Coldstream Guards never refer to themselves as the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards, with the Regimental motto "Second To None". Whilst both the Grenadier and Irish Guards end up with four buttons on the cuff and rear skirt, the Irish Guards buttons are more closely spaced, with a wider white (gold for Officers, Warrant Officers and SNCO's) border above and below the button grouping on the cuff and skirt. The side on which the bearskin cap plume is worn relates to the regiment's historic position on the battlefield. In most European armies, the most senior regiments traditionally formed up on the right flank, in battle and in massed marching. Being on the right flank, the Grenadier Guards wear their plume on the left of the bearskin to be seen by the centrally located commanding officers and the other regiments. The second-most senior regiments usually take the left flank and so the Coldstream Guards' plume is worn on the right. The Scots Guards formed up in the middle and therefore did not need a plume. Created much later in 1900, the Irish Guards chose the blue of St Patrick for their plume as green plumes were in use by another army regiment. The Welsh Guards formed in 1915 and chose a plume representing the leek. Contrary to regulations, some members of the Grenadier Guards prefer to tightly crop and apply hair product to bind the bearskin cap's white horsehair plume and partially conceal it within the bearskin fur. It is therefore sometimes difficult to see. The origin and reason for this practice is no longer known. As many of the Grenadier Guards were used to create the Welsh Guards in 1915, hiding the bearskin plume is also a practice that exists to a lesser extent in the Welsh Guards. Foot Guards wear a bearskin cap, not a busby, which is a different type of headwear. The brass chinstrap was not designed to hold the cap on the head, but to deflect sword strikes to the face, and hence it is worn just below the lip.