RECAPPED BADGING OF 3R welsh

Tonight I was invited to an evening of another chapter in the Regiment's history in the fact that this evening I witnessed the disbandment of A company 3 Royal Welsh to 398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomary) Squadron 157 (WELSH) transport Regiment RLC here at the Harry Weale VC Drill Hall Queensferry May the RWFCA live on

Hi Benny,

Here I am in the West Midlands, not aware of any activity regarding A Coy Royal Welsh until I read your thread.

I'm aware of the Govt proposals to decrease the Reg Army and increase the TA, which I totally disagree with anyway, so how do the changes affect your Inf Orbat?

The same has happened in Wrexham, also the band & drums are going to be amalgamated into the Guards band

There are no plans to amalgamate/merge the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh or the Corps of Drums with the Guards, they are staying with the Regiment. Where the Welsh Guards (WG) come into the equation with the the Royal Welsh, is the 3rd Bn are now paired with the WG for training purposes.

If the Royal Welsh are leaving Wrexham and Queensferry are to be RLC. How do the Corps of Drums fit into this equation if Colwyn Bay is to be the TAC for North Wales. Also rumor has it that a new TAC is to built in the Swansea area to be for the RWF.

Hi Gerry, Sorry I should have given a bit more background info. The TA Infantry Bn's have go down to 3 Rifle Coys and a HQ Coy, this includes 3rd Bn R Welsh their orbat is now HQ and 2 Rifle Coys in South Wales I believe HQ in Cardiff B Coy in Swansea, C Coy in Pontypridd with 1 rifle Coy in North Wales that being D Coy in Colwyn Bay & Caernarfon (until possible closure in 2016) A Coy at Wrexham & Queensferry have been taken out of the Orbat with the majority of its soldiers now Recapped Badged 398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Sqn 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC based at Queensferry (so apart from Des and Judy RHQ, NO R Welsh will be in Hightown Barracks).I hope that has given some info to go on
Best Regards
Benny

PeterI spoke to Ian Simmons R Welsh Corps of Drums North Wales and he told me that the Corps North have recapped badged 398 Sqn and they are going to be part of 157 Welsh Transport Regiment Corps of Drums.Best RegardsBenny

Thanks Benny it would be a shame to lose all that talent.

Benny,
How many men as an estimate are now left in 3 RW Ta,all over Wales,be nice to know what sort of numbers they have.

What a bloody shambles. This has to be the biggest cluster#### in the history of the defence of the realm. A bunch of mindless financial pillocks destroying our armed forces and Generals ( peter wall ) backing the idea that this new system of a bigger TA (thats what it is nothing more nothing less) will work. They have no idea how long it will take to put right when it falls flat on its ****. No doubt the offer of service or Nick will be back on the agenda as it was in the past to get recruitment up.

We may as well withdraw from NATO, keep our noses out of others affairs (a good plan). Have a home guard to protect our shores, stand in for fire fighters, bin men and whoever else goes on strike. Produce security to cover for security firms who have been paid millions and cant do the job and hope and pray that it never kicks of again in NI, Falklands Belize or anywhere else where we foolishly think is still part of the great British Empire.

Don't be surprised when Cameron or the next incumbent uses those immortal words that have become as famous as "we will fight them on the beaches" and that is....."Look we got it wrong we must now learn from our mistakes and move on". I am glad that i have no children to live through what is to become of this once great nation.

I was watching Question Time last week from Portsmouth. It was mentioned that the RN only has 19 combat ships(frigates and destroyers…..NINETEEN!!! Assuming some of them are in refit, that situation is appalling and all the major parties and senior military seem content with it.

On a thread running on Facebook, an ex RWF Recce lad was bemoaning the fact that when he went to the Army's recruiter "Capita" he failed miserably in his attempt to Join 3RW

"it was shocking to be honest... I was on their doorstep the week after I got out... But having spoke to the unit I was informed that since Capita had taken on the roll they'd not had anyone through the gates for 3 months, would have been happy to commit at THAT time…"

I think General Wall has made an error of judgment in his total support for the Gov policies, potentially it could fail on his watch, with recruitment of the reserves being the first failure! He could have been the senior officer who said "No, enough is enough", but instead has meekly stepped into line, whilst the people at the coalface are telling them its not working. Still….Its an excuse to re-show this brilliant video of a TA CO being briefed on his latest recruiting figures….Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZc5798LASc

Capita are been paid £400m to recruit for the TA So far they have recruited 387 looks like money well spent.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BennytheBall

Hi Gerry Sorry I should have given a bit more background info. The TA Infantry Bn's have go down to 3 Rifle Coys and a HQ Coy, this includes 3rd Bn R Welsh their orbat is now HQ and 2 Rifle Coys in South Wales I believe HQ in Cardiff B Coy in Swansea, C Coy in Pontypridd with 1 rifle Coy in North Wales that being D Coy in Colwyn Bay & Caernarfon (until possible closure in 2016) A Coy at Wrexham & Queensferry have been taken out of the Orbat with the majority of its soldiers now Recapped Badged 398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Sqn 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC based at Queensferry (so apart from Des and Judy RHQ, NO R Welsh will be in Hightown Barracks).I hope that has given some info to go on
Best Regards
Benny

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398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Transport Squadron 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps

398 (Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) Transport Squadron Royal Logistics Corps is formed from A Company 3rd Bn The Royal Welsh. The Company was formed from an amalgamation of HQ company and a rifle company of the 3rd Bn The Royal Welch Fusiliers in 1999 to become A Company the Royal Welsh Regiment. The Company has served with distinction both in Iraq and Afghanistan since the formation of the Royal Welsh in 2006.

398 Company Royal Army Service Corps was formed in July 1915 in support of 53rd (Welsh) Division alongside 249 Company, now the HQ Squadron of 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC. Later being absorbed into the Labour Corps, the Company was the first in the Division to be equipped with motorised transport.

398 Divisional Airborne Composite Company was raised in 1943 serving with distinction in support of 6th Airborne Division (including 6th (RWF) Parachute Bn) throughout Europe. It was subsequently directed to Palastine in 1945 where it served alongside 223 Air Despatch Company RASC (now a sister Transport Squadron of 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment RLC).

The Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry has roots dating back to the origins of the Yeomanry (or volunteer calvary) in 1795 and included Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry, the Denbighshire Hussars and the Flintshire Yeomanry Calvary. The Yeomanry for North Wales was reorganised under the title Denbighshire (Hussars) Yeomanry in 1908 and attached to the Royal Artillery in 1922, a role which existede until 1969 under various guises including Caernarfon and Denbigh Yeomanry and the Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry. B Company of the 3rd BN RWF adopted the title Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry from 1971 - 1999. The Flintshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry is re - established with 398 Transport Squadron on the 19th November 2013. (source from the recap badging parade programme 19/11/13).

Keith approx on paper approx 450 but how many of them are regular attenders I can't answer that one?
Best Regards
BennytheBall

Thanks for that Benny,i have copied and paste a question with the answer that was published in Hansard it just gives the numbers for North Wales.The table provides details of the total number of personnel attending each TA centre in North Wales in each of the last 12 months. Due to the way that attendance is recorded, there are no separate statistics for Caernarfon (as it is a detachment of Colwyn Bay) or Queensferry (as it is a detachment of Wrexham). The figures in the table for Colwyn Bay and Wrexham therefore include the detachments as well. The figures show individuals' training based on the TA Centres they regularly attend, although they may on occasion go to another TA centre for some training.You will also note that the numbers have been rounded in accordance with Government statistical conventions.I hope this explains the situation.

Month	Location	Total numbers attending training
2012
October	Prestatyn	20

	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	40
November	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
December	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	50
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	40
2013
January	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	70
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
February	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
March	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn bay	50
April	Prestatyn	20
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	60
	Colwyn Bay	50
May	Prestatyn	20
	Llandudno	50
	Wrexham	40
	Colwyn Bay	40
June	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
July	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	50
	Colwyn Bay	50
August	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	60
	Llandudno	30
	Colwyn Bay	40
September	Prestatyn	30
	Wrexham	40
	Llandudno	40
	Colwyn Bay	40

I think the numbers seem to be inflated somewhat,as the numbers given for C/Bay and LLandudno combined together give a strength of well over a rifle company strength,so maybe i think seeing as the numbers come from The Secretary for Defence they may well be manipulated,but would he do that,to Bloody right he would.

I might be wrong but I think the picture may be even bleaker Keith. The figures as you say relate to the TA Centre itself. So for example Llandudno is a general hospital squadron and not part of the infantry. Similarly Prestatyn…is REME I think! North Wales has always had a strong TA, but that may suffer as local ties and historical loyalties are cut.

Regarding Capita, i'm sure i've recently read that the MOD has had to deploy a 1000 military staff to assist them get it back on track. From my own experience, both in recruiting TA, but mainly in recruiting for our regular battalion, we were always better at it ourselves….Funding/gaping was always the issue, plus of course the differing requirements of the Army's main recruiters, during my day ably led in the south by Colin J and Alan Phillips. Having worked in the profit led private security sector, we would always promise the client the earth, but in reality service delivery was really down to the competence of the local security manager and his team and corners were ALWAYS cut. I've no reason to believe that a money maker like Capita will be any different. Profit is the only goal.

Yes Al the Hansard report does not say what arms the people attending are wether Inf or other arms,but it does not matter how the government spin it the numbers do not add up and alas i do not think they ever will.They liken it to the National Guard model in the US,be where as we send x amount of Ta soldiers with reg regiments,the national guard send whole units consisting of full strength regiments(or whatever they call them),and as in Iraq some Nat Gd Reg spent a full year on duty in Iraq,it would not happen in this country

One of my last tasks before retirement from the Army as OC recruiting for SE Wales was to host all four bidders for the contract. Begrudgingly I had to give them a full brief of our recruiting methods etc. Every other question posed at the end of the brief was how they could cut costs. What annoyed me the most was the number of Senior Officers who were involved in recruiting who ended up on board with CRAPITA and the other bidders. The guys who had the real knowledge of how to recruit were the LSL WO2 office managers Dickie Brace up North Dai Williams in Bristol and others were basically ignored and slung on the scrap heap. CAPITA and the Army are blaming the IT system for the cock up which is bollocks you need experienced SNCO’s/WO’s to recruit soldiers. My six Office managers could weed out the C*** in minutes of an interview, you can’t do that with online applications.

I dont really believe the government gives a shiny ****e about recruitment all they care about is losing bodies to cut costs so they can give more money to places like India so they can join the space race

Have you thought that the numbers should be divided by four to get a better understanding .

Alan, you are quite right about 1000 military staff being deployed for recruiting purposes Capita/MOD call it OP FORTIFIED I know there quite of RLC (regulars) attached to the Outreach Team (Old ART 33 team) and the AFCOs at Wrexham and Bangor also the R Welsh support Teams (old DIVRO team)

Cheers Benny, understandable I suppose, senior officers and politicians have staked their jobs on its success, so they will chuck anything at it to make it work…..As we know everything has a cost. Sadly the media is strangely silent, unlike during the G4S/Olympic fiasco. 1000 soldiers, now doing recruiting jobs that have been outsourced to private industry. I wonder if they will be fined and publicly bollocked and who pays the bill?

Personally I want this to fail at an early stage, until we have an absolute calamity like that, Politicians, civil servants and spineless senior commanders will continue to reduce our armed forces as just figures on a balance sheet, expressed as profit or loss.

Its not only recruitment thats in this situation guys, DE and S procurement is in the process of potentially being transferred to a GOCO (Government owned contractor run organisation however the latest is that one of the two bidders (Serco) has pulled out bloody good job considering the fiddles it has been doing across the government contracts it already has, LCS (Defence logistics) will undoubtedly be under private hands by the end of April 2015 unless the in house bid comes up trumps (not holding my breath on that). Defence support group (ABRO, Workshops call it what you will was due to be in private hands before Xmas but all has gone quiet on that.

The whole thing is why i am retiring early i.e. April 27 2015 because i just will not work for a private concern running the defence area in which i work, this means i will retire at 62 1/2 and live on my MOD pension (not the gold plated one as the media seems to think) till i am 65 it will be a struggle but i am determined to manage and im afraid when my manager asked me what they were going to do about my work when i retired (no recruitment to replace people leaving you see) my reply was simply that it was not going to bother me in the slightest and it was there problem.

No good them coming to ask me to train someone else in my rather specialst job either because my memory aint very good and i will have forgotten.