I'm not one to winge but!

[jcj]

Hello Snake,
Re your e mail on the 24th. What has Rorkes Drift to do with the South Wales Borderers? It was "B" Coy of the 2nd Batt Warwickshire Regt who defended the Drift. And their regt march was "The Warwickshire Lads" And no one sang "Men of Harlech".The Warwickshire Regt were disbanded in 1881 some 3 years after the defence of the Drift. This was done in the Cardwell reforms of the regular Army.At the very best guess only 19 men at the Drift could lay any tenuous claim to Welsh ancestry, which means the Welsh contingent at the Drift was 15% and that is stretching the truth a little bit. Other famous authors quote 11 Welshmen in one book and 13 in another book.I respectfully suggest you read "The Noble 24th" by Ian Knight for a true story.


Regards Don

What has Rorkes Drift to do with the South Wales Borderers?

I have to be mindful that like Snake 57 I am a former 24th & RRW Soldier and therefore we are guests on your site. However if your comments about our Regimental history were meant to touch a raw nerve you have succeeded .The events at Isandhlwana, Rorkes Drift and the of the unique honor of the Wreath of Immortelles presented by Queen Victoria are as important to us as the Flash, Hackle and the Battle Honor of Pekin are to the 23rd. Comments such as these will do nothing to help both Regiments overcome the disappointment of having to merge,can we not cease this petty sniping and move on.

[sid burns]

jcj...........well said mate

Sid Burns

[Smokeyjoe]

Don,
It is unfair to raise the 24th and the Warwickshire Regt and Rorkes adrift in the way that you have, I in my day had many friends in the SWB and the Welch Regiment and whilst I do not agree with the merger I find your comments unhelpfull.
Regards,
Joe.

[Bob Bacon]

I feel that this thread has run its course and I am closing it. We have gone from the original post of “Where’s the Regimental Goat we used to have” to the Defence of Rorke's Drift and the South Wales Borderers. In between we have had the regimental mergers and who wears what accoutrements.

I realise that for many of us the regimental mergers were a bitter disappointment and a cause of great sadness. After centuries of unamalgamated service to the Crown, our Regiment came to the end of a long and proud chapter.

There is no doubting that both the RRW and RWF were the focus of loyalty, the nurseries of military experience and potent symbols of pride for us all and both have "given up elements we hold dear". However, with the merger of the regiments, one chapter of history has come to an end and another has opened.

I make no bones about the fact that I, and many others, regret the merger deeply. But in spite of this, we must put behind us any feelings of disappointment we inevitably have and help make it a real success and an example to the rest of the Army.