3rd Batt rwf

[peterlansley]

Any info on the 3rd Batt i belive was rebadged in 1970, from the Welsh Volunteers up to the rebadgeing to the 3rd Royal Welsh .

[ap1]

What specifically are you interested in Peter?

Obviously there is a lot of information in the two volumes of Regimental Records covering the period 1946- 2001

[peterlansley]

I served with D coy in the early 70s late 70s with B coy and until 94 with HQ coy Int ,was just chatting with some of the old boys reminising but would like to put dates to the camps from 70 which i think was Oakhampton,to 94 Barry Buddon .Any info on camps inbetween will help keep the conversation alive, thanks SAM.

[ap1]

Sorry for the delay Peter. had a look through regi records and have extracted a few facts for you and your buddies:

Excerpts and items from Regimental Records Vol V11

The 3rd(v) Bn was formed on the 1st April 1971. Prior to that it was known as the Welsh Volunteers consisting of two companies.

In July 1970 the Welsh Volunteers formed a composite company and flew to Malta for two weeks training.

In July 71 the first Bn annual camp took place at Okehampton. However one composite platoon under Lt JN Egan joined the RRW in Germany for their camp. In the August Ex Desert Rose took place, and involved a Bn crossing of the Menai Strait.

Sept 72 Annual Camp took place at Otterburn. The Bn had a ongoing task to provided a Mountain Rescue Team in North Wales, it was formed around B Company. The team was led by Sgt DR Rowlands, an experienced mountaineer. In August 72 that team climbed the Matterhorn.

Aug 73 Annual Camp at Cultybraggan Scotland. Although A Company as the NATO roled unit joined the RRW in Germany. Incidently Alphas(Wrexham), had a first class football team, winning the Wales Minor Units Cup in the Dec.

Sept 74 Annual Camp at St Martins Plain, Folkstone. Alphas had been due to go to Cyprus, but the Turkish invasion put paid to that, so they again joined the RRW in BAOR.

1st April 75, Alphas lost their NATO role, so Support Wpns and Larkspur Radios were removed. The Bn was issued Pye radios, and Recce Pl was formed along with an Intelligence section, both located at Aberystwyth.
On the 5th June Sgt W Galston was killed on Crib Coch, whilst team-leading training for the Welsh 3000. He was replaced by Sgt DT Williams.

The Bn Camp took place at Tidworth with the 1st Bn, allowing it to train for the presentation of the colours. Ceremonial training took place in the mornings, followed by military activities in the afternoon.

1976....The Heatwave!!!! Throughout the summer, the Bn was involved in firefighting in Snowdonia. No mention of camp, so Im assuming the firefighting put paid to that. In August Bravos went treking in Switzerland. In Sept the Bn took part in an Internal Security Ex and Mobilisation at Sennybridge.

1977, The WRAC Det formed at Wrexham(at least two girls are forum members). In May Sgt DT Williams broke the course record for the Clwyd Trog, completing the 12 mile hillwalk in a time of 1 hr 51mins. On the 30th June a detachment took part in the Silver Jubilee Review at Wembley, commanded by Maj Egan. Annual camp took place on the Isle of Man, and Cpl Gardiner and Lcpl Sands won the LMG Cup at Wales SAAM.

Annual camp at Fremington Devon. This camp was notable because it heralded the appearance of the newly formed Corps Of Drums, based around A Company and The MT. Its Drum Maj was Sgt Eddie Henning, who had served with the 1st Bn, for his efforts he was awarded the BEM in 1981.

B Company formed a platoon at Llandudno, and plans for a new TA centre at Colwyn Bay were revealed, as the old one was to be demolished to make way for the A55 coast road. During this period Maggie Thatcher took over as PM, and funding started to reach the TA. By 1979 new detachments had opened at Llandudno and Rhyl. HQ Coy was formed at Wrexham, they were re-issued Larkspur, and also received a Sigs PSI. In addition the TA had huge increase in the annual bounty, which rose to £300 tax free for a man with 3 yrs service. It was hoped that this would slow the annual turnover of junior ranks which was running at 30%.

In April/May 79 Four platoons under Maj M Thomas went to Gib. Annual camp was held at Garelochhead Scotland, during this period they conducted an IS Ex with Strathclyde Police.

Well Peter thats the 70's completed. It been quite a useful exercise, as it highlights the 3rd Bn, especially to those who have little knowledge of the RWF TA. I'm sure many like me were unaware of the mountain rescue role in the early 70's. Good stuff.

[peterlansley]

Al many thanks for your help my memory for dates is hopeless although i attended every camp . Sgt Dai Rowlands was a legend he was the mountaineer in the film Blue Peter which was about the outward bound school atAberdovey,which stared Antony Newley.The hot summer was a mobilization exercise held at Coy locations then to Sennybridge for a two day exercise and aweek in the Isle of Man,Lt Col Humphreys-Evans was the CO.

[Barry69]

Al brought back memories of my early days with B Coy 74 - 76 and correct me if I am wrong mate but I am sure we went to Thetford in 76 for our Annual Camp

With likes of Pete Jones (Jinx's oldman) Dixie Dean, Elbo, the Minstrel and the famous Lcpl Owen whom for one night only decided spend his evening in the Officers Mess drinking Gin and Tees, until the OC walked in!

Yes we had a interesting camp that year

[Clive Hughes]

Thank you, that was an interesting summary of the battn.'s main activities when I was a very junior member 1974-78, of Bangor Platoon "D" Coy.

My first weekend, probably at Caernarfon about Feb 1974, they could only outfit me temporarily in old green 1960s combats from a shed somewhere...unfortunately this made me stand out when the GOC Wales paid us a visit the same day, so (knowing nothing, and as green as my combats) I was the one who got the "And who are you?.." treatment. Coincidentally, years later he (Maj-Gen Morgan Llewellyn) was interviewed as a potential clergyman at the same time as myself. I'm not sure I reminded him we had spoken before, though...

I remember Folkestone well - sadly, my only camp as the rest of my time they clashed with my University studies. And the Pye Westminster radio I had to lug about, often in company with the Porthmadog signallers, up hills and even out to sea once as we helped out with a regatta off Criccieth or somewhere.

Didn't we have a brush with 22nd (Artist's) SAS one weekend at Tonfannau? They popped out of the 3-tonners in the Barracks at Caernarfon and ambushed us while we were lining up to go down there the first morning!

Forest fires at Bettws-y-Coed 1976, tackled in the Green Goddess fire engines: stumbling through charred trees and deep, warm ashes at night with a heavy hose, trying to squirt "hot spots" and seeing the flare-up of other trees in the unreachable distance. Bacon sandwiches afterwards from a canteen somewhere and trying to kip in the cab of the Goddess along with several others. Badgers in the headlights, trying to get out of our way on the mountain paths as we refilled the water tanks from a small lake. Finally getting back to Llangefni Fire Station and realising that I looked like a passable imitation "Black -&-White Minstrel".

I'm sure I have some Battn. news sheets somewhere which give info on what was coming up. Memorable times...

[peterlansley]

Thanks for the info Barry ibelieve the76 camp was split between Thetford and Salisbury int moved to Bulford on the friday and rejoined the Bn on the monday .I have many wonderful memorys of Glyn Owen and his band of merry men to name a few Ken Brown Toby Jervis Davy Sac they all used to visit Abers billet because our can of beer was bigger than you could get from the NAAFI.Ibelive Glyn never left camp from start to finish,could drink the NAAFI dry and still be first to finish the BFT, RIP GLYN.