The uniform

[Rog Ball 01]

Slight correction, RRW were 24th/41st.

The South Wales Borders were 24th and the Welch Regiment were the 41st.

And up to the merger we (the 23rd) were the last Fusilier Regiment to be malgamated or merged.

[taffylooneytoon]

Hi all, does this mean there is no line number given to the Royal Welch as the old regiments , cheers Val .Shades

[richie264]

Neil 14 I've dropped you a private message !! (sorry for hijacking the thread)

[jungle1810]

Hello,
The RWF were the 23rd, the Cheshires the 22nd, The South Wales Borderers were the 24th,This 24th is not to be confused with the 2/24th who defended Rorkes Drift they were the Warwickshire Regiment And only had about 13 Welshmen in "B" Coy, None of which won a V.C.To the best of my knowledge when the RRW were on their own theyy were the 41/69th
Regards Don

[jcj]

Hello,
The RWF were the 23rd, the Cheshires the 22nd, The South Wales Borderers were the 24th,This 24th is not to be confused with the 2/24th who defended Rorkes Drift they were the Warwickshire Regiment And only had about 13 Welshmen in "B" Coy, None of which won a V.C.To the best of my knowledge when the RRW were on their own theyy were the 41/69th
Regards Don

None of which won a VC ? Both the undermentioned Welshmen were awarded a VC


Born in Merthyr Road, Abergavenny as John Fielding. He enlisted first in the Monmouthshire Militia in February 1877 but later that year joined the 2/24th. He received his VC from Major General Anderson at Gibraltar in March 1880. He served in India in 1880-1883 before transferring to the reserve. He later served as a sergeant in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, South Wales Borderers.

Wiiiam Jones:
Born at Raglan, Monmouthshire in August 1857. He enlisted into 2/24th on 10 January 1876 aged 19. After Rorke's Drift he continued his service in India with 2nd Battalion. He transferred to the army reserve in 1882. He subsequently returned to farm labouring at Peterchurch in Herefordshire. There he married at local girl - Elizabeth Hopkins in 1885 and they had five children.

The Royal Regiment of Wales 24th / 41st Foot. And if you visit The Royal Welsh HQ in Maindy Barracks Cardiff it reads The Royal Welsh 23 24 41 69, I only need one more and the bonus ball and I have cracked it.

[jungle1810]

Hello Jcj,
Fielding was also known as Williams he changed his name as his mother tried to stop him enlisting, and Jones were born in Monmouth. And when the defence of Rorkes Drift took place(1789) Monmouth was in ENGLAND.Hence technically a Welshman failed to win a V.C. at the Drift.The Warwicks were not merged with the S.W.B. until 1881 some,3 years after the battles of Isandlwana and the Drift. in Cardwells reformation of the army list. Many thanks for your kind answer, this subject throws a lot of people.
Regards (in the best spirit) RBD

[Rog Ball 01]

Val,

That is a good question. It should be as before for 1st Bn ie, 23rd and 2nd Bn should be 24/41st.

Rog

[richie264]

Where does the 69th come into it? I noticed it on a sign in Hightown Brks.

Still don't like the sound of "We are the galloping 23rd,24th,41st & 69th"

[jungle1810]

Hello All,
Be patient and I will try and answer the Question where did the 69th originate. In 1719 a new regiment was raised it was called Colonel Fieldings Regiment ( The invalids) and was meant to do home duties only as it was raised from members of the Chelsea Pensioners Home.On the 1st of July 1751 it was redesignated the 41st of foot, ( The invalids) On the 11th of December the Invalids character was dropped and the battalion released all the former out patients it had in its ranks, and recruited younger men.Now for the hard part. In 1758 the 69th of foot (The Down and Uppers) raised a second battalion, in the course of their service they won two naval battle honours (As marines) these were 1782 the Battle of Saints and 14th of February the honour Saint Vincent. These were carried over to the Welch Regiment. In 1782 the 69th were the South Lincolnshire Regiment of foot1803 to 1816.They were badly cut up at Quatre Bas which was fought two days before Waterloo in Belgium, they also lost The Kings Colour in this fracas, it was dis banded in 1816 the serving members went to the 1/69th serving in India.In July 1881 it was redesignated The 2nd Battalion Welch Regiment.So I am led to believe this is how the Welch Regiment were known as the 41/ 69th.This went out of the window in 1969 when a Welsh regiment had to be "lost" in the ensuing fight the 24th of Foot was absorbed into the Welsh Regiment plus some of the 24ths battle honours. The Welch Regiment then became the 24/41st of foot?????? A nice story to finish on (It is true ) when the battle with the 41st and the 24th was taking place all three welsh regiments were involved.Colonel J.E.T.Willes was the Colonel of the R.W.F. and he attended a meeting and with an eye on seniority he offered the Welch Regiment to become the 2nd Battalion R.W.F. they refused this offer and so it became a two horse race, So we come to 2006 and what are the Welch Regiment The 2nd Battalion R.W.F. And the problem of new colours and what goes on them is now being decided?????? Sorry to be a bit long winded but there is really no short cut to this question.
Regards R.B.D.aka Don

[UKSniper]

It seems you have a typo in that reply. There is no 2nd Bn RWF. In fact there is not a 1st or 3rd. You will find a 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions The Royal Welsh though.

Hope this clarifies the situation for all.