Regimental Association Standard

[rikoshea]

hi Lads just a quick one, i'm a south walian who served with 1RWF. When I did my time in the regiment the majority of men were on average 50% from South Wales 40% from the north and the other 10% made up from attachments or other parts of Wales and England. However I am and always will be a Royal Welchman in my heart and mind, but we must remember that the regiment is no longer and must now find time to move forward and let these young men & women who serve in the Royal Welsh be proud of the cap badge they now where. Just remember no one can take away our memories and how proud we were to serve in this one of the finest regiments the british army ever had. So please forum members let this new generation of welshmen and women make their own history and love the regiment they now belong to.

[TRAV 24]

Just an observation,Swansea Branch RWFCA only has 1 member who has served in both the Royal Welch Fusiliers and The Royal Welsh(RWF) having done longer in RWF he proudly wears his RWF Beret,Badge and Hackle and RWF tie
I know of ex SWBs and Welsh Regiment guys who now wear the Royal Welsh tie with their old Regiment Berets. At the end of the day most on people on the Forum are ex ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS who are now RWFCA members SO if you have 2/3 Associations marching WHY cant you have each standard flying?

[jungle1810]

Hello Bertie Ball01,
I take note of your point re the Wreath of Immortelles placed on the colours. This award was given by Qeen Victoria many years after the defence of Rorkes Drift in memory of the brave defence of Rorkes Drift by the Royal Wawickshire regiment's detatchment from "B" company of the 2nd Warwickshire regiment.Further to the work of Childer's and Caldwell who were given the task of sorting out the many differences in the numbering of line regiments in 1881 some 3 years after the defence of Rorkes Drift and to review the issue of flogging of foot soldiers and also to clarify the vexed question of officers purchasing commissions.At best it seems that only between 7 or 11 Welshmen were at the Drift, and they probably went to the Midlands to look for work and being unable to find work enlisted in the Royal Wawickshire regiment All this leaves us in the quandary we are in today.In my opinion this is all due to the use of the word bandied about today namely ANTECEDENT. As a consequence of Childers and Caldwell's efforts some how or other the SWB took over the mantle and title of the 24th of foot. This leaves us today to consider the awards of the V.C.'s inside the new journal Y Cymro, it now lists 43 V.C's won by this so called ANTECEDENT issue. I do not think even the Royal Artillery, The Medical Establishment,( RAMC ) or even the Royal Engineers or Gurkhas can boast of this many V.C's. Of course 16 of these listed V.C's were won by the Royal Wawickshire Regiment.I fully expect some readers may confirm or deny my facts and figures.So over many years the Chinese water torture has gained much momentum in south Wales and many regiments are losing a lot of what they fought for.I am firmly of the opinion that Hingey hit the nail on the head with his view of the new standard issue and all it entails. Pundits reckon you cannot change history. We are seeing it now right in front of our faces. With bravery awards in a state of chaos, and battle Honours being moved about willy nilly.
Regards as ever RBD aka jungle

[ianto73]

According to historical records, the 24th of Foot was called the 2nd Warwickshire in 1782 and became known as the South Wales Borderers in 1881. However, the 24th of Foot had their recruiting area changed in 1873 which included Brecon Pembroke and others I'll find when I've found this part of my research. Consequently, in the 6 years prior to Rorke's Drift the number of Welshmen within the 24th would have increased and the total manpower would have been a cross-section of those recruited prior to 1873 and afterwards.
Hindsight often allows a different interpretation of what has been previously published, but I feel it would be wrong to assume that there were just a few Welshmen at Rorke's Drift.
In addition to this thread, I would like anyone to let me know of the small Battle Honours the RWF won over the centuries which are not from the Famous Battles we all know about. As an example, at the front of the "Y Cymro" those that receive this will see listed "ADEN" - a remarkable example, and worthy of being placed in the public domain.
Ianto 73 ex 1 Welch & att 1 RWF 1968

[BennytheBall]

Dear Brian and Ianto 73
Many Thanks for your very informative history articles, but I think people are missing the point on this subject, the question is it now the time for the RWFCA and the RRWCA branches (I know some RRWCA Branches have already done so) to come under the "banner" of the Royal Welsh Comrades' Association?

The example copy of the Royal Welsh Comrades' Association Standard posted by RHQ Cardiff is what the Association and branch standard will look like in answer to some ones question about the wreath of Immortelles and the Red Rampant Dragon (Griffin) which takes centre stage on the standard is the Regimental Crest of the new Regiment The Royal Welsh which formed in 2006 and obvisuosly it was well thought out to represent both Famous regiments of Wales of past. The Welsh Warrior of today has to have a Regimental Crest to give him and her something to feel proud of and to be part of as we did when we served either in the 23rd -24th- 41st/69th.

Here I go again getting on my soap box once more.

I think that this debate is going to linger on for some time?

Best Regards
BennytheBall

[Paul Hinge]

I've read this thread long and hard and it seems quite clear to me that RHQ RW and Gen Porter need to give US the Association(s) a briefing paper on their proposal asap. Speculation and supposition creates unrest and I for one want to put our comments and case to them (that is Aberystwyth Branch RWFCA) when I've seen the details and discussed it with the members. I will reiterate once again, we are now civlilians and not under the aegis of military law or singley minded top down management regimes.
We need to be consulted because we are the Association and they would do well to remember that!

Hingey

[jungle1810]

Hello Hingey,
I fully agree with your e mail re the status of the RWFCA.I will be bringing the ultimatum we have rec for the branch to digest and give me their views and let me know what action to take. I also think it was badly worded.
Regards Brian aka jungle

[Bricoates]

I, from the Caernarfon Branch, and I’m sure hundreds more Royal Welch Comrades disagree with the undemocratic changes that are to be made on our behalf, we remember not to long ago when we all fought in vain to save the RWF from losing its identity, who did we curse and blame, Yes, Ministers and civil servants at Westminster who had never stood on a parade ground, “they don’t understand the value of keeping our identity” we cried, and lo and behold today we have “our own” doing exactly the same, All RWFCA Branches should have a vote on this issue, obviously the result would be an overwhelming majority to keep the present standard, in the future when we Royal Welch men and women “fade” away then by all means make changes, I have the up most respect for our brave comrades of the Royal Welsh, I have been proud to parade and march with them, (made my day) and we need to cater for their future but please not at our expense, Someone suggested we move on, we cant nor wish to, the Royal Welch is in the past, we keep it alive by holding on to our values and traditions, and Benny, I don’t think H.Q wants to keep the twig alive by watering, more likely want to re-seed the whole garden, I cant see anything in this topic that concerns North/South divide but while on the subject lets not forget that we have a middle part to our country and a lot of brave men and women in the Royal Welch and the Royal Welsh Regiments came from the middle part of Wales, Good on you hingey and Brian (Jungle), get the ball rolling, let not kid ourselves here, we all know the next episode, “They all look like a load of clowns on parade, different colour berets, ties and blazer badges, only one way to sort this out, back to H.Q gentlemen”. Maybe I’m wasting my time, the deal has been done, and threats have been made, shame on you.

Brian

[jase hill]

I, from the Caernarfon Branch, and I’m sure hundreds more Royal Welch Comrades disagree with the undemocratic changes that are to be made on our behalf, we remember not to long ago when we all fought in vain to save the RWF from losing its identity, who did we curse and blame, Yes, Ministers and civil servants at Westminster who had never stood on a parade ground, “they don’t understand the value of keeping our identity” we cried, and lo and behold today we have “our own” doing exactly the same, All RWFCA Branches should have a vote on this issue, obviously the result would be an overwhelming majority to keep the present standard, in the future when we Royal Welch men and women “fade” away then by all means make changes, I have the up most respect for our brave comrades of the Royal Welsh, I have been proud to parade and march with them, (made my day) and we need to cater for their future but please not at our expense, Someone suggested we move on, we cant nor wish to, the Royal Welch is in the past, we keep it alive by holding on to our values and traditions, and Benny, I don’t think H.Q wants to keep the twig alive by watering, more likely want to re-seed the whole garden, I cant see anything in this topic that concerns North/South divide but while on the subject lets not forget that we have a middle part to our country and a lot of brave men and women in the Royal Welch and the Royal Welsh Regiments came from the middle part of Wales, Good on you hingey, get the ball rolling, let not kid ourselves here, we all know the next episode, “They all look like a load of clowns on parade, different colour berets, ties and blazer badges, only one way to sort this out, back to H.Q gentlemen”. Maybe I’m wasting my time, the deal has been done, and threats have been made, shame on you.

Brian

You are correct in saying your wasting your time, its done lets just get on with it.

[Bricoates]

You are correct in saying your wasting your time, its done lets just get on with it.

No Jase, I said "Maybe im wasting my time" I see and respect your point of view, please respect mine.

Brian