Happy birthday RWF 325 today!

[Shirl Williams]

325 years ago today, 16th march 1689, King William 3rd authorized Henry, 4th Baron Herbert of Chirbury to raise a regiment consisting of eight companies sixty private soldiers;three sergeants,three corporals and two drummers to each company.This was the birth of the Royal Welch fusiliers.
To commemorate this throughout the year we will be posting significant events from their history on the date they happened to give you an insight into the regiments whole history from Boyne to Bosnia.
If anyone has any ideas to add to this would you please let us know as this page is here for you.
Meanwhile please keep the pictures coming for our Great war project and thank you for the amazing response to it.
Happy Birthday RWF

[Dave Wozencroft]

I am very proud to of served in such a Great Regiment for over 10yrs. Happy Birthday to the 23rd of foot. Long live the Royal Welch Fusiliers. ICH DIEN...

[jungle1810]

Hello Shirl,
I heard a story from Barbara Jones the wife of Reuben Jones on how the goat came to be our mascot. It appears that the recruiting Sjt asked a young boy who had a goat in tow if he was joining the 23rd. The boy replied "My brother has joined but I have to look after the goat". The Sjt replied "Bring the Goat with you we will look after it". The reason for the goat being our mascot is lost in history. But this amused me and it may well be true. This matter has been dealt with by Doctor John aka Baconwallah and he dealt with it in the reprint of O.S.N.D. in great depth. Incidentally Barbara Jones's father was awarded the China Medal and the Coronation medal for the fracas in Pekin.
Keep the stories coming please there must be a multitude of them
regards to all R B D aka jungle1810

[jungle1810]

Hello,
According to article 3 of the Yorktown surrender. The garrison of York (The British ) will march out to a place to be appointed in front of the posts at 2 o'clock precisely, with shouldered arms and all colours cased and were not permitted to play either an American or French march. It is a treasured tradition that the British in the event played the old English tune " The World Turn'd Upside Down "If so it was an appropriate choice.At 2 o'clock the British marched out On our 300th anniversary of the raising of the Regiment I was informed by some American wives of our visitors in Wrexham that the 23rd told the Americans we would not agree to these conditions. As a result we did march out with our arms shouldered and the colours were hidden by the British female camp followers under their clothing. It also was mentioned that we came out last and with the Goat leading the survivors and we had a warm reception on the French and Americans who saw how depleted our ranks were and for the fight we put up at the conclusion of hostilities.
Regards R B D