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Dates In History

Complete Dates In History List
1st January 1796
69th Foot arrived in San Domingo.
8th January 1916
2/SWB was evacuated from Gallipoli after enduring 258 days on the peninsular. Losses amounted to 1,614 men during that short period.
13th January 1849
Anniversary of the battle of Chillianwallah during the 2nd Sikh war. Out of 1,116 men, the 24th Foot had 525 casualties.
18th January 1915
1/WELCH disembarked at Le Havre, France to reinforce the British Expeditionary Force.
21st January 1813
Anniversary of the battle of Frenchtown on the River Raisin, Michigan Territory, involving 41st Foot.
22nd January 1879
* Queen's Colour 1/24th saved by Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill after the disaster at Isandhlwana. A Regimental Anniversary.
23rd January 1879
* Immortal defence of Rorke's Drift. The 24th Foot are awarded 7 out of 11 Victoria Crosses.
25th January 1915
2/WELCH involved in the action at Givenchy.
27th January 1920
Official approval granted to spell the title of the Welsh Regiment 'WELCH'.
3rd February 1900
2/SWB disembarked at Cape Town to take part in the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.
4th February 1879
Queen's Colour 1/24th recovered from the Buffalo River after Isandhlwana.
7th February 1794
69th Foot disembarked at Mortella Point, Corsica.
9th February 1826
Action at Pagan in Burma involving 41st Foot.
12th February 1702
John Churchill, later Duke of Marlborough, appointed the 6th Colonel of the 24th Foot.
14th February 1797
The 69th Foot served as Marines when the Spanish fleet was defeated off Cape St. Vincent. A second Naval Battle Honour gained for the Regiment.
18th February 1900
Anniversary of the battle of Paardeberg involving 1/WELCH and Mounted Infantry Companies of WELCH and SWB during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.
21st February 1849
Anniversary of the battle of Goojerat during the 2nd Sikh war involving the 24th Foot.
25th February 1831
41st Foot given the title the 'Welsh' Regiment.
27th February 1814
Anniversary of battle for Orthes, the first major action on French soil at the end of the long Peninsular campaign. The 2/24th Foot were in the thick of the action.
1st March
* St. David's Day. Leeks issued to all ranks of the Regiment.
4th March 1914
Memorial to the 24th Regiment on the Isandhlwana battlefield unveiled by General Sir Reginald Hart VC.
8th March 1689
Sir Edward Dering from Surrenden, Kent given commission by King William III to raise a regiment of foot, later to be known as the 24th Regiment of Foot.
10th March 1842
Anniversary of the battle of Kandahar involving the 41st Foot.
11th March 1719
Colonel Edmund Fielding given a commission to raise a Regiment from the Invalids at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, later to become the 41st Foot.
13th March 1900
1/WELCH entered Bloemfontein during the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.
14th March 1893
The Regimental Journal 'The Men of Harlech' first published.
23rd March 1794
41st Foot involved in the surrender of Martinique.
27th March 1944
6/SWB captured the Mayu Tunnels in Burma during WW2.
28th March 1689
* First muster of Dering's Regiment later to become 24th Regiment of Foot. The Regiment's birthday.
1st April 1934
Colours of the 1/24th Foot carried during the Zulu War finally laid up in Brecon Cathedral after 67 years service.
2nd April 1945
Corporal Ted Chapman, 3rd Monmouths, won a Victoria Cross at Teutoburger Wald.
4th April 1800
Thomas Brisbane appointed Commanding Officer of 69th Foot. Later gives his name to famous Australian city.
5th April 1916
Captain Angus Buchanan MC 4/SWB won a Victoria Cross in Mesopotamia.
8th April 1761
69th Foot landed at Belle Isle.
9th April 1916
Private James Finn 4/SWB and Captain Edgar Myles DSO WELCH won Victoria Crosses in Mesopotamia.
11th April 1917
4/SWB entered Baghdad.
12th April 1782
The 69th Foot served as marines with the British fleet. French were defeat in the West Indies known as the battle of the Saints. A first Naval Battle Honour for the Regiment.
15th April 1854
41st Foot landed at Scurtari at the start of the Crimea campaign.
21st April 1940
2/SWB as part of the 24th (Guards) Brigade landed in Norway to take part in that short ill-fated WW2 expedition.
25th April 1915
2/SWB as part of 29th Division landed on Gallipoli peninsula. ANZAC day.
28th April 1758
The 2/24th Foot renumbered as 69th Foot. 69th Foot in 1881 become 2/WELCH.
3rd May 1811
2/24th involved in the battle of Fuentes d'Onor during the peninsular campaign in Spain.
5th May 1813
41st Regiment involved in the action at Fort Meigs on the Maumee River, Ohio.
7th May 1867
Five Victoria Crosses awarded to the rescue party of 1/24th Foot off Little Andaman Islands.
8th May 1915
Anniversary of 2nd Battle of Ypres. The three battalions of Monmouths received over 900 casualties that day.
10th May 1963
Welch Brigade Depot at Cwrt-y-Gollen opened by HM The Queen.
19th May 1917
Sgt Albert White 2/SWB won a Victoria Cross in France.
23rd May 1706
Anniversary of the battle of Ramillies. The Duke of Marlborough won the day. The 24th Foot gained a Battle Honour.
25th May 1922
The Havard Chapel in Brecon Cathedral is dedicated as the Regimental Chapel of the South Wales Borderers.
26th May 1920
Pte John Williams VC, a Rorke's Drift defender, retired from service during the Great War.
27th May 1870
69th Foot involved in the battle of Trout River, Canada in Fenian Raid.
31st May 1794
Fort Bizothon, San Domingo captured by 41st Foot.
6th June 1944
2/SWB, part of 56th Independent Brigade, only Welsh unit to land with assault troops in France on D-Day.
10th June 1944
Welch Regiment received Honorary Freedom of the City of Cardiff.
11th June 1969
Amalgamation day in Cardiff Castle. HRH The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-Chief, presented the first Colours to the newly formed The Royal Regiment of Wales.
13th June 1856
41st Foot left Crimea at the end of that ill fated campaign.
14th June 1944
3rd Monmouths landed in Normandy as part of 11th Armoured Division.
16th June 1815
2/69th took part in the battle of Quatre Bras.
18th June 1815
2/69th Foot as part of General Sir Colin Halkett's brigade took part in the battle of Waterloo.
21st June 1813
Anniversary of the battle of Vittoria during the peninsular campaign in Spain involving the 2/24th. Afterwards Wellington received his Field Marshal's baton.
1st July 1916
First day of the great Somme offensive on Western Front. 2/SWB suffered greatly at Beaumont Hamel. The SWB, Welch and Monmouths in all contributed 18 battalions to the offensive.
3rd July 1915
The Brecknock Battalion – the territorial battalion of the South Wales Borderers warded off attacks from Turkish forces at Aden during the Great War.
6th July 1802
The 24th Regiment awarded the Battle Honour of a Sphinx superscribed 'Egypt' for helping to defeat Napoleon's Army in Egypt in 1801.
7th July 1916
Attack on east edge of Mametz Wood by 38th (Welsh) Division.
9th July 1916
Capture of Mametz Wood completed by 38th (Welsh) Division.
11th July 1708
Anniversary of the battle of Ondenarde. The Duke of Marlborough won the day. The 24th gained a Battle Honour.
19th July 1924
Welch Regiment memorial in Llandaff Cathedral unveiled by Field Marshal The Lord Pulmer.
20th July 1871
The purchase of Army commissions abolished.
22nd July 1812
Anniversary of the battle of Salamanca during the peninsular campaign in Spain involving the 2/24th.
25th July 1958
The final stand of Colours presented to the South Wales Borderers at Ebbw Vale.
27th July 1809
Anniversary of battle of Talavera. The 2/24th stood firm, despite 50% casualties, allowing the Foot Guards' Brigade to reform and Wellington wins the day.
28th July 1880
At Osborne House, Queen Victoria attached to her Colour a Wreath of Immortelles – dried flowers – in memory of those who fell at Isandhlwana and Rorke's Drift.
29th July 1989
Tercentenary Parade of the Raising of the Regiment held in Cardiff Castle.
31st July 1917
Assault of Pilckem Ridge by 38th (Welsh) Division. Sergeant Ivor Rees 11/SWB won a Victoria Cross.
4th August 1914
Declaration of the First World War.
7th August 1915
53rd (Welsh) Division landed at Suvla Bay on the Gallipoli peninsular.
12th August 1914
2/WELCH landed at Le Havre, France with British Expeditionary Force as part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division.
13th August 1704
The 24th involved the attack at Blenheim held by 27 French Battalions. Duke of Marlborough wins the day. The 24th gains its first Battle Honour.
15th August 1914
1/SWB landed at Le Havre, France with British Expeditionary Force as part of 3rd Brigade, 1st Division.
16th August 1812
Capture of Fort Detroit by the 41st Foot.
21st August 1915
2/SWB lost 300 men, a third of their strength, during the disastrous attack on Scimitar Hill on Gallipoli peninsular.
24th August 1914
Retreat from Mons' commenced involving 1/SWB and 2/WELCH.
3rd September 1939
Declaration of the Second World War.
9th September 1855
41st at the fall of Sebastopol during the Crimea campaign.
10th September 1967
Memorial gates unveiled at SWB Museum Brecon in memory of Colonel Trower and 5/SWB.
11th September 1709
Anniversary of the battle of Malplaquet. The Duke of Marlborough won the day. The 24th gains a Battle Honour.
14th September 1914
During the attack on the Chemin des Dames ridge, Captain Mark Haggard cried 'Stick it the Welch!' as he fell. Corporal William Fuller, 2/WELCH dragged his wounded Company Commander to safety winning the Victoria Cross.
17th September 1842
Anniversary of the battle for Cabul involving the 41st Foot.
18th September 1918
Assault on Grand Couronné in Macedonia. Only 36 men of 7/SWB fit for duty after the attack. Battalion awarded French Croix de Guerre. Colonel Burges awarded the Victoria Cross.
20th September 1854
Anniversary of the Alma, one of the initial actions of the Crimean campaign involving the 41st Foot.
22nd September 1956
The Welch Regiment Memorial Chapel in Llandaff Cathedral consecrated by Archbishop of Wales.
23rd September 1914
2/SWB landed at Laoshan Bay prior to the assault on the German held port of Tsingtao in China.
25th September 1915
6/SWB disembarked at Le Havre, France at part of 25th Division.
27th September 1810
2nd/24th involved in Battle of Busaco during the peninsular campaign in Spain.
8th October 1918
CSM Jack Williams DCM MM awarded Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery during the 10/SWB attack on Villers Outreaux.
13th October 1812
Battle of Queenston Heights, Upper Canada involving 41st Foot.
17th October 1777
British General Johnny Burgoyne surrenders at Saratoga, New York State. Soldiers of the 24th Foot become prisoners of the Convention.
22nd October 1854
Sergeant Ambrose Madden won the Regiment's first Victoria Cross for his leadership and gallantry in capturing a party of Russians at 'Little' Inkerman.
23rd October 1916
Corporal 'Stokey' Lewis, 11th 'Cardiff Pals' Battalion Welch Regiment, won a Victoria Cross in Macedonia.
27th October 1944
The Dutch City of s'Hertogenbosch liberated by 2/MON, 4/WELCH and 5/WELCH.
31st October 1914
* German breakout halted at Gheluvelt near Ypres by 1/SWB and 2/WELCH – both battalions, despite severe casualties, displayed 'indomitable courage and dogged tenacity'. A Regimental Anniversary.
4th November 1918
Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Johnson SWB won a Victoria Cross at Catillon while commanding 2nd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment.
5th November 1854
41st Foot heavily engaged at the battle of Inkerman during the Crimea campaign. Captain Hugh Rowlands saves the life of Colonel Haly of 47th Foot and is awarded a Victoria Cross.
7th November 1914
2nd Monmouths disembarked at Le Havre, France as part 4th Division.
9th November 1952
1/WELCH embarked from Pusan for Hong Kong after completing their operational tour in Korea.
10th November 1813
Anniversary of the battle of Nivelle during the peninsular campaign in Spain involving the 2/24th Foot.
11th November 1918
End of the Great War. Books of Remembrance in Brecon and Llandaff Cathedrals recall 5,777 names from the South Wales Borderers and 7,779 names from Welch Regiment.
23rd November 1917
40th Division attacked Bourlon Wood. The Bantam battalions 12/SWB, 17/WELCH and 18/WELCH fought with great credit.
26th November 1899
1/WELCH disembarked in South Africa to take part in the 2nd Anglo-Boer War.
4th December 1915
10/SWB and 11/SWB disembarked at Le Havre as part of 38th (Welsh) Division.
7th December 1917
4/WELCH and 5/WELCH entered the Holy City of Jerusalem with General Allenby's force and were welcomed by enthusiastic inhabitants.
8th December 1915
53rd (Welsh) Division evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsular.
9th December 1918
2nd Monmouths marched into Cologne, Germany.
13th December 1918
2/SWB marched into Cologne, Germany.
15th December 1880
HM Queen Victoria granted to the 24th Foot that a Silver Wreath be borne on the Queen's Colour pike for evermore.
16th December 1914
Brecknock Battalion arrived in Aden from Bombay.
26th December 1810
69th Foot departed from Port Louis, Mauritius.