News

October 2003

The Regiment granted the Freedom of Powys – 4th October 2003

The Freedom of the County of Powys was granted to The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) at an impressive ceremony held at the County Hall Llandrindod Wells on Saturday 4th October 2003. It is thought that it was the first time that a unit of the British Army has received such an honour.

The Chief Executive of the County, Jackie Tonge, read out the Resolution of the County Council. The Chairman of Powys County Council, Councillor Timothy Van-Rees then addressed the Parade ‘One hundred and thirty years ago, the 24th Regiment of Foot (designated in 1881 The South Wales Borderers) established their Depot in Brecon in what is now the Headquarters of 160 (Wales) Brigade in Brecon Barracks. Since that time countless thousands of men from this County have served in the 24h and indeed in the 41st Regiment of Foot (The Welsh Regiment) not only in the Regular Battalions but also in the Militia, Volunteer and Territorial Battalions of the Regiments. The two Regiments amalgamated in 1969 to form The Royal Regiment of Wales 24th/41st Foot.'

'In 1989, in the Regiment’s tercentenary year, our predecessor authority the Brecknock Borough Council followed the example of the former Brecon Borough Council and conferred the Freedom of the Borough on the Regiment. It is wholly fitting therefore that the County of Powys, in accordance with precedent, confers today our first Freedom on the Regiment who in January next year will be celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the immortal defence of Rorke’s Drift. Later this year the First Battalion reinforced by RRW badged soldiers of the Royal Welsh Regiment, the TA Infantry of Wales, will embark on an operational tour of Iraq. The good wishes and prayers of the people of Powys will go with the soldiers of our Regiment for their safe return’.

The Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Christopher Elliott, accepted the Freedom Scroll on behalf of the Regiment. The Parade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Napier, Commanding Officer 1st Battalion, then asked permission to exercise the rights newly conferred on the Regiment, namely, to march through the County on ceremonial occasions with bayonets fixed, colours flying and bands playing. The Parade marched off led by Regimental Goat and the Regimental Band of The Royal Welsh Regiment. The four guards were found from the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales with their Colour Party, The Royal Welsh Regiment, Cadets from 3rd Cadet Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales and Powys Army Cadet Force, and Comrades from various branches of the Regimental Association. The Chairman of the County Council accompanied by the Colonel of the Regiment took the salute as the Parade marched through Llandrindod Wells, the County Town.

September 2003

Curator visits the Crimea – 17th-25th September 2003

Major Martin Everett, Curator of the Regimental Museum in Brecon accompanied the Friends of the Green Howards Museum on their recent battlefield tour of the Crimea. The tour covered the battles of the Alma, Inkerman, Balaklava and siege of Sevastopol. On 149th anniversary of the battle of the Alma (20th September 1854) a wreath was laid to remember those soldiers of the 19th Foot (Green Howards) who fell in the campaign. One of the highlights was having picnic lunch at the position of the Russian Guns at Balaklava charged by the Light Cavalry Brigade. For the full story of the tours see:

http://www.greenhowards.org.uk/html-files/friends-crimean-visit.htm

August 2003

The 35th Annual Reunion Dinner

The 35th Annual Reunion Dinner of the Regimental Association of The Royal Regiment of Wales took place at Brecon High School on Saturday 03 August. 280 members of the Association attended. The following morning in Brecon Cathedral the Annual Reunion Service was held during which memorial tablets to Colonel I C Edwards, Lt Colonel R S Cresswell, Lt Colonel B W T Elliott, Major B J Waters, Captain M J Bartlett, WO2 E T Chapman VC, WO2 W Lewis and CSgt L E Ford were dedicated in the Regimental Chapel. Afterwards, the Comrades marched through Brecon, led by Shenkin, the Regiment Goat and the Band of The Royal Welsh Regiment. The salute was taken by the Mayor of Brecon, Councillor Ieuan Williams, and the Colonel of the Regiment, Major General Christopher Elliott CBE.

July 2003

Successful Grand Victorian Summer Fair

The stunning beautiful countryside Brecknockshire provided the fitting backdrop for a grand Victorian Summer Fair held on the Llwyn Madoc Estate on Sunday 6th July. Many of the soldiers that fought with the 24th Regiment in the 1879 Zulu Campaign were recruited locally in the county. For the fair, members of the 1879 Living History Group recreated an authentic Victorian encampment. Nearly 500 people attended to witness the highlight of the afternoon, the presentation of a replica stand of Colours to the Group by the Lord Lieutenant of Powys, the Honourable Mrs Shan Legge-Bourke. In attendance were the Army’s Senior Officer in Wales, Brigadier Robert Aitken and the Honorary Colonel of the 1879 Group, Colonel Timothy Van Rees.

The Group’s Colours are accurate reproductions of those lost by the 2nd Battalion 24th Regiment at the battle of Isandhlwana on the 22nd January 1879. Members of the Group attended in period uniform representing the 24th Regiment and other units involved in the campaign – The Naval Brigade, Natal Carbineers, and Colonial Volunteers and Irregulars. The men were supported by their ladies in fine Victorian dresses and hats. Even Lord Chelmsford made an appearance.

The day included talks by well-known author Ian Knight, and demonstrations of a Victorian Field Hospital and the Martini-Henry rifle firing. The Regimental Band of the Powys Army Cadet Force provided stirring martial music. Everybody agreed that it had been a great day – a return to the gentler times when the pace of life was a little slower – and the British Army was dressed in red tunics and marched eight miles a day on campaign. We, of course, must thank all those who helped to support the South Wales Borderers Museum, and in particular Mr and Mrs Patrick Bourdillon who provided the splendid venue and backdrop for the event.

Prince Charles present Colours to the Royal Welsh Regiment

At an impressive ceremonial parade held in Cardiff Castle on Saturday 5th July, the Prince of Wales presented Colours to The Royal Welsh Regiment. The Regiment was formed on 1st July 1999 when the number of Territorial Army infantry units in the UK was reduced from 33 to just 15. It is the only ‘Welsh’ TA infantry unit but has soon made its mark by bringing together the best of its former units, namely the 3rd Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers and the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot). Since the amalgamation the unit has seen over 90 soldiers deployed in support of the Regular Army, as far a field as the Balkans, Canada, Northern Ireland and more recently, Iraq and Afghanistan. On the home front, the Regiment continues to maintain close links with the local community and supports as much as possible the events organised by the parent Regiments in Wales. The Regimental Band continues to fly the flag for Wales at rugby internationals in the Millennium Stadium, as well as other engagements at the local level. Always firm favourites with children are the Regimental Goats ‘Billy’ and ‘Shenkin’ who led the parade passed the City Hall in Cardiff. The Regimental Colour of the Regiment carries the motto in Welsh – ‘Nerth Mewn Undod’ – Strength through Unity.

February 2003

National Award for our Zulu Army!

We have just heard the great news that “Create a Zulu Army!”, the Regimental Museum’s contribution the The Big Draw, has won a national Drawing Inspiration Award. Out of the 730 institutions throughout the UK participating in The Big Draw, just eleven have been selected to receive one of these awards. Other award-winners include the National Railway Museum in York and the National Space Centre in Leicester. The Royal Regiment of Wales Museum is the only independent museum to win an award, and the only award-winner in Wales. The judging panel praised our project for containing “activities that extended the definitions of drawing and challenged organisers as well as public participants” and said our project was “immensely successful”. We hope to be represented at the award ceremony later in the year.

This award is recognition of the tremendous support the local community and participants from further afield have given to the Museum. It is an award for everyone who produced a Zulu, and we hope it will inspire you to keep drawing and keep visiting the Regimental Museum!

The Big Draw has Drawn to an end...

Our project to “Create a Zulu Army!” as part of The Big Draw is now over – and what a success it has been! Over 1,150 people, including HRH Prince Charles, contributed a total of over 1,200 Zulus. Many schools and nurseries supported the project, all receiving a certificate for their efforts. The youngest participant was 20 months, the oldest aged 75. Zulus were produced in pencil, crayon, paint, felt-tip, pastels and collage, and formed a magnificent exhibition in the Museum.

Entries came by post and e-mail from all over Wales and England as well as from Germany, France, the USA and South Africa. Especially welcome were the splendid entries from the two schools at Rorke’s Drift – we were honoured that the Zulu children took part in a project to commemorate their ancestors.

Our Zulu army was on public display in the Museum throughout December and January, attracting many visitors and many favourable comments. It was filmed by the BBC and was on their television and radio news programmes. Reports also appeared in several local newspapers and journals.

A big thank you to everyone who joined in our Big Draw project – we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did! Although Prince Charles’ Zulu has now been returned to St James’s Palace, the rest of the Zulu army can still be seen in the Museum – but please contact us in advance to check it is available on the day of your visit.

Please click here to view news from 2002...