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News 31st July 2007 The plaque was instigated and funded locally by the service veterans of Llanelli and the generosity of private donors. Sergeant Ivor Rees enlisted into the 11th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers in 1914 at the age of 21. Arriving at the Western Front in 1915, he served with distinction, taking part in the capture of the notorious Mametz Wood in July 1916. Exactly a year later, the South Wales Borderers were tasked with attacking the heavily fortified Iron Cross ridge near Pilckem during the third battle of Ypres (known as Passchendaele). As the 11th Battalion approached its objective a machine gun opened fire upon the battalion at close range, inflicting heavy casualties. With complete disregard for his own personal safety Sergeant Rees led his platoon to over-run the machine gun emplacement. By capturing this position Sergeant Rees undoubtedly saved many lives and proved to be an inspiration to his fellow soldiers. The blue plaque together with an adjoining descriptive panel was unveiled by the Chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council, Councillor Dewi Enoch. The impressive ceremony was witnessed by no less than 59 members of Ivor Rees’s family together with representatives from the Royal Welsh (the present day regiment), other local service associations and many civic dignitaries.
It is 100 years since Henry Hook was laid to rest in the quiet Gloucester churchyard of St Andrew's Church at Churcham with much pomp and ceremony. For Private Henry Hook was one of those gallant soldiers who defended the mission station at Rorke's Drift in far off Natal on 22nd/23rd January 1879. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded that day – included in this select number was Henry Hook of Churcham whose gallantry under fire was recognized for saving the lives of the sick patients held in the building being used as a temporary field hospital. On Saturday 3rd September 2005 at an impressive graveside service organised by the 1879 Group Living History Group, Henry Hook's passing and gallantry was again remembered. Gathered in the small churchyard were members of his family, comrades from his old regiment – the 24th Foot – now the Royal Regiment of Wales and relatives of other defenders of Rorke's Drift, namely Private Frederick Hitch VC and Private John (Fielding) Williams VC. The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Nicholas Bury, Dean of Gloucester and the music provided by Lydney Town Band. At the end of the service wreaths were laid, and the last post and reveille sounded. The tranquillity of the day was poignantly broken by a volley fired by the 1879 Group as those present paused to remember a truly gallant man of Gloucestershire. One other man remembered during the service was actor James Booth who recreated the role of Henry Hook in the 1964 movie ‘Zulu'. This portrayal although memorable, as written by the film scriptwriter, John Prebble, was far from the actual real life character and upset the family considerably. He was to be invited to the service but sadly died age 77 years a few weeks earlier.
June 2005
The Brecon Museum held the event as part of the ‘Museums & Galleries Month' which this year had the nationwide theme ‘Objects of Desire'. On each day of the event, lectures on the Anglo-Zulu war, were given by Rob Caskie – the notable battlefield guide from Fugitives' Drift and Britain 's leading Zulu war author Ian Knight. A special commemorative brochure, printed in Welsh and English, and partly funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, was produced to mark this significant event for Wales . Some 200 people attended the lectures and 500 visitors came to see the special VC display over the two days' of the event. Subsequently, the staff received many telephone calls, emails and letters congratulating them on the organisation of the event and almost everybody remarked how much they had enjoyed the visit to Brecon. And the staff had fun as well. Community and Regiment remembers Chapman VC The outstanding courage of a local soldier, Ted Chapman VC, was remembered on the 60th anniversary of his actions by the unveiling of stone tablet dedicated to his memory. On 2 April 2005 , a special service and ceremony took place at St Cadoc's Church, Trevethin, Pontypool . The Church contains the Regimental Chapel of the Monmouthshire Regiment.
January 2005 Future Infantry Structures From: Brigadier R H T Aitken I owe you an update on the implementation of the direction we received just before Christmas from the Secretary of State on Future Infantry Structures. You will know that the Infantry is to reduce by 3 battalions; and that, in the process, a selection of single-battalion regiments are to form into large regiments. This includes us and the Royal Welch Fusiliers, who, together with the Royal Welsh Regiment, are to form a new organisation presently called ‘The Royal Welsh' by 1 Sep 06. We have received only patchy further direction at this stage, and the ‘nitty-gritty' decisions on such contentious issues as cap-badges, battle honours and so forth will be left for us to make recommendations. General Brian Plummer (Colonel RWF) and I have recently set up a Working Group made up of members of both regiments, which will report to both Colonels in due course. I have heard (either directly or indirectly) a number of your opinions on this whole process. Not unsurprisingly, not all members of the RRW are unanimous; but I list below what I believe to be the feelings of the majority, and what I usually say to people who ask for ‘the RRW Position': • We do not seek amalgamation with anyone – indeed, the logic of why we need to amalgamate has never been properly explained; but, if we have to amalgamate, we can think of no more appropriate partner than the Royal Welch Fusiliers. • Our vital ground has always been to resist adopting any process which risks diluting our ‘Welshness'. The recent announcements confirm that we are to remain a Welsh regiment: that is very good news. • Under the new arrangements, 1 RRW is at this very moment in the process of moving into the newest (and probably the best) barracks in the Army, in a role which puts it at the forefront of the Army's military capability. That is also very good news. • On balance, ending the Arms Plot is a good thing – particularly in the opportunities it offers for increased stability for our people. • Whatever we do must be for the overall benefit of the Army's operational effectiveness, and of our people. I am conscious that there are some members of the regiment who feel that we should have resisted this process more strongly – mounted ‘Save the RRW' campaigns, lobbied MPs, started fund-raising campaigns, and so forth. Personally, I have never been minded to take that view, but I respect the views of those who do. The pain of amalgamation is not as hard for us to bear as it is for the RWF, and inevitably they see this process through a different prism; but we who have done it before know that a fine regiment can be created from 2 other fine regiments. I am, therefore, more inclined to be pragmatic about the fact that ‘The Royal Regiment of Wales' may only be destined to exist for a generation, and to try and make the most of the opportunities which the new set-up will offer. I fully respect the views of those who look more to the past than the future, and their views will be important to achieve the widest possible consensus over the future structure. As I see it, the options for that new structure lie somewhere between these two extremes: • A single regiment in name only, with two Regular battalions and one TA, all of which are culturally different: with their own names, uniforms (hackles and flashes!), customs, recruiting areas and so forth, based on the present 1 RWF, 1 RRW and RWR. • A fully integrated regiment of two Regular battalions and one TA which, apart from their operational roles, are identical: called something like ‘1 RWR', ‘2 RWR' etc, wearing identical uniforms, and looking for maximum cross-posting of personnel as soon into the process as possible. Whatever your personal views may be, may I ask for your cooperation on two specific areas?: • First, could I ask you to be sensitive to the RWF's position. Unlike us, they have never been amalgamated; and inevitably some of them will approach this exercise with the sole aim of preserving as much of the RWF in the new regiment as possible. I very much hope that, as the process continues, we will be able to be pragmatic about this: a new regiment which is perceived as ‘RRW by another name' or ‘RWF by another name' will not work. • Secondly, would as many as possible of you please feed in your views, so that we can achieve as much regimental consensus as possible. My own feeling is that the decisions on the future of the regiment should largely be taken by its serving members; but there is a huge store of experience among our retired and associated members, and we very much need that wisdom. Please write to me (through the regimental chain of command, if that is appropriate) at RHQ, or e-mail robert.aitken@daps.mod.uk or (on the Army system) AG-HQ-DAPS PERSONAL. For me to keep you informed, the simplest method is for you to log onto www.rrw.org.uk and click on the home page where regular bulletins on FIS will shortly be placed.
December 2004 Changes to the Welsh Infantry The Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Mike Jackson, announced changes the structure of the British Army on 16 December 2004 . The rationale behind the changes is based on the operational need for more agile, deployable and flexible force. Single battalion regiments will move towards a larger regimental structure consisting of two or more battalions. The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) will now form part of a new two battalion regiment to be called the Royal Welsh (some press reports have incorrectly quoted the new name as being The Royal Welsh Regiment). The merger with The Royal Welsh Fusiliers will take place over the next four years with The Royal Regiment of Wales becoming 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh. A later realignment of Territorial Army is expected to take place with the Royal Welsh Regiment TA becoming 4th Battalion The Royal Welsh. The full text of General Jackson's statement can be found at www.army.mod.uk July 2004 Ceremony honours two 'Zulu War' soldiers Nearly 500 people attended an open air service on Sunday 18 July at Shaw Street Cemetery , Ruddington, Nottingham when the heroism of two local soldiers was remembered. Nottinghamshire men, Privates Caleb Wood and Robert Tongue were part of the small garrison at Rorke's Drift, Natal on 22 January 1879 when the mission station was attacked by a force of 4,500 Zulu warriors. Both ‘Rorke's Drift Defenders' returned their home village of Ruddington after many years of army service. On their deaths, they were buried in unmarked graves in Shaw Street Cemetery . As a result of a newspaper article last year highlighting the daring deeds of these local men at Rorke's Drift, the Nottingham Co-op Funeral Care Service offered to place a suitably inscribed headstone, free of charge, on each grave.
Caleb Wood and Robert Tongue enlisted together into the 24th Regiment in 1877 and continued their army service into the South Wales Borderers. Robert Tongue died age 60 in 1918, but Caleb Wood was one of the last defenders to die in 1935.
The dedication of the headstones started very much as a family affair. However, such is the international interest in the Anglo-Zulu war, many distinguished guests were present, including The Lord Mayor of Nottingham and other local dignitaries, serving soldiers from The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot), relatives of other defenders of Rorke's Drift, as well as many other friends.
The service was conducted by the Reverend Simon Copley of Penarth. Following the dedication, a bugler from The Clive Band of The Prince of Wales's Division played the Last Post and Reveille; musicians of the Band sang ‘Men of Harlech'; and a volley was fired over the graves. There was not a dry eye amongst those attending. It was a very moving occasion. See BBC News On-line: June 2004 Kent village remembers a brave soldier On Sunday 20 June 2004, over 100 people braved the occasional shower in the quiet churchyard of St John the Baptist, at Bredgar, Kent to witness the re-dedication of the memorial to Private Ashley Goatham, 1/24th Regiment. Private Goatham, who was born in Bredgar, was killed by Zulus at Isandhlwana on his 24th birthday - 22 January 1879 .
The memorial to Private Goatham is only one of a handful in Britain to commemorate a soldier buried in Zululand . Over the years, it was neglected and could have toppled over at anytime. However, due to efforts of the churchwarden, Geoff Hollands, who encouraged many friends and organisations to contribute funds towards the refurbishment of the memorial. The service of re-dedication was conducted by the Reverend Bernard Foulger. During the service there were contributions from Helen Allison of the Parish Council; Dr Adrian Greaves of the Anglo-Zulu War Historical Society; Graham Mason of the 1879 Living History Group; and Major Martin Everett of the 24th Regiment Museum, Brecon. Poppy wreaths were laid by Roger Lane , grandson of Sergeant Henry Gallagher and Sandra Barker, granddaughter of Private Frederick Hitch VC. Members in uniform of The 1879 Living History Group provided the Guard of Honour.
1794 Private Ashley Goatham enlisted into 24th Regiment in 1872 and went to South Africa with 1st Battalion in 1875. While in South Africa he married and had a son. A number of Pte Goatham's letters to his wife and his family in Bredgar have survived in the Regimental Archives at Brecon and in the Killie Campbell Library in Durban .
D-Day Veteran tells his story – an eyewitness account of Operation Overlord
Bob’s company rejoined the battalion and after several weeks training in the New Forest, moved again to the Lymington area. In the days before D- Day, they boarded a troopship. Aged 20, Bob was on his way to Sword Beach in the first wave of Normandy landings. “We didn't have an easy time going in. Men were getting hit in the water and there were a lot of wounded,” said the 80-year-old. “Strangely, I remember looking to the shore and seeing low hills covered with poppies. Once we got ashore, I went up that beach like I was doing a four-minute mile. We were being mortared and shot at but you just had to keep going.” For the next few weeks the battalion fought its way inland from village to village as the beachhead was established and held. “My best pal, Dave Reece, was killed about a week after the landing. I still keep in touch with his family. I still like to remember, quietly, in my own way.” Soon after, in the fighting around Hill 112, Bob himself was badly wounded. “We were sheltering behind some tanks which had stopped for us,” he said. “I heard gunfire in the distance and that was it. I don’t remember any more, a shell must have dropped right in front of me.” In that instant, Bob lost his arm, a leg and his sight. “I didn't feel a lot, you know. I just disappeared.” Bob’s injuries kept him on the danger list for ten days and his return to home soil was followed by many months of hospital treatment and rehabilitation with St Dunstan’s at Stoke Mandeville hospital. Bob Osborne’s friend 145136658 Pte David Rees (Port Talbot) was killed aged 20 on 23 June 1944 and is buried in Hottot-Les-Bagues Cemetery, France. Published in Soldier Magazine – June 2004
Museum takes part in Brecon Festival of Learning
April 2004 Body of Welsh soldier found after 60 years
The service on 9 June will be attended by Sergeant Major Davies' nephews and nieces. The Bearers and the Honour Guard will be found by the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales who will bury him with full military honours. The Brigade of Gurkhas' Band will provide the music at ceremony. The Monmouthshire Regiment were part of the Corps of South Wales Borderers. During 1944-45, the 3rd Battalion was part of the 11th Armoured Division, which landed in France on 14 June. After particularly tough fighting in Normandy by September the Division had reached Holland . By late November 1944 the Germans had been driven east of the Maas except for a few pockets, one of which was at Broekhuizen where they held the village and nearby ‘Kasteel' - an old fort surrounded by a moat. The battalion attacked these German positions on 30 November. The Germans were thought to be weak and only a two company attack was launched. ‘A' Company attacked the ‘Kasteel' and ‘C' Company, Brockhuizen. The infantry went in along a path cleared for them by flail tanks. They had to cross seven hundred yards of open country. Halfway they came under withering artillery fire followed, when the tanks withdrew, by accurate machine gun fire the more devastating since they were confined to the narrow paths cleared by the flails. The Germans were well entrenched in the cellars of the village and in the ‘Kasteel'. Both ‘A' and ‘C' Company commanders were killed and most of the other officers and senior NCOs, including Sergeant Major Evan Davies, and many of the men. The remainder were pinned down to whatever cover they could find and isolated as the wireless transmitters were damaged. The Intelligence Officer and the Second-in-Command were both shot down trying to reach them. The Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Stockley, unable to find out what was happening went forward on foot to investigate. He reached ‘A' Company's forward troops. Seeing the seriousness of the situation he rallied the men and tried to lead a gallant attack on the Kasteel. He was killed, revolver in hand, leading his troops, on the bridge over the moat. The Commanding Officer of the 15th/19th Hussars now came forward to investigate the position in his tank. As a result, ‘D' Company with only sixty men was now ordered into the battle with tank support. The tanks fired at the Kasteel while ‘D' Company advanced; arriving at Kasteel they swung around and with tank support attacked Broekhuizen from the west. The Germans were unprepared for an assault from this direction and ‘D' Company reached the village. With the tanks they cleared the houses, no mean feat since there were over two hundred Germans in the village entrenched in a veritable maze of dugouts, trenches and reinforced houses. While the village was being cleared, a task which took the whole of that night, the Kasteel was attacked by tanks firing at point blank range and then captured by the survivors of ‘A' Company. Victory had been obtained at a heavy cost. Of the three hundred men who fought, one hundred and forty had fallen, including ten officers, of whom eight were killed. ‘D' Company and the tanks of the 15th/19th had retrieved an apparently hopeless situation in the face of heavy odds. Please click here to view news from 2003...
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