# Welch Regiment

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{{short description|British Army formation}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2015}}
{{infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Welsh Regiment<br>Welch Regiment
| image                         = Welsh Regiment Cap Badge.jpg
| caption                       = Cap badge
| dates                         = 1881–1969
| country                       = {{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch                        = 23px [British Army](/source/British_Army)
| type                          = [Infantry](/source/Infantry)
| role                          = [Line infantry](/source/Line_infantry)
| size                          = 1–2 [Regular](/source/Standing_army) battalions<br>
1 [Militia](/source/Militia_(United_Kingdom)) and [Special Reserve](/source/Militia_(United_Kingdom)) battalion<br>
Up to 4 [Territorial](/source/Army_Reserve_(United_Kingdom)) and [Volunteer](/source/Volunteer_Force_(Great_Britain)) battalions<br>
Up to 27 Hostilities-only battalions
| command_structure             = 
| garrison                      = [Maindy Barracks](/source/Maindy_Barracks), [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff)
| garrison_label                = 
| nickname                      = 
| patron                        = 
| motto                         = ''Gwell angau na Chywilydd'' (Better Death than Dishonour)
| colors                        = 
| colors_label                  = 
| march                         = Quick: ''Ap Siencyn'' (Son of Jenkin)
| mascot                        = Goat
| equipment                     = 
| equipment_label               = 
| battles                       = 
| anniversaries                 = [Gheluvelt](/source/Battle_of_Gheluvelt), 31 Oct
| decorations                   = 
| battle_honours                = 
| flying_hours                  = 
| website                       = 
| notable_commanders            = 
}}
thumb|Regimental badge with "Welch" spelling
The '''Welch Regiment''' (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an [infantry](/source/infantry) [regiment](/source/regiment) [of the line](/source/line_infantry) of the [British Army](/source/British_Army) in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the [Childers Reforms](/source/Childers_Reforms) by the amalgamation of the [41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot](/source/41st_(Welch)_Regiment_of_Foot) and [69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot](/source/69th_(South_Lincolnshire)_Regiment_of_Foot) to form the '''Welsh Regiment''', by which it was known until 1920 when it was renamed the '''Welch Regiment'''. In 1969 the regiment was amalgamated with the [South Wales Borderers](/source/South_Wales_Borderers) to form the [Royal Regiment of Wales](/source/Royal_Regiment_of_Wales).

==History==
===Formation===
The regiment was created in 1881 under the [Childers Reforms](/source/Childers_Reforms) by the amalgamation of the [41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot](/source/41st_(Welch)_Regiment_of_Foot) and [69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot](/source/69th_(South_Lincolnshire)_Regiment_of_Foot) to form the '''Welsh Regiment'''.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24992|pages=3300–3301|date=1 July 1881}}</ref>

The 1st Battalion moved to Egypt in 1886.<ref name=welsh1881>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalwelsh.org.uk/regiment/history-regiment-timeline.htm|title=The History of the Royal Regiment of Wales: The Welsh Regiment (1881-1920)|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> The battalion took part in the [Battle of Suakin](/source/Battle_of_Suakin) in December 1888 during the [Mahdist War](/source/Mahdist_War) under the leadership of the force commander, Colonel [Herbert Kitchener](/source/Herbert_Kitchener), who wrote in his dispatches:
{{quote|text=The half-Battalion of The Welsh Regiment are seasoned soldiers and whatever I asked of them to do they did well. Their marksmen at Gemaizah Fort and the remainder of the half-Battalion on the left fired section volleys driving the Dervishes from their right position and inflicting severe punishment upon them when in the open. Significantly the Battalion did not lose a man.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/32606084/|title=Dispatch from Herbert Kitchener|date=12 January 1889|newspaper=The Times|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>}}

The 1st Battalion moved to [Malta](/source/Malta) in 1889 while the 2nd Battalion went to [India](/source/India) in 1892; the 1st Battalion moved to [Pembroke Dock](/source/Pembroke_Dock) in December 1893 where almost all the regiment's artifacts, plate and silver were lost in a large fire in 1895.<ref name=welsh1881/> The 1st Battalion was dispatched to [South Africa](/source/South_Africa) in November 1899 for the [Second Boer War](/source/Second_Boer_War): it was engaged in [Battle of Paardeberg](/source/Battle_of_Paardeberg) in February 1900, where they suffered heavy losses, and again at the [Battle of Driefontein](/source/Battle_of_Driefontein) in March 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/imperial-units/669-welsh-regiment|title=Welsh Regiment|publisher=Anglo-Boer War|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>

A 3rd, [militia](/source/Militia_(United_Kingdom)) battalion, was embodied in December 1899, and embarked for South Africa in February 1900 to serve in the same war.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War - Embarcation of Troops|date=13 February 1900 |page=11 |issue=36064}}</ref> In 1908, the Volunteers and Militia were reorganised nationally, with the former becoming the [Territorial Force](/source/Territorial_Force) and the latter the [Special Reserve](/source/Special_Reserve_(militia));<ref>{{cite web|url= https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1908/mar/31/territorial-and-reserve-forces-act-1907|title=Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907|work=[Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)](/source/Hansard)|date=31 March 1908|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref> the regiment now had one Reserve battalion and four Territorial battalions.<ref>These were the 3rd Battalion (Special Reserve), with the 4th Battalion at Upper Market Street in [Haverfordwest](/source/Haverfordwest) (since demolished), the 5th (Glamorgan) Battalion at Court House Street in [Pontypridd](/source/Pontypridd) (since demolished), the [6th (Glamorgan) Battalion](/source/Swansea_Rifles) at St Helens Road in [Swansea](/source/Swansea) (since demolished) and the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion at Park Place in [Cardiff](/source/Cardiff) (since demolished) (all Territorial Force).</ref><ref name= regiments/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/S02-03-WelshR-VolunteerBattalions1885-1908.pdf|title=Fact sheet: Volunteer battalions 1885-1908|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref>

===First World War===

[[File:13th Welsh 13 March 1918.jpg|thumb|13th Battalion The Welsh Regiment at [Houplines](/source/Houplines) in France on 13 March 1918]]

====Regular Army====
The 1st Battalion, after returning from India, landed at [Le Havre](/source/Le_Havre) as part of the [84th Brigade](/source/84th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in [28th Division](/source/28th_Division_(United_Kingdom)) in January 1915 for service on the [Western Front](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)) but moved to Egypt and then on to [Salonika](/source/Thessaloniki) in November 1915.<ref name=trail>{{cite web|url=http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/the-british-infantry-regiments-of-1914-1918/welsh-regiment/|title=Welch Regiment|publisher=The Long, Long Trail|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> The 2nd Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the [3rd Brigade](/source/3rd_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [1st Division](/source/History_of_the_British_1st_Division_during_the_World_Wars) in August 1914 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> Lance Corporal [William Charles Fuller](/source/William_Charles_Fuller), of the 2nd Battalion, won the Welsh Regiment's first [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross) of the war when, under withering and sustained rifle and machine gun fire, he advanced one hundred yards to rescue Captain Mark Haggard who was mortally wounded on [Chézy sur Aisne](/source/La_Chapelle-sur-Ch%C3%A9zy) on 14 September 1914.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28983|date=20 November 1914 |page=9663|supp=y }}</ref>

====Territorial Force====
The 1/4th Battalion and 1/5th Battalion landed at [Suvla Bay](/source/Suvla) as part of the [159th Brigade](/source/159th_(Cheshire)_Brigade) in the [53rd (Welsh) Division](/source/53rd_(Welsh)_Infantry_Division) in August 1915; after being evacuated from [Gallipoli](/source/Gallipoli) in December 1915 the battalion moved to Egypt.<ref Name=trail/> The [1/6th (Glamorgan) Battalion](/source/Swansea_Rifles) was part of the independent [South Wales Brigade](/source/South_Wales_Brigade) allocated to home defence, but volunteered for overseas service. It landed at Le Havre in October 1914 to work on the [Lines of Communication](/source/Line_of_communications) on the Western Front. It later fought alongside the 1st Battalion with 28th Division at the [Hohenzollern Redoubt](/source/Hohenzollern_Redoubt) and spent the rest of the war as the divisional pioneer battalion for [1st Division](/source/History_of_the_British_1st_Division_during_the_World_Wars)<ref name=trail/>

====New Armies====
The 8th (Service) Battalion landed at [ANZAC Cove](/source/ANZAC_Cove) as part of the [40th Brigade](/source/40th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [13th (Western) Division](/source/13th_(Western)_Division) in August 1915; after being evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 the battalion moved to Egypt and on to [Mesopotamia](/source/Mesopotamia) in February 1916.<ref name=trail/> Captain [Edgar Myles](/source/Edgar_Myles), of the 8th (Service) Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the [Siege of Kut](/source/Siege_of_Kut) in April 1916 during the [Mesopotamian campaign](/source/Mesopotamian_campaign).<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29765|date=22 June 1915 |page=9418|supp=y }}</ref>

The 9th (Service) Battalion landed at [Boulogne-sur-Mer](/source/Boulogne-sur-Mer) as part of the [58th Brigade](/source/58th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [19th (Western) Division](/source/19th_(Western)_Division) in July 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 10th (Service) Battalion (1st Rhondda) landed at Le Havre as part of the [114th Brigade](/source/114th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in [38th (Welsh) Division](/source/38th_(Welsh)_Infantry_Division) in December 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 11th (Service) Battalion landed at Boulogne-sur-Mer as part of the [67th Brigade](/source/67th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [22nd Division](/source/22nd_Division_(United_Kingdom)) in September 1915 for service on the Western Front and then moved to Salonika in late 1915.<ref name=trail/> Private [Hubert William Lewis](/source/Hubert_William_Lewis), of the 11th (Service) Battalion, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at [Evzonoi](/source/Evzonoi) in Macedonia in October 1916 during the Macedonian campaign.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29866|date=15 December 1916 |pages=12307–12308  |supp=y }}</ref>

The 13th (Service) Battalion (2nd Rhondda), the [14th (Service) Battalion (Swansea)](/source/14th_(Service)_Battalion%2C_Welsh_Regiment_(Swansea)) and the 15th (Service) Battalion (Carmarthenshire) landed at Le Havre as part of the 114th Brigade in the 38th (Welsh) Division in December 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 16th (Service) Battalion (Cardiff City) landed at Le Havre as part of the [115th Brigade](/source/115th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the 38th (Welsh) Division in December 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 17th (Service) Battalion (1st Glamorgan) and 18th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glamorgan) (both '[Bantam battalions](/source/Bantam_(military))') landed in France as part of the [119th Brigade](/source/119th_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [40th Division](/source/40th_Division_(United_Kingdom)) in June 1916 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 19th (Service) Battalion (Glamorgan Pioneers) landed at Le Havre as pioneer battalion to the 38th (Welsh) Division in December 1915 for service on the Western Front.<ref name=trail/> The 23rd (Service) Battalion (Welsh Pioneers) landed in Salonika as pioneer battalion to the [28th Division](/source/28th_Division_(United_Kingdom)) in July 1916.<ref name=trail/>

====War memorial====
[[File:Maindy Barracks Cenotaph.JPG|thumb|The [Welch Regiment War Memorial](/source/Welch_Regiment_War_Memorial) at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff]]
After the First World War, the regiment commissioned the architect [Sir Edwin Lutyens](/source/Sir_Edwin_Lutyens) to design [a war memorial](/source/Welch_Regiment_War_Memorial) as a tribute to their fallen. The memorials was originally planned to be built on the Western Front in Belgium but was instead erected outside the regiment's headquarters at [Maindy Barracks](/source/Maindy_Barracks) in Cardiff. The memorial takes the form of squat [cenotaph](/source/cenotaph), following Lutyens' design of the famous [Cenotaph on Whitehall](/source/the_Cenotaph%2C_Whitehall) in London.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Skelton|first1=Tim|last2=Gliddon|first2=Gerald|title=Lutyens and the Great War|year=2008|publisher=[Frances Lincoln Publishers](/source/Frances_Lincoln_Publishers)|location=London|isbn=9780711228788|pages=91, 167}}</ref>

===Inter-war===
thumb|Welch Regiment mascot Taffy IV c. 1921
The 2nd Battalion was deployed to Ireland in 1920 while the 1st Battalion returned to [British India](/source/British_Raj) and served there until 1924 when it moved to [Waziristan](/source/Waziristan). The 2nd Battalion moved to [Shanghai](/source/Shanghai) in 1927 for service with the [Shanghai Defence Force](/source/Shanghai_Defence_Force) and then on to India in 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalwelsh.org.uk/regiment/history-regiment-timeline.htm|title=Between the Wars – 1919-1939|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> The 6th (Glamorgan) Battalion of the [Territorial Army](/source/Territorial_Army_(United_Kingdom)), which had absorbed the 7th (Cyclist) Battalion in 1921, was converted into a searchlight regiment in 1938 and was transferred to the [Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery) as [67th (Welch) Searchlight Regiment](/source/Swansea_Rifles) in 1940.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060117164247/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/volmil-wales/vinf/gl-3.htm 6th Welch at Regiments.org.]</ref>

===Second World War===
[[File:Welch Regiment Memorial, St. Mary's Church, Madras.jpg|thumb|Welch Regiment Memorial, [St. Mary's Church, Madras](/source/St._Mary's_Church%2C_Chennai).]]
The 1st Battalion moved to [Palestine](/source/Mandatory_Palestine) in 1939 to play its part in operations connected with the [1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine](/source/1936%E2%80%9339_Arab_revolt_in_Palestine). The battalion first saw action in the [Western Desert Campaign](/source/Western_Desert_Campaign) of 1940. The 1st Battalion landed in [Crete](/source/Battle_of_Crete) in February but was overwhelmed by the enemy in fighting at [Souda Bay](/source/Souda_Bay) in [Chania](/source/Chania) and Sphakia Beach and had to be evacuated by the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy). Eventually the 1st Battalion was reformed in Egypt and joined the [5th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/5th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade), part of the [4th Indian Infantry Division](/source/4th_Infantry_Division_(India)) and moved back again to the Western Desert. In Crete alone the battalion had lost nearly 250 dead, with 400 being captured and the battalion was reduced to a mere 7 [officers](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) and 161 [other ranks](/source/Other_ranks_(UK)).<ref name=1stbn>{{cite web|url=http://www.royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/E05-01-WelchR-WW2-1stBattalion.pdf|title=1st Battalion Royal Welch|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> They received a large draft of 700 officers and men. After heavy fighting in the area of Benghazi the 1st Battalion was again overrun in mid-1942 and again suffered heavy casualties when [Erwin Rommel](/source/Erwin_Rommel)'s [Afrika Korps](/source/Afrika_Korps) swept through Cyrenaica and Libya in the [First Battle of El Alamein](/source/First_Battle_of_El_Alamein). Following a period of rest and training in Egypt and the Sudan the 1st Battalion was re-organized in early 1943 as [34th (Welch) Beach Brick](/source/Beach_groups) and in July landed with the [50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division](/source/50th_(Northumbrian)_Infantry_Division), part of [General](/source/General_(United_Kingdom)) [Bernard Montgomery](/source/Bernard_Montgomery)'s [British Eighth Army](/source/Eighth_Army_(United_Kingdom)), during the [invasion of Sicily](/source/Allied_invasion_of_Sicily) in July.<ref name=1stbn/>

In May 1944 the 1st Battalion received large numbers of replacements from retrained anti-aircraft gunners of the [Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery) and became an effective infantry battalion again. The battalion was now assigned to [168th (London) Infantry Brigade](/source/168th_(2nd_London)_Brigade),<ref>Joslen, p. 230</ref> replacing the now disbanded 10th [Royal Berkshire Regiment](/source/Royal_Berkshire_Regiment) and serving alongside 1st [London Irish Rifles](/source/London_Irish_Rifles) and 1st [London Scottish](/source/London_Scottish_(regiment)), making the brigade a mixture of Irish, Scottish and Welsh. The 168th Brigade was part of the [56th (London) Division](/source/56th_(London)_Infantry_Division), which had just been severely mauled [fighting at Anzio](/source/Battle_of_Anzio). In July the battalion landed in Italy and fought in the [Italian Campaign](/source/Italian_Campaign_(World_War_II)) and would remain there for the rest of the war. They took part in heavy fighting on the [Gothic Line](/source/Gothic_Line), one of many [German](/source/German_Army_(Wehrmacht)) defensive lines in Italy, and in the Croce area where the battalion, and the rest of the 56th Division, suffered heavy casualties. As a result of the casualties sustained, and a severe shortage of British infantry replacements in the [Mediterranean theatre](/source/Mediterranean_and_Middle_East_theatre_of_World_War_II), 168th Brigade was disbanded and the 1st Battalion was reduced to a small [cadre](/source/Cadre_(military)) of 5 [officers](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) and 60 [other ranks](/source/Other_ranks_(UK)). In March 1945 the 1st Battalion was transferred to the [1st Guards Brigade](/source/1st_Armoured_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)), serving alongside the 3rd [Grenadier Guards](/source/Grenadier_Guards) and 3rd [Welsh Guards](/source/Welsh_Guards) and replacing the disbanded 3rd [Coldstream Guards](/source/Coldstream_Guards), part of [6th Armoured Division](/source/6th_Armoured_Division_(United_Kingdom)), and remained with it until the end of the war. In April they took part in [Operation Grapeshot](/source/Spring_1945_offensive_in_Italy) which ended with the capture of thousands of [prisoners of war](/source/Prisoner_of_war) and the surrender of the German Army in Italy on 2 May.<ref name=1stbn/>

The 2nd Battalion had been retained in India but in October 1944 the battalion moved to [Burma](/source/Burma_Campaign) as part of the [62nd Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/62nd_Indian_Infantry_Brigade) attached to the [19th Indian Infantry Division](/source/19th_Infantry_Division_(India)) where it joined the [British Fourteenth Army](/source/Fourteenth_Army_(United_Kingdom)), led by [Bill Slim](/source/William_Slim%2C_1st_Viscount_Slim). The Battalion saw its bitterest fighting along the [Taungoo](/source/Taungoo)-[Mawchi](/source/Mawchi) Road where for a hundred miles, with deep jungle on either side, the Japanese defended vigorously all the way. In November the battalion crossed the [Chindwin River](/source/Chindwin_River) at [Sittang](/source/Sittaung_River), captured [Pinlebu](/source/Pinlebu) and saw some very hard fighting on the Swebo Plain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/E05-02-WelchR-WW2-2ndBattalion.pdf|title=2nd Battalion Royal Welch|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 B11255.jpg|thumb|right|Men of the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment clean their weapons outside ['s-Hertogenbosch](/source/'s-Hertogenbosch), the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), 25 October 1944.]]

The 4th Battalion was in Northern Ireland in the [160th Infantry Brigade](/source/160th_Infantry_Brigade_and_Headquarters_Wales) attached to the [53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division](/source/53rd_(Welsh)_Infantry_Division). In June 1944 the battalion, under [Lieutenant Colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)) [Charles Coleman](/source/Charles_Coleman_(British_Army_officer)), was, after many years of training, ordered to France to join the [British Second Army](/source/Second_Army_(United_Kingdom)) in the [Normandy Campaign](/source/Operation_Overlord). From the start of the campaign the 4th Battalion was involved in fierce fighting during the [Battle for Caen](/source/Battle_for_Caen), and around the [Falaise Pocket](/source/Falaise_Pocket), the [Battle of the Bulge](/source/Battle_of_the_Bulge) and the [Battle of the Reichwald](/source/Operation_Veritable) where it sustained very heavy casualties and involved some of the fiercest fighting in the [North West Europe Campaign](/source/North_West_Europe_Campaign) for British soldiers as they were up against determined [German paratroopers](/source/Fallschirmj%C3%A4ger_(World_War_II)).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/E05-03-WelchR-WW2-4thBattalionTF.pdf|title=4th Battalion Royal Welch|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>

[[File:The British Army in North-west Europe 1944-45 B10138.jpg|thumb|left|[Universal Carrier](/source/Universal_Carrier)s of the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment crossing the [Meuse](/source/Meuse) into the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), 20 September 1944.]]

Meanwhile, the 1/5th and 2/5th Battalions, mobilized at the same time as the 4th Battalion, were retained at home where the 2/5th also trained and prepared drafts for overseas although it remained at home throughout the whole war as a [Home Defence](/source/Home_Service_Battalions) battalion. The 1/5th Battalion, originally with the 160th Infantry Brigade, moved to Normandy in late June 1944 and fought alongside the 4th Battalion in the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the [North West Europe Campaign](/source/North_West_Europe_Campaign) distinguishing itself at ['s-Hertogenbosch](/source/'s-Hertogenbosch), the Falaise Gap, the Ardennes and the Reichwald Forest. In August 1944 the 1/5th Battalion was transferred from 160th Brigade to the [158th Infantry Brigade](/source/158th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)), still with 53rd (Welsh) Division. Some of the hardest fighting took place around the Falaise Gap where on 16 August 1944, near Balfour, Lieutenant [Tasker Watkins](/source/Tasker_Watkins) of the 1/5th Battalion was awarded the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross) for supreme personal bravery and inspired leadership.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalwelsh.org.uk/downloads/E05-04-WelchR-WW2-1-5thBattalionTA.pdf|title=1/5th Battalion Royal Welch|publisher=Royal Welsh|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref>

Around 1,100 officers and other ranks of the Welch Regiment were killed or died from wounds or sickness during the [Second World War](/source/World_War_II), with many more wounded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://royalwelsh.org.uk/regiment/history-regiment-timeline.htm|title=Regiment Timeline - The Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh (Brecon)|work=royalwelsh.org.uk|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref>

===Post-war===
The 1st Battalion returned home in 1947 and was garrisoned at [Malvern](/source/Malvern%2C_Worcestershire), Worcester, with the 2nd Battalion, which had returned from Burma.<ref name=bau>{{cite web|url=http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/welch-regiment.html|title=Welch Regiment|publisher=British Army units 1945 on|access-date=26 June 2016}}</ref> The 1st Battalion moved to Dering Lines in [Brecon](/source/Brecon) in February 1948 and amalgamated with the 2nd Battalion in June 1948.<ref name=bau/> The Battalion moved to Sobraon Barracks in [Colchester](/source/Colchester) in October 1950 and was then deployed to [Korea](/source/Korea) as part of the [29th British Infantry Brigade](/source/29th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in the [1st Commonwealth Division](/source/1st_Commonwealth_Division) in November 1951 for service in the [Korean War](/source/Korean_War).<ref name=bau/>

The battalion moved to [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) as part of the [27th Infantry Brigade](/source/27th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in November 1952 and then returned home to Llanion Barracks in Pembroke Dock in 1954.<ref name=bau/> It moved to [Lüneburg](/source/L%C3%BCneburg) in Germany as part of [10th Infantry Brigade](/source/10th_Infantry_Brigade_(United_Kingdom)) in June 1956 before being deployed to [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus) in October 1957.<ref name=bau/> The battalion moved to North Africa in December 1958 and established its headquarters in [Benghazi](/source/Benghazi) with company detachments at [Derna](/source/Derna%2C_Libya), [Marj](/source/Marj) and [Al Adm](/source/Al_Adm) and then returned to the United Kingdom the following year.<ref name=bau/> The battalion was stationed at Brooke Barracks in [Spandau](/source/Spandau) from April 1961 where duties included guarding [Rudolf Hess](/source/Rudolf_Hess).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D9oiMoSrKE4C&q=%22Welch+Regiment%22+%22Brooke+Barracks%22&pg=PT55|title=The Long Patrol: The British in Germany Since 1945|first= Roy |last=Bainton|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|year= 2003|isbn=978-1840187151}}</ref> The battalion returned to the United Kingdom and became the Demonstration Battalion of The School of Infantry, stationed first at Knook Camp in [Heytesbury](/source/Heytesbury) and then at the newly built [Battlesbury Barracks](/source/Battlesbury_Barracks) in [Warminster](/source/Warminster) in 1965.<ref name=bau/> For its final overseas posting the battalion moved to [Stanley Fort](/source/Stanley_Fort) on Hong Kong Island in June 1966.<ref name=bau/> It then amalgamated with the [South Wales Borderers](/source/South_Wales_Borderers) to form the 1st Battalion the [Royal Regiment of Wales](/source/Royal_Regiment_of_Wales) in June 1969.<ref name=bau/>

== Regimental holders of The Victoria Cross ==

(Prior to 1881)
*Lieutenant [Ambrose Madden](/source/Ambrose_Madden) [VC](/source/Victoria_Cross) (Sergeant-Major in 41st (the Welsh) Regiment of Foot)
*General Sir [Hugh Rowlands](/source/Hugh_Rowlands) VC [KCB](/source/Knight_Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath) (Captain in 41st (the Welsh) Regiment of Foot)

(Post 1881)
*Sergeant [William Charles Fuller](/source/William_Charles_Fuller) VC (Lance-Corporal in 2nd Bn)
*Private [Hubert William Lewis](/source/Hubert_William_Lewis) VC (Private in 11th Bn)
*Captain [Edgar Myles](/source/Edgar_Myles) VC [DSO](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) (Second Lieutenant in 8th Bn)
*Major Sir [Tasker Watkins](/source/Tasker_Watkins) VC [GBE](/source/Order_of_the_British_Empire) [PC](/source/Privy_counsellor) (Lieutenant in 1/5th Battalion)

==Battle honours==

The Regiment was awarded the following [battle honours](/source/Battle_honours_of_the_British_and_Imperial_Armies):<ref name=regiments>{{cite web|url=http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/041Welch.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060104234912/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/041Welch.htm|title=The Welch Regiment [UK]|archive-date=4 January 2006|work=regiments.org|access-date=1 November 2015}}</ref>

*''From the 41st Regiment of Foot'': Detroit, [Queenstown](/source/Battle_of_Queenston_Heights), Miami, Niagara, Ava, Candahar 1842, Ghuznee 1842, Cabool 1842, Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol
*''From the 69th Regiment of Foot'': Bourbon, Java, Waterloo, India
*Belleisle<sup>1</sup>, Martinique 1762<sup>1</sup>, [The Saints](/source/Battle_of_the_Saintes)<sup>2</sup>, St Vincent 1797 <sup>1</sup>, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, South Africa 1899–1902
*''The Great War'': [Mons](/source/Battle_of_Mons), [Retreat from Mons](/source/Retreat_from_Mons), [Marne 1914](/source/Marne_1914), [Aisne 1914](/source/Aisne_1914) ['18](/source/Third_Battle_of_the_Aisne), [Ypres 1914](/source/First_Battle_of_Ypres) ['15](/source/Second_Battle_of_Ypres) ['17](/source/Battle_of_Passchendaele), [Langemarck 1914](/source/First_Battle_of_Ypres) '17, [Gheluvelt](/source/First_Battle_of_Ypres), [Nonne Bosschen](/source/First_Battle_of_Ypres), [Givenchy 1914](/source/Givenchy_1914), Gravenstafel, [Saint-Julien](/source/Saint-Julien%2C_Langemark), Frezenberg, Bellewaarde, Aubers, Loos, [Somme 1916](/source/Somme_1916) '18, [Albert 1916](/source/Albert_1916) '18, Bazentin, Pozières, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Ancre Heights, [Ancre 1916](/source/Ancre_1916) '18, Messines 1917 '18, Pilckem, [Menin Road](/source/Menin_Road), [Polygon Wood](/source/Polygon_Wood), Broodseinde, Poelcappelle, [Passchendaele](/source/Battle_of_Passchendaele), Cambrai 1917 '18, [Saint-Quentin](/source/Saint-Quentin%2C_Aisne), [Bapaume 1918](/source/Bapaume_1918), Lys, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Bailleul, Kemmel, Béthune, Scherpenberg, [Arras](/source/Arras%2C_France) 1918, Drocourt-Quéant, Hindenburg Line, Épéhy, St. Quentin Canal, Beaurevoir, Selle, Valenciennes, Sambre, [France and Flanders 1914–18](/source/France_and_Flanders_1914%E2%80%9318), Struma, [Doiran 1917](/source/Doiran_1917) '18, Macedonia 1915–18, [Suvla](/source/Suvla), Sari Bair, Landing at Suvla, [Scimitar Hill](/source/Scimitar_Hill), [Gallipoli 1915](/source/Gallipoli_1915), [Egypt 1915–17](/source/Egypt_1915%E2%80%9317), Gaza, El Mughar, Jerusalem, Jericho, Tell 'Asur, [Megiddo](/source/Battle_of_Megiddo_(1918)), Nablus, [Palestine 1917–18](/source/Palestine_1917%E2%80%9318), [Tigris 1916](/source/Tigris_1916), [Kut al Amara 1917](/source/Kut_al_Amara_1917), Baghdad, [Mesopotamia 1916–18](/source/Mesopotamia_1916%E2%80%9318)
*''The Second World War'': [Falaise](/source/Falaise_pocket), Lower Maas, [Reichswald](/source/Klever_Reichswald), [North-West Europe 1944-45](/source/North-West_Europe_1944-45), [Benghazi](/source/Benghazi), [North Africa 1940–42](/source/North_Africa_1940%E2%80%9342), [Sicily 1943](/source/Sicily_1943), [Coriano](/source/Coriano), [Croce](/source/Croce%2C_Haute-Corse), [Rimini Line](/source/Rimini_Line), Ceriano Ridge, [Argenta Gap](/source/Argenta_Gap), [Italy 1943–45](/source/Italy_1943%E2%80%9345), [Crete](/source/Crete), [Canea](/source/Canea), Withdrawal to [Sphakia](/source/Sphakia), Middle East 1941, [Kyaukmyaung Bridgehead](/source/Kyaukmyaung_Bridgehead), [Maymyo](/source/Maymyo), Rangoon Road, [Sittang](/source/Sittang) 1945, [Burma 1944-45](/source/Burma_1944-45)
*''Post-War'': [Korean War 1951–52](/source/Korean_War)
From the above Battle Honours the following were actually borne on the Regimental and Queen's Colour:

* The Regimental Colour: 
Belleisle, Martinique 1762, St. Vincent 1797, India, Bourbon, Java, Detroit, Queenstown, Miami, Niagara, Waterloo, Ava, Candahar 1842, Ghuznee 1842, Cabool 1842, Alma, Inkerman, Sevastopol, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg, South Africa 1899–1902, Korea 1951–52.

* The Queen's Colour: 
Aisne 1914–18, Ypres 1914-15-17, Gheluvelt, Loos, Somme 1916–18, Pilkem, Cambrai 1917–18, Macedonia 1915–18, Gallipoli 1915, Gaza, Falaise, Lower Mass, Reichswald, Croce, Italy 1943–45, Crete, Canae, Kyaukmyaung Bridgehead, Sittang 1945, Burma 1944–45.

¹ Awarded for the services of the 69th Foot.

² Awarded in 1909 for the services of the 69th Foot, with the badge of a Naval Crown superscribed ''12th April 1782''.

==Regimental Colonels==
Colonels of the regiment were:<ref name= regiments/>
;The Welsh Regiment
*1881–1883 (1st Battalion): Gen. Sir [Richard England](/source/Richard_England_(British_Army_officer%2C_born_1793)), GCB, KH ''(ex [41st Foot](/source/41st_Foot))''
*1881–1894 (2nd Battalion): Gen. [David Elliott Mackirdy](/source/David_Elliott_Mackirdy) ''(ex [69th Foot](/source/69th_Foot))'' 
*1883–1894: Gen. [Julius Edmund Goodwyn](/source/Julius_Edmund_Goodwyn), CB 
*1894–1904: Gen. [Francis Peyton](/source/Francis_Peyton), CB 
*1904–1918: Maj-Gen. [William Allan](/source/William_Allan_(British_Army_officer))
*1918–1920: Maj-Gen. Sir [Alexander Bruce Tulloch](/source/Alexander_Bruce_Tulloch), KCB, CMG
*1920–1941: Maj-Gen. Sir [Thomas Owen Marden](/source/Thomas_Owen_Marden), KBE, CB, CMG
; The Welch Regiment (1921)
*1941–1949: Maj-Gen. [Douglas Povah Dickinson](/source/Douglas_Dickinson), CB, DSO, OBE, MC 
*1949–1958: Maj-Gen. [Cyril Ernest Napier Lomax](/source/Cyril_Lomax), CB, CBE, DSO, MC
*1958–1965: Lt-Gen. Sir [Cyril Frederick Charles Coleman](/source/Cyril_Frederick_Charles_Coleman), KCB, CMG, DSO, OBE
*1965–1969: Maj-Gen. Frank Hastings Brooke, CB, CBE, DSO
*1969: Regiment amalgamated with [The South Wales Borderers](/source/The_South_Wales_Borderers) to form [The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)](/source/The_Royal_Regiment_of_Wales_(24th%2F41st_Foot))

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
* {{Joslen-OOB}}

==Further reading==
*'History of the services of the 41st (The Welsh Regiment)' by Captain and Adjutant D.A.N. Lomax, 
*'The History of The Welsh regiment. 1719 – 1918' author unknown,
*'The History of The Welch Regiment 1919 – 1951'

==External links==
{{Commons category|Welch Regiment}}
*[https://www.angelfire.com/ga/BobSanders/GMILITIA.html Royal Glamorgan Light Infantry]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
  before=[41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot](/source/41st_(Welch)_Regiment_of_Foot)  |
  title= The Welch Regiment|
  years= 1881–1969 |
  after= [Royal Regiment of Wales](/source/Royal_Regiment_of_Wales)
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Royal Welsh}}
{{British Infantry Regiments World War I}}

Category:Welch Regiment
Category:Royal Regiment of Wales
Category:Welsh regiments of the British Army
Category:Military units and formations in Wales
Category:Military units and formations in Cardiff
Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War I
Category:Regiments of the British Army in World War II
Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Korean War
Category:1881 establishments in the United Kingdom
Category:Military units and formations established in 1881
Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1969
Category:1969 disestablishments in the United Kingdom
R

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Welch Regiment](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welch_Regiment) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welch_Regiment?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.