Welsh Guards

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Welsh Guards

The Regiment was raised on 26 Feb 1915 by order of King George V, & mounted its first King's Guard

The Welsh Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army who has a proud tradition of combining State Ceremonial and Public Duties with frontline infantry soldiering to the standard expected of any other UK infantry battalion. The Regiment today comprises a single Battalion equipped and trained for Light Infantry operations, and has distinguished itself with exemplary service in recent operati

ons in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also served on other operations in Northern Ireland, the Falkland Islands and many other conflicts of the 20th Century. The Regiment has recruited largely Welshmen into its ranks from the moment of its formation and still boasts over 90% Welsh heritage. Its ranks continue to be swelled by soldiers from all over the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries but still manages to maintain its regional identity. "Cymru Am Byth"

http://www.guardsmagazine.com/

http://www.welshguardsassociation.com/

01/06/2026

A Lifetime of Service.

Huge congratulations to Alan Cunningham on being awarded The Major General Commanding The Household Divisions Certificate for Meritorious Service.

Alan joined the Welsh Guards in 1969, serving for six years and rising to the rank of Lance Sergeant before leaving the Army in 1975. His service to the Regiment, however, did not end when he left the Colours.

Since then, Alan has devoted decades of his life to supporting the Welsh Guards Association and the wider regimental family. After serving as Social Secretary and Branch Secretary of the Swansea Branch, he moved to the Llanelli and West Wales Branch, where he has continued to serve as Branch Secretary since 1990.

For over three decades, Alan has been the driving force behind the branch, organising events, supporting veterans and families, maintaining regimental connections across West Wales and ensuring that Welsh Guardsmen always have a place to turn. Whether supporting bereaved families, commemorating fallen comrades or bringing people together at branch events, he has done so with dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment.

Alan continues to embody the very best of the Welsh Guards spirit. His loyalty, selflessness and tireless service over an incredible 58 years have left a lasting mark on the Regiment and the military community he serves.

This award is a fitting recognition of a remarkable man and a lifetime spent putting others before himself.

Congratulations, Alan, and thank you for your outstanding service to the Welsh Guards family.

Cymru Am Byth

30/05/2026

Good luck to the Household Division today.

Today, the Household Division returns to Horse Guards Parade for the Major General's Review, the first of three prestigious parades that lead towards Trooping the Colour.

The Major General's Review marks the start of a significant few weeks in the ceremonial calendar, followed by the Colonel's Review next weekend and finally the King's Birthday Parade, where the Grenadier Guards will Troop their Colour before His Majesty The King.

We would like to wish every soldier, officer and musician taking part the very best of luck today. Behind the precision and spectacle lies months of preparation, dedication and hard work, all culminating on one of the most famous parade grounds in the world.

A special mention goes to the Grenadier Guards as they prepare for the honour of Trooping their Colour. It is a privilege earned through professionalism, commitment and the highest standards of soldiering.

To all ranks across the Foot Guards, the Household Cavalry, the Massed Bands and those supporting behind the scenes, enjoy the occasion and do your regiments proud.

From all of us in the Welsh Guards, good luck for today's parade and for the weeks ahead.

Cymru Am Byth

29/05/2026

In Memoriam: Guardsman Christopher King.

In the lead up to the unveiling of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Memorial in Wrexham this June, we continue to remember the men whose names are carved into its stone. Each Friday, we pause to honour their lives, their service and the impact they had on those around them.

Today we remember Guardsman Christopher King of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, attached to Number 2 Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who was killed in Afghanistan on 22 July 2009 during Operation HERRICK 10.

Born in Birkenhead and raised in Devon, Guardsman King joined the Army in 2008 and quickly established himself as a talented and driven young soldier within Number 3 Company, Coldstream Guards. He completed the sharp-shooters course shortly after arriving at Battalion and had already set his sights on attempting the demanding sniper cadre on his return from Afghanistan.

In early 2009, he volunteered to deploy alongside the Welsh Guards to Helmand Province. Attached to Number 2 Company, he immediately became part of the platoon. Respected for his professionalism, humour and attitude, he earned the friendship of the men around him in a remarkably short period of time.

On the morning of 22 July 2009, Guardsman King was part of a patrol in Nad e Ali District during Operation PANCHAI PALANG. His team was responsible for clearing vulnerable points ahead of vehicle movements, one of the most dangerous tasks on operations. While on foot carrying out that duty, an improvised explosive device detonated. He was killed instantly.

Those who served alongside him remembered a young Guardsman full of character.

Someone who never complained, always volunteered and constantly brought morale to the lads around him, even in the toughest moments. He was described as fearless, reliable and full of dry humour. Many spoke about the ease with which he crossed regimental lines and became, in the words of one of his section commanders, “an Honorary Welshman.”

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Antelme, Commanding Officer of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at the time, described him as:

“A consummate professional, undeterred by danger or hardship, who brought great spirit and humour to every task asked of him.”

His friends remembered a young man who loved life, loved soldiering and wanted to challenge himself at every opportunity. Before joining the Army, he worked as a gamekeeper, a background that naturally suited his fieldcraft and stalking ability. He loved fishing, bikes, music and time spent with his mates. Above all else, he was someone people gravitated towards.

Although Guardsman King wore a different cap badge, he became one of our own. His service alongside the Welsh Guards during OP HERRICK 10 will never be forgotten.
His name is on the memorial. His legacy lives on.

The Welsh Guards Afghanistan Memorial will be unveiled in Wrexham on Saturday 27 June 2026, honouring the Welsh Guardsmen and attached personnel who lost their lives during operations in Afghanistan.

Veterans, families and friends who wish to attend are asked to contact the Welsh Guards Regimental Veterans Officer, Jiffy Myers MBE, via: [email protected]

Cymru Am Byth

28/05/2026

Why We Are There - Cyprus Deployment: A Divided Island.

For many serving Guardsmen and veterans alike, Cyprus has long been a familiar part of military life. But for many outside the Armed Forces, the question is often asked: why are British soldiers still there?

The story begins long before today’s deployment.

Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 after years under British rule. As part of that agreement, the United Kingdom retained two Sovereign Base Areas on the island, Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These bases remain British territory to this day and continue to play a vital role in operations, regional stability and military readiness across the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East.

But Cyprus itself would soon face a period of unrest.

During the 1960s, tensions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots began to rise. Violence between the two communities increased, leading to instability across the island and the arrival of United Nations peacekeepers in 1964. Then, in 1974, following a coup backed by the Greek military junta, Turkey launched a military intervention in the north of Cyprus.
The island became divided.

A buffer zone, often referred to as the “Green Line”, was established between the two sides. In some places, it is only a few metres wide. In others, it stretches across abandoned villages, empty homes and former communities frozen in time. Even today, nearly fifty years later, that buffer zone remains in place and is patrolled by the United Nations.

For decades, British Forces Cyprus has supported operations, training and stability in the region. From humanitarian evacuations and operational support to training infantry battalions preparing for contingency operations, Cyprus remains strategically important.

Now, the Welsh Guards prepare to continue that long-standing commitment.

For many Guardsmen, this deployment will bring challenging training, opportunities to operate overseas and the chance to sharpen infantry skills in a strategically important part of the world. It also places the Battalion within a wider story, one shaped by history, diplomacy and readiness.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue exploring why Cyprus still matters today and what life and soldiering on the island looks like for the Welsh Guards.

Cymru Am Byth

27/05/2026

Some serve for a wage.
Some serve for adventure.
But a Guardsman serves for something far older than him/herself.

For Crown.
For Country.
For the man and woman beside him.

To wear the Welsh Guards cap badge is to carry generations on your shoulders. Men who stood firm in places most people will never see. Men who marched through fire, mud, dust and chaos so others could live in peace. Their standards were not lowered for comfort, and neither are ours today.

Service is not easy. It is early mornings in the rain. It is discipline when nobody is watching. It is sacrifice. But in return, it gives you something the modern world struggles to offer... purpose.

A place to belong.
A family forged through hardship.
A life lived with meaning.

One moment you stand on parade beneath the eyes of the world. The next you are training for operations overseas, pushing yourself further than you believed possible. That is the life of a Welsh Guardsman. Ceremony and soldiering. Tradition and warfighting. History and the future marching together.

The Crown does not ask for perfection.
It asks for commitment.
For courage.
For those willing to step forward when others step back.

If you want comfort, look elsewhere.
If you want pride, purpose and a life that means something… step into the ranks.

Serve the Crown.
Serve with honour.
Serve with the Welsh Guards.

Cymru Am Byth

26/05/2026

Public Order Training | Ready For Cyprus

Last week, The Prince of Wales’s Company and Support Company were put through serious graft at Longmoor as the Battalion continued Public Order Training in preparation for our move to Cyprus this summer.

Smoke. Noise. Fatigue. Pressure.

Public Order Training is designed to test discipline and control when situations become unpredictable. Shield lines, command response, casualty drills and movement through confined urban environments all demand complete trust in the person stood beside you. One weak link affects the entire line.

For the Welsh Guards, this is not about looking good behind a shield. It is about readiness.

As the Battalion prepares for its upcoming deployment to Cyprus, we have to be prepared for every eventuality. While the likelihood of being called upon to support Public Order operations remains small, the responsibility still exists. If that call ever comes, there is no time to start learning then. The standard has to already be there.

Longmoor pushed the men and women hard over the week. Long days. Heavy kit. Constant drills and relentless repetition. But that is exactly how confidence is built and standards are maintained.

Validation complete. Green light achieved. Ready for Cyprus.

Welsh Guards veterans, who remembers Public Order Training during your time in Battalion?

Could you still hold the shield line now?

Cymru Am Byth

25/05/2026

It’s on you…
To decide if you want more from life than the ordinary.

It’s on you…
To take the harder route when everyone else looks for the easy one.

To earn the red tunic.
To stand where generations of Welsh Guardsmen have stood before you.

On parade squares. On operations. In places far from home where standards matter and character is everything.

It’s on you…
To prove to yourself that you can carry responsibility, pressure and pride all at once.

To become part of a Regiment where teamwork is expected, discipline is lived daily and standards never drop. A Regiment that can move from the streets of London to demanding exercises overseas without missing a beat.

It’s on you…
To become the person you talk about becoming.

The question is simple.

Where do you want to be?

Cymru Am Byth

24/05/2026

It’s Going To Be Hot Over The Next Few Days.

For Welsh Guardsmen, staying hydrated is all part of the job. Whether it’s training, exercises, ceremonial duties or long days carrying weight, the heat can catch up with you quickly if you’re not careful.

Drink plenty of water throughout the day, keep cool where you can, and look after the people around you. Small things like topping up water bottles and taking a moment in the shade make a big difference when the temperatures rise.

The work doesn’t stop because it’s hot, so staying switched on and looking after yourself matters.

Stay safe. Stay hydrated.

Cymru Am Byth

23/05/2026

Mission Motorsport Veterans’ Karting Championship - Cardiff.

The Welsh Guards community is being invited to take part in the Mission Motorsport Veterans’ Karting Championship at TeamSport Cardiff on Thursday 4th June.

This fantastic event is completely FREE and open to serving personnel, veterans and Armed Forces families. Whether you are competitive behind the wheel or just looking for a good day out with like minded people, this is a brilliant opportunity to get involved.

Mission Motorsport continues to do outstanding work supporting recovery, rehabilitation and community through motorsport, helping bring people together in a relaxed and welcoming environment. No karting experience is needed at all, just turn up and enjoy it.

📍 TeamSport Go Karting Cardiff
🗓 Thursday 4th June
⏰ 1130hrs – 1500hrs
🎟 FREE for Armed Forces community members

There are limited spaces available, so get signed up early.

👉 Register by scanning the QR code on the poster

For more information about Mission Motorsport and the work they do supporting the

Tag someone from the Welsh Guards family who would love this.

Cymru Am Byth

22/05/2026

In Memoriam: Private John Brackpool.

In the build-up to the unveiling of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Memorial in Wrexham on 27 June this year, we continue to remember the Guardsmen and soldiers connected to the Regiment who gave their lives during the conflict in Afghanistan.

Each Friday, we honour their stories, their service and the sacrifice they made alongside their brothers in arms.

Today we remember Private John Brackpool of the Prince of Wales’s Company, 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, who was killed in action on 9 July 2009 near Char-e-Anjir, just outside Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.

Private Brackpool was serving as a rifleman during Operation Panther’s Claw when the compound he was defending came under enemy fire whilst he was on sentry duty. Despite immediate medical attention, he sadly died from his wounds.

Born in Crawley, West Sussex, John had previously served with The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, deploying on operations to both Kosovo and Iraq before leaving the Regular Army. Wanting to serve again, he volunteered to deploy alongside the Welsh Guards on operations in Afghanistan.

Although he joined the Battalion only a short time before deployment, he quickly became a valued and popular member of his platoon. Those who served alongside him remembered a man who was easy-going, humble and constantly smiling, someone who brought humour and positivity even in the toughest conditions.

Known affectionately as “Bracks”, he was respected for his experience, commitment and willingness to always put himself forward for the task at hand. His personality left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of serving beside him.

Private John Brackpool gave his life protecting his comrades.

Our thoughts remain with his parents, partner, son, and all those who knew and loved him.

If you wish to attend the unveiling of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Memorial in Wrexham, please contact our Veterans’ Officer, Jiffy Myers: [email protected]

His name is on the memorial. His legacy lives on.

Cymru Am Byth

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