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The Welch Regiment (or "The Welch", an archaic spelling of "Welsh") was an infantry regiment of the line of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1969. The regiment was created in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot and 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot to form the Welsh Regiment, which it was known until 1920 when it was renamed the Welch Regiment. In 1969 the regiment was amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales which was, on 1 March 2006, amalgamated with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to form the Royal Welsh. ==History== ;The Origins of the Regiment: The Welch Regiment had its origins in two regiments, the 41st and 69th Regiments of Foot, the first of which has long standing links with the Royal Hospital Chelsea. The 41st was raised in March 1719 as a Regiment of Invalids, namely Out-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital, to release active units for service overseas in the wars against the French. Known as Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Fieldings Regiment of Foot (or the Invalids), between 1719 and 1787 it carried out garrison duties in Portsmouth, Plymouth and the Channel Islands. In 1757 a second battalion was raised for the 24th Foot, and placed at the disposal of the Admiralty for service as marines with the fleet. In 1758 this Battalion was redesignated as the 69th Foot and, in 1782, linked to South Lincolnshire for recruiting purposes. In 1787 the Invalid character of the 41st was abandoned and the Regiment re-formed as a marching regiment of line fit for worldwide service. Between that date and 1881 the two Regiments pursued roles independent of one another, but drew closer when a common depot was established at Fort Hubberstone in 1871. Both campaigned and saw service in many parts of the world – achieving magnificent records of service – ultimately to be linked under the title 'The Welch'. ;A chronological history of both Regiments follows: 1719 – When units were needed for garrison duties at home in order to release active units for service overseas in the wars against the French, a number of the more active out-pensioners of the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, who were fit for light duties at home, were enrolled and formed Colonel Edmund Fielding's Regiment of Invalids. 1751 – The Regiment of Invalids became 41st Regiment of Foot (or Invalids). 1756 – A Second Battalion of the 24th Regiment, to become eventually the South Wales Borderers, was raised and in 1758 became the 69th Regiment of Foot. The 41st and 69th followed separate careers until 1881 when they became respectively the 1st and 2nd Battalions of The Welsh Regiment. 1761 – The 69th first distinguished itself at the Capture of Belle Île. Belleisle is the Regiment's oldest Battle Honour although for some reason it was not actually awarded until 1951. 1762 – A year later the 69th took part in an equally successful operation in the West Indies against the French-held island of Martinique. 1782 – During the Napoleonic Wars in the latter part of the 18th and early part of the 19th centuries Infantry Regiments sometimes served on board ships of the Royal Navy and performed many of the duties carried out by the Royal Marines. In this year the 69th took part in the Battle of the Saintes. For their share in this victory the 69th was included in a Vote of Thanks passed by both Houses of Parliament, and was awarded a Naval Crown, superscribed '12 April 1782' to be carried on the Regimental Colour. This battle honour is unique. In the same year the 69th became the South Lincolnshire Regiment and for this reason The Welsh Regiment played 'The Lincolnshire Poacher' as one of its Regimental Marches. The 69th continued its service afloat and served, amongst other ships, in under the command of Horatio Nelson, then a captain. A little later, when Nelson commanded , he came across a detachment of the 69th serving aboard his ship, greeting them as 'My Old Agamemnons' a nickname that prevailed for many years. Lt Arthur Wellesley, later the Duke of Wellington, joined the 41st Regiment of Foot on 23 January 1788 and served with the Regiment until 25 June 1789 when he transferred to the 12th Light Dragoons. 1796 – The 69th moved once more to the West Indies when two detachments served on and HMS ''Captain'' both of which were present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in 1797. These detachments greatly distinguished themselves, particularly that under the command of Lieutenant Charles Pierson in HMS ''Captain'' (still commanded by Nelson), which played a leading part in the capture and boarding of the Spanish ship ''San Josef''. The Welch Regiment is intensely proud of the unique Battle Honour of St. Vincent and in 1951 was given permission to associate it with the Battle Honour of the Naval Crown. 1797 – The battle of St Vincent marked the end of the 69th's service afloat and in 1799 it took part in an expedition to Holland and in 1800 returned to the West Indies. Following this and after a spell at home the 69th moved East and commenced a tour of India that covered a period of twenty years. Having taken part in a series of operations in this time it earned the Battle Honour India. Twice between 1805 and 1825 the 69th sailed on seaborne expeditions from India. 1799 – The 41st moved to Canada and carried out garrison duties there until war broke against the United States in 1812. 1803 – A second Battalion of the 69th (2/69th) was raised and was in garrison in Belgium when Napoleon escaped from Elba. 1810 – the 69th's first expedition was against the French-held island of Bourbon, as Réunion was then called, and Mauritius. Both were attacked from the sea and captured. The second was against Dutch-owned Java, but occupied by the French. The expedition was successful although the fighting was severe and casualties considerable. In the meantime the final phases of the Napoleonic Wars were being played out in Europe. 1812 – The war against the United States lasted two years and was fought mainly on the Canadian border. The 41st played a leading part in the successful actions at the Siege of Detroit, the Battle of Queenston Heights, the Battle of Lundy's Lane, and Miami for which Battle Honours were awarded. ''The Battle Honours Detroit and Miami are unique to The Welch regiment.'' 1815 – In June Napoleon moved up to the Belgian Frontier to attack the Allied Army commanded by the Duke of Wellington, who some years earlier had served as a Lieutenant in the 41st. The 2/69th fought at Quatre Bras on 16 June where, owing to mistaken orders, it was caught unprepared and badly mauled by French cavalry. The Battle of Waterloo was fought on 18 June. At the end of the campaign the 2/69th was disbanded. 1822 – The 41st moved to India. 1824 – The Regiment took part in an arduous campaign against the Ava Kingdom, to become known as Burma and now Myanmar (Interestingly, in 1945 the 69th camped on the 'maidan' made by the 41st during the Ava campaign.). 1831 – On 25 February on the recommendation of Colonel Sir Edmund Williams, then in command, royal approval was given to the '41st Regiment being in future styled the 41st or THE WELSH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY'. Later in the same year the 41st was permitted to bear on its Colours the Prince of Wales's Plume and Motto – 'GWELL ANGAU NA CHYWYLIDD' (Rather death than dishonor). So began the Regiment's association with Wales which has been maintained with great pride ever since. 1842 – The 41st took part in the First Afghan War which broke out in this year and was engaged in the fighting at Kandahar, the Battle of Ghazni and finally Kabul the Afghan capital; following which the Regiment returned to England. 1854 – The Crimean War broke out in which Britain, France and Turkey fought against the Russians who were seeking supremacy in the region. The 41st fought throughout the campaign gaining Battale Honours at Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol. The 41st was most heavily engaged at Inkerman, the last occasion on which the Colours were carried in Battle. It was a 'Little' Inkerman fought on 26 October 1854 that Sergeant Ambrose Madden won the Victoria Cross, the first to be awarded to a member of the Regiment. Inkerman 'the soldier's battle' was fought on 5 November in thick mist, through which the Russians advanced in overwhelming numbers. The battle was fought out hand-to-hand in small groups and the Russian attack was finally broken. Captain Hugh Rowlands was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry in this battle. In another engagement Ensign John Stirling, carrying the Regimental Colour, was shot dead. The Colour was taken by a Russian but recovered by Sergeant Major Daniel Ford for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his courage. This episode is commemorated in the silver centerpiece of the 41st which was made from some of the silver that was salvaged from the Officer's Mess that was burned down at Pembroke Dock in 1905. Until its amalgamation the Battle of Inkerman was commemorated annually in the Regiment on 5 November. 1870 – the 69th saw no further active service in the 19th Century and having served in Canada was at home in 1881. 1881 – The Crimean War was the last occasion on which either the 41st or 69th fought under their original tiles; in this year they became respectively the 1st and 2nd Battalions, The Welsh Regiment. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Welch Regiment」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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