St. David’s Day: Preserving Welsh Identity Across Generations

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St. David’s Day

The Welsh cultural identity remains strong amongst the Welsh Guards regiment at Combermere Barracks in Windsor, evidenced by the flying Welsh flag, patches of daffodils, and the “Cymru am Byth” slate tile displaying their motto “Wales Forever.” This was underscored by the rousing singing of hundreds of Guardsmen on the parade square during this year’s St. David’s Day celebrations on March 1st.

Major Darren Pridmore, the most senior active member of the Welsh Guard having participated in 39 St. David’s Day events, explained that no matter where Welsh Guards are deployed across the world, they always come together to recognize their shared heritage on St. David’s Day, which dates back to the founding of the battalion in 1915 under orders from King George V.

Over the past year, Welsh Guard units have been rotationally deployed across every continent. The Prince of Wales’s Company recently returned from a 3-month posting in the Falkland Islands. Brigadier Giles Harris DSO OBE, Regimental Lieutenant Colonel of the Welsh Guards, traveled from his NATO leadership role in the Baltics to present leeks to the Windsor troops to attach to their ceremonial uniforms, continuing an emblem tradition.

In addition to recent missions supporting NATO allies and British interests across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, the Welsh Guards have also been actively involved in training Ukrainian fighters within the UK enable their homeland defense as well as preparing for ceremonial duties like Trooping the Colour last summer under their new Royal Colonel, Prince William, the Prince of Wales.

Beyond operational commitments, St. David’s Day represents an opportunity for Guardsmen and veterans to reunite, renew bonds, and reflect on their service history, according to Major Andy Campbell. The leek has special significance as an emblem that appears on formal regimental attire and links to longstanding Welsh culture. Last year, the troops also enjoyed an inaugural visit by Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

While maintaining intense deployment cycles and ceremonial duties guarding royal residences, the Welsh Guards are proud to come together each St. David’s Day to recognize past and present members while looking ahead to future missions and leadership transitions. Major Pridmore discussed connecting across generations, from new soldiers returning from deployments like the Falklands to 101-year old WWII veterans who faced battle in Monte Cassino.

The St. David’s Day celebration also featured a rugby match between Guardsmen and Lance Corporals near the barracks. Major Campbell closed by emphasizing that beyond current operations, St. David’s Day is about celebrating a collective Welsh Guard identity – one that honors fallen heroes through the years but also builds new bonds and camaraderie that uphold key values and traditions into the future through changing times.

Source Welsh Guardsmen raise hwyl on the parade square for St David’s Day. Published in army.mod Uk

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