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The Royal Regiment of Wales shown in
military art prints during the Defence of Rorke's Drift and the First World War.
Art prints published by Cranston Fine Arts.
[ Lt Bromhead VC ] [ Private Hook VC ] [ Corporal Allan VC ] [ Battle of Isandlwana ] [ Pte Robert Jones VC ] [ Pte William Jones VC ] [ Rorkes Drift ]
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The Royal
Regiment of Wales was formed by the amalgamation of the South Wales
Borderers (24th of Foot) and the Welch Regiment (41st of Foot) in 1969.
The South
Wales Borderers were raised in 1689 as Dering's Regiment becoming the 24th
of Foot in 1751.
This, after the
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, is the first in seniority of the Welsh regiment,
and was raised in Ireland as far back as 1689, and is reported to have
seen some service in the Irish campaigns of 1690-91, and in the
Netherlands about 1695-97. Marlborough was at one time its colonel, and it
served in his campaign from 1701
until about 1709-10, sharing in the glories of Schellenberg, Blenheim,
Neer, Hespen, Malplaquet, Menin, Lille, Douay, ect.
Between 1719 and 1756 it saw servive at vigo and Carthagena, at
Cuba (when it had been reduced from 1,000 to but 219 strong), and Jamaica;
and finally shared in the glorious defence of Minorca in 1756, when
“four regiments and one company of artillery maintained the fort against
such numbers of the enemy by sea and land for such a length of time as can
perhaps be scarcely paralleled in history.” After this it returned home, but two years
later was doing duty at St. Malo; and then formed part of the army of the
Marquis of Granby, and was present at Corbach, Warburg, Kiek-Denkern, and
Wilhelmsthal. In 1776 it was
despatched to the reinforcement of Burgoyne in Canada, and served through
that disastrous campaign until Saratoga, after which it surrendered, and
remained prisioner of war until 1784.
It is somewhat singular that so little mention is made of these
continued and important services, ranging sa they do over more than one
hundred years. The only names on its colours before that of “Egypt” with
the Sphinx, for the share it took in siege of Alexandria in 1801, are
those of Blenheim, Ramillies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet Following the history of the 1st battalion, we find it
taking part in the capture of the Cape of Good Hope in 1806; joining in a
fierce sea-fight with a French squadron in the Mozambique Channel when on
its way to India in 1810, and when, notwithstanding the bravery of the
defence, two of the ships were captured, and the officers and men were
taken prisoners to Mauritius; in Nepaul, an 1814, when the prisoners had
been released and the regiment re-formed in Bengal; and then in Canada in
1837-38. But perhaps the most serious period in its existence was that
passed in the second Sikh War in 1848-49, under Lord Gough.
It was in the actions of Sadoolapore, Chillianwallah, Goojerat,
Remnuggur, and the passage of the Chenab.
At Chillianwallah it lost 23 officers and 527 men killed and
wounded, together with the colours, though one was afterwards found
wrapped round the body of the ensign, who carried it till he fell.
The 13th of January is an unhappy date in the regimental
history, since exactly thirty years later the old 24th again
suffered a loss in men and colours, even more severe than in 1849; for at
Isandhlwanna five complete companies of the 1st battalion, and
about one of the 2nd, were slain, and the colours carried from
the field by Melville and Coghill, at the colonel’s calm direction, to
be found in the river close to which their gallant defenders died to save
them. The bravery of Colonel
Pennycuick and his son at Chillianwallah found a noble parallel both in
this battle, where Colonel Pulleine died, and in the brilliant defence of
Rorke’s Drift by Chard, of the engineers, and Bromhead’s detachment of
the 24th. During the Mutiny the battalion did good service in the
Punjab; and in 1877-8 took part in the Galeka War; after which it fought,
as already described, in the first stages of Zulu War of 1879. The 2nd battalion has had several
existences, so to speak. The
first one was raised in Derby, Nottingham, and Manchester in 1756; but the
very same year it was made independent as the 69th Foot.
The next lived from 1803 to 1805, and earned for the regiment the
distinguished battle-roll of the “Peninsula,” where it fought at
Talavera, Fuentes d’Onor, Salamanca, Vittoria, Burgos, St. Sebastin, the
Pyrenees, the Nivelle, Orthes,
and Toulouse. The third and
last was added in 1858 at Dover, and its first active service of
importance was the campaign in Zululand.
To both battalions belongs the honour, therefore, of having added
to the battle-roll “South Africa, 1877-9.”
The last name there is “Burma, 1885-87.” The first in the list of Victoria Crosses won by officers of
the 24th is singular, for the decoration was not granted for
war services. Dr. C. M.
Douglas and Privates Murphy, Cooper, Bell, and Griffiths were all
decorated for “the very gallant and daring manner in which, on the 7th
May, 1867, they risked their lives in manning a boat, and proceeded
through a dangerous surf to the rescue of some of their comrades, who
formed part of an expedition which had been sent to the Island of Little
Andaman.” The fight at Bechquah, in Ashantee, gained the cross
for E.F Lord Giffard; the Zulu War one for Lieutenant G. Bromhead for
bravery at Rorke’s Drift, as also on the same occasion for Privates
Williams, Hook, W. Jones, R. Jones, F. Hitch, and Corporal Allen; in the
same campaign Lieutenant E. S. Browne received the reward for gallantry at
the Inhlobane Hill; and Lieutenants Melville and Coghill would both have
had it had the lived. In
memory of these brave men and Private Williams, a silver wreath, replacing
that of immortelles given Her Majesty, decorates the colours of the South
Wales Borderers. The old
regimental number of the regiment first appears in 1751; and this was
altered to the “2nd Warwickshire” about 1782, its present
territorial title being given in 1881. The Militia battalions are the “Royal South Wales
Borderers” and the “Royal Montgomery.”
The Volunteer battalions attached are the 1st Brecknock
(scarlet with white facings), the 1st Monmouth (green with
black), and the 2nd and 3rd Monmouth 9also scarlet
and white). The buttons,
waist-plate, and the helmet-plate bear the Welsh dragon and laurel-wreath;
the collar has the Sphinx over “Egypt.” The former nickname was “Howard’s Greens,”
after its colonel and its facings between 1717 and 1737. The depot was at Brecon.
Regimental
Battle Honours,
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1701 - 1715 Blenheim, Ramillies,
Oudenarde, Malplaquet, The expedition against the Dutch at the Cape of Good Hope (1806) during the War of
the Spanish Succession. |
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1808 - 1814 Talavera, Busaco, Fuentos
D'Onoro,
Salamanca, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Orthes during the Peninsula War. |
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1848 - 1849 Chillianwallah,
Goojerat, Punjab during
the Second Sikh War |
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1877 - 1879 Zulu and Basuto War |
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1885 -1887 Third Burma War |
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1899 - 1902 The Boer War |
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1914 - 1918 Mons, Marne 1914, Ypres 1914, 1917,
1918, Gheluvelt, Somme 1916, 1918, Cambrai 1917, 1918, Doiran 1917, 1918,
Landings at Helles, Baghdad, Tsingtao. |
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1939 - 1945 Norway 1940, North Africa, Nmayu
Tunnels, Pinwe, Normandy landings, Sully, Caen,
Le Havre |
VICTORIA CROSS AWARDS.
Twenty Two members of the Regiment have been awarded the
Victoria Cross:
Five in the Andaman Islands, (1873 - 1874) , Ten in
the Zulu and Basuto War, Six during
The First World War.
The Welch Regiment
Raised in 1719 as Colonel Fielding's Regiment of invalids,
changing in 1751 to the 41st Invalids and becoming the 2nd Battalion of
the 24th of foot. and again becoming in 1758 the 69th Foot.
Battle Honours shown on Standards (awards shown
before 1881 are for the 69th)
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1756 - 1763 Belleisle, Martinique during the
Seven Years War |
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1793 - 1802 St. Vincent during the French
Revolutionary war |
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1805 - 1825 India |
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1810 - Bourbon, during the
operations against France |
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1811 - Java during the operations against the Dutch |
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1812 - 1814 Detroit, Qieenstown, Miami, Niagara
during the War of 1812 |
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1815 - Battle of Waterloo |
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1824 - 1826 at Ava during the First Burma War |
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1839 - 1842 Candahar, Ghuznee, Kabul during the
First Afghan War |
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1854 - 1855, Alma, Inkerman, Sebastopol, during the
Crimean war |
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1899 - 1902 Relief of Kimberley, Paardeburg during
the Boer war |
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Defence of Rorkes Drift by Lady Elizabeth Butler.
On January 22nd 1879, during the Zulu War, the small British field hospital and supply depot at Rorkes Drift in Natal was the site of one of the most heroic military defences of all time. Manned by 140 troops of the 24th Regiment, led by Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, the camp was attacke by a well-trained and well-equipped Zulu army of 4000 men, heartened by the great Zulu victory over the British forces at Isandhlwana earlier on the same day. The battle began in mid afternoon, when British remnants of the defeat at Isandhlwana struggled into the camp. Anticipating trouble, Chard set his small force to guard the perimeter fence but, when the Zulu attack began, the Zulus came faster than the British could shoot and the camp was soon overcome. The thatched roof of the hospital was fired by Zulu spears wrapped in burning grass and even some of the sick and the dying were dragged from their beds and pressed into the desperate hand-to-hand fighting. Eventually, Chard gave the order to withdraw from the perimeter and to take position in a smaller compound, protected by a hastily assembled barricade of boxes and it was from behind this barricade that the garrison fought for their lives throughout the night. After twelve hours of battle, the camp was destroyed, the hospital had burned to the ground, seventeen British lay dead and ten were wounded. However, the Zulus had been repulsed and over 400 of their men killed. The Battle of Rorkes Drift is one of the greatest examples of bravery and heroism in British military history. Nine men were awarded Distinguished Conduct Medals, and eleven, the most ever given for a single battle, received the highest military honour of all, the Victoria Cross.
Open edition print. Image size 25 inches x 13 inches (64cm x 33cm) plus white border without text.. Price £36.00
Open edition print. Image size 35 inches x 21 inches (89cm x 53cm). Price £48.00
Open edition print, featuring printed text and images of medals in the border. Image size 25 inches x 13 inches (64cm x 33cm) plus white border with text and medals.. Price £42.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Special Promotion : This print is 30% off for a limited time only! Size 40 inches x 26 inches (102cm x 66cm). Price £504.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited quantity canvas edition. Size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM2000
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Orders Group by John Wynne Hopkins.
British troops on exercise or on duty in Northern Ireland.
Limited edition of 1000 prints. Image size 22 inches x 14 inches (56cm x 36cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 22 inches x 14 inches (56cm x 36cm). Price £135.00
ITEM CODE DHM0694
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The Ceremony of the Keys, HM Tower of London by David Rowlands.
Depicting the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales at the ceremony of the keys.
Signed special edition. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £70.00
Limited edition of 50 artist proofs. Image size 25 inches x 15 inches (64cm x 38cm). Price £95.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 36 inches x 24 inches (91cm x 61cm). Price £500.00
Limited edition of 200 giclee canvas prints. Image size 30 inches x 20 inches (76cm x 51cm). Price £390.00
ITEM CODE DHM1069
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Battle of Gheluvelt, 31st October 1914 by J P Beadle.
The 2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment and South Wales Borderers arriving in the grounds of the Chateau at Gheluvelt after their historic counter attack on 31st October 1914.
Open edition print. Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (59cm x 36cm). Price £48.00
Open edition print. Special Promotion : This print is 30% off for a limited time only! Image size 12 inches x 7 inches (31cm x 18cm). Price £10.92
**Open edition print. (One copy reduced to clear) Image size 23 inches x 14 inches (59cm x 36cm). Price £28.00
ITEM CODE DHM0443
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South Wales Borderers by Harry Payne.
Open edition print. Image size 7 inches x 12 inches (18cm x 31cm). Price £14.00
ITEM CODE UN0006
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The South Wales Borderers (24th Foot) by Richard Simkin (P)
Original chromolithograph published 1895. Image size 10 inches x 13 inches (25cm x 33cm). Price £120.00
ITEM CODE SIMK0061
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The Welsh Regiment (41st & 69th Foot) by Richard Simkin (P)
Original chromolithograph published 1895. Image size 10 inches x 13 inches (25cm x 33cm). Price £120.00
ITEM CODE SIMK0077
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Helping Hand, Rorkes Drift by Chris Collingwood.
Signed limited edition of 75 prints. Paper size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £48.00
Limited edition of 25 artist proofs. Image size 12 inches x 9 inches (31cm x 23cm). Price £55.00
Original pencil drawing produced on high quality art paper. Paper size 18 inches x 24 inches. (46cm x 61cm). Price £350.00
ITEM CODE CCP0035
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Sergeant at Rorkes Drift by Chris Collingwood.
Original pencil drawing produced on high quality art paper Paper size 24 inches x 18 inches. (61cm x 46cm). Price £350.00
ITEM CODE CCP0004
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Lieutenant Philips Rushing Out Under Heavy Fire from The British Trenches At Suvla Bay To Rescue A Wounded Officer.
Seeing an officer, Captain Shenston of the 1/7th Essex Regiment, lying wounded about seventy yards from the British trenches at Suvla Bay on August 14th 1915, Lieutenant C. A. Phillips, who was in charge of a machine gun section of the 1/4th Welsh Regiment, and Staff-Sergeant Grundy ran out a great risk to themselves to assist the wounded officer. They had brought him safely into the British lines when they noticed a wounded comrade, who lay not far from the trenches, appealing for water. They went out again twice, and each time returned with the wounded unscathed to the trenches. Lieutenant Phillips was rewarded by promotion on the field to captain, and subsequently with the M.C. Staff-Sergeant Grundy was rewarded with the D.C.M.
First World War antique black and white book plate published c.1916-18 of glorious acts of heroism during the Great War. This plate may also have text on the reverse side which does not affect the framed side. Title and text describing the event beneath image as shown. Paper size 10.5 inches x 8.5 inches (27cm x 22cm). Price £13.00
ITEM CODE DTE0354
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Officer, 24th Foot 1755 by P H Smitherman
This image shows a mounted officer of the regiment, perhaps the commanding officer or the adjutant, on duty, wearing his crimson sash. The cut of the coat is similar to the others we have seen, but the cuffs in this case are slashed. The slash, the ornamental panel on the cuff, was originally an opening, similar to that on the cuffs of mens coats today, with two or three buttons which could be undone to allow the cuff to be turned back. Cuffs then became larger, and could be turned back without unbuttoning, but often needed some device to hold them up. Often button became part of an elaborate panel, as here. This sort of panel, once worn almost universally, survives today in the full dress tunic of the Foot Guards and could be seen, up to 1939, in the tunic of the Royal Marines. The border here is double, the laced panel with the buttons fitting on to a similar panel on the sleeve. The turned-back cuff of the facing colour is in fact stitched down. This arrangement of two fitting panels appeared in various orders of dress in the Royal Navy about 1770 until 1827, but was not usual in the army. It will be seen that the pockets of the coat have a similar arrangement. The V-shaped cut in the middle of the slash was normally straight at this time, or cut to a point in the middle as are those on the cuffs of the Foot Guards today. The 24th Foot, better known subsequently as the South Wales Borderers, were raised in 1689, and still wear the grass green facings shown here.
One available. Image size 14 inches x 10 inches (36cm x 25cm). Price £24.00
ITEM CODE PHS0014
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Defence of Rorkes Drift by Lady Butler.
Orders Group by John Wynne Hopkins
British troops on exercise or on duty in Northern Ireland.
The Ceremony of the Keys, HM Tower of London by David
Rowlands Depicting the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales at the ceremony
of the keys.
Battle of Gheluvelt, 31st October 1914 by J.P. Beadle
The 2nd Battalion Worcester Regiment and South Wales Borderers arriving
in the grounds of the Chateau at Gheluvelt after their historic counter
attack on 31st October 1914.
Lieutenant Philips Rushing Out
Under Heavy Fire from The British Trenches At Suvla Bay To Rescue A
Wounded Officer. Seeing an officer, Captain Shenston of the 1/7th Essex
Regiment, lying wounded about seventy yards from the British trenches at
Suvla Bay on August 14th 1915, Lieutenant C. A. Phillips, who
was in charge of a machine gun section of the 1/4th Welsh
Regiment, and Staff-Sergeant Grundy ran out a great risk to themselves
to assist the wounded officer. They had brought him safely into the British lines when they
noticed a wounded comrade, who lay not far from the trenches, appealing
for water. They went out
again twice, and each time returned with the wounded unscathed to the
trenches. Lieutenant
Phillips was rewarded by promotion on the field to captain, and
subsequently with the M.C. Staff-Sergeant Grundy was rewarded with the
D.C.M.
Officer, 24th Foot 1755
by P H Smitherman This image shows a mounted officer of the regiment, perhaps the
commanding officer or the adjutant, on duty, wearing his crimson
sash. The cut of the coat is similar to the others we have seen, but
the cuffs in this case are slashed. The slash, the ornamental panel
on the cuff, was originally an opening, similar to that on the cuffs of
mens coats today, with two or three buttons which could be undone to
allow the cuff to be turned back. Cuffs then became larger, and
could be turned back without unbuttoning, but often needed some device to
hold them up. Often button became part of an elaborate panel, as
here. This sort of panel, once worn almost universally, survives
today in the full dress tunic of the Foot Guards and could be seen, up to
1939, in the tunic of the Royal Marines. The border here is double,
the laced panel with the buttons fitting on to a similar panel on the
sleeve. The turned-back cuff of the facing colour is in fact
stitched down. This arrangement of two fitting panels appeared in
various orders of dress in the Royal Navy about 1770 until 1827, but was
not usual in the army. It will be seen that the pockets of the coat
have a similar arrangement. The V-shaped cut in the middle of the
slash was normally straight at this time, or cut to a point in the middle
as are those on the cuffs of the Foot Guards today. The 24th Foot,
better known subsequently as the South Wales Borderers, were raised in
1689, and still wear the grass green facings shown here. |
| Regimental
Books Available: |
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The South Wales
Borderers by Christopher Wilkinson-Latham & Michael Roffe
Book price £8.99. Book serial number
Osprey MA047.
Post: UK- £2.50 (max post for multiple books £6.00).
For Europe £3.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per
total shipment)
Rest of World £6.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee
per total shipment)
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