Martinique

 30th JANUARY 1809 – ON THIS DAY IN ROYAL WELCH HISTORY

1/23rd landed on Martinique, 1809

Martinique was a French naval base in the West Indies. It was decided to capture the island.  A force landed on 30 January and Morne Bruneau was seized on 1 February followed, on the 2nd, by the heights of Des Sourier, which was taken thanks to the ‘determined bravery of the whole detachment.’  During the action the Regiment captured one redoubt for the loss of 26 men killed and wounded. The resulting French counterattack cost the Regiment a further 126 killed and wounded. The Commanding Officer Col Ellis (later killed as Waterloo) was asked to provide his Grenadier Company to storm the last redoubt. He replied “Sir, I will take the flints out of their firelocks and they shall take it.”  

The Royal Welch were awarded 'MARTINIQUE, 1809' as a Battle Honour which to this day is borne on the Regimental Colour. Furthermore, the Napoleonic Eagle standard the French equivalent of British 'Colours'-of the 82nd Regiment of Infantry, which was captured at Martinique, was presented to the Regiment.

Holocaust Memorial Day

 #HolocaustMemorialDay  Read about RWF Charlie Evan's account as he recalls Auschwitz horror

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4207241.stm

Lisbon

 20th January 1827 – ON THIS DAY IN ROYAL WELCH HISTORY 

23rd of Foot landed at Lisbon, 1827

England was asked for military support by Portugal whose internal affairs were being meddled in by Spain.  An expeditionary force was despatched and the RWF landed at Lisbon. The force was not engaged in any operations but remained in Portugal until the following year, when the Regiment embarked at Lisbon on 12 March. 

Keys of Corunna

 18th JANUARY 1809 – ON THIS DAY IN ROYAL WELCH HISTORY 

The keys of Corunna, Spain, 1809

Following its retreat, Sir John Moore’s army reached Corunna on 11 January.  Five days later the French attacked and the British began embarking on the ships in the harbour. 2 RWF were part of the rearguard.  Lieutenant Colonel William Edgell Wyatt led the 2nd Battalion throughout the retreat. On the night of the 17th/18th it was the only battalion still ashore.  On their way to embark they paused at the postern gate which Captain Fletcher, 2 RWF, locked behind him and pocketed the keys. CORUNNA became a battle honour.

9th January 1916

 9th JANUARY 1916 – ON THIS DAY IN ROYAL WELCH HISTORY

8 RWF Evacuated from Gallipoli.

One of the last battalions to leave the Gallipoli peninsula.  The Turks started an attack on the left of the line on the 7th.  There was heavy enemy artillery fire which causing about 30 casualties.  The battalion evacuation began after dark. At 8 p.m. on the 8th the main body withdrew leaving a rearguard to hold the line until nearly midnight.  8 RWF were evacuated from W Beach to Lemnos and arrived in Egypt on the 30th.

I am to be shot

 

https://www.rte.ie/radio/doconone/1242818-i-am-to-be-shot

#OTD 1st Jan 1930

 #OTD 1st January 1930

The 1st Battalion, the Royal Welch Fusiliers took part in the Proclamation Parade at Quetta, India now in modern day Pakistan. Lieutenant Colonel E.O. Skaife OBE was the commanding officer of the battalion at this time.