"The Welsh Guards Ensign with Colours. is one of our speciality "Regimental" pieces. Authenticated always by the current Colonel of the appropriate formation, these series form an accurate figurative history of the British Army.
The Welsh Guards was raised on 26 February 1915 by order of His Majesty King George V, in order to include Wales in the National Complement of Regiments of Foot Guards identified with the countries of the United Kingdom. Two days after their formation the Battalion mounted its first King's Guard at Buckingham Palace on 1 March 1915 - St David's Day.
On 17 March 1915 the 1st Battalion sailed for France and formed part of the Guards Division. Its first battle was fought at Loos on 27 September 1915 and the Regiment's first Victoria Cross was won by Sergeant Robert Bye at Pilckem in July 1917. Between the wars, the 1st Battalion was stationed in Cologne, Egypt and Gibraltar, where it was at the outbreak of war in 1939.
The Regiment was expanded to three Battalions during World War II. the 1st Battalion fought in all the campaigns of North West Europe. the 2nd Battalion was formed in1939 and fought in Boulogne in 1940, whilst the 1st Battalion was in Belgium as part of the British Expeditionary Force. In May 1940, at the Battle of Arras, the Regiment's second Victoria Cross was won by Lieutenant the Hon Christopher Furness, who was killed in action. In 1941, a 3rd Battalion was raised and fought throughout the Tunisian and Italian Campaigns.
Meanwhile, the 1st and 2nd Battalions formed part of the Guards Armoured Division - the 1st Battalion as infantry and the 2nd Battalion as an Armoured Battalion. The two Battalions, working together, were the first troops to re-enter Brussels on 3 September 1944 after an advance of 100 miles in one day, in what was described as 'an armoured dash unequalled for speed in this or any other war'.
Shortly after the war, the 3rd Battalion was disbanded and the 2nd Battalion was placed in suspended animation. Since 1945, the 1st Battalion has served in the United Kingdom, Palestine, Egypt, Germany, Aden and Cyprus and has exercised in many other parts of the world including Canada, Greece, Norway, Kenya and Belize.
In more recent years the 1st Battalion has carried out five six-month and one two-year operational tours in Northern Ireland and in 1982 formed part of the Task Force in the Falklands Campaign, the Battle Honour for which is now borne on the Colours.
The Regiment's recruits come from Wales and Shropshire. Her Majesty the Queen is Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment and the Prince Of Wales is Colonel of the Regiment.
This figure is supplied with a Rosewood base with polished brass embellishments.
