thumb|150px|right|The [[goat mascot and Goat Major of the Royal Regiment of Wales, 1999.]]

The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division. It was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers and the Welch Regiment. The 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) had a short existence in military terms, just over 36 years. Within two months of amalgamation, the battalion was one of the first units to be deployed to Northern Ireland.

In 2006, the regiment amalgamated with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to form the Royal Welsh.

History

The regiment was formed in 1969 by the amalgamation of the South Wales Borderers and the Welch Regiment. The then Prince Charles (later King Charles III) was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of the new regiment in early 1969, his first Army appointment. The amalgamation parade of the two regiments took place in Cardiff Castle in early 1969, in front of the then Prince Charles.

From 1969 to 1973 the regiment was posted to Osnabrück in West Germany, returning to Northern Ireland on two occasions for short tours.

The battalion returned to Belfast in 1973 for two years as the resident unit then in 1975 it was posted for two years in West Berlin.

  • 11 June 1969 - Lieutenant-General Sir David Peel Yates KCB CVO DSO OBE
  • 25 September 1977 - Major-General Lionel Alexander Digby Harrod OBE
  • 1 January 1983 - Major-General Lennox Alexander Hawkins Napier CB OBE MC DL
  • 1 October 1989 - Brigadier Kenneth John Davey CBE MC DL
  • 1 October 1994 - Brigadier David de Gonville Bromhead CBE LVO
  • 22 October 1999 - Major-General Christopher Haslett Elliott CVO CBE
  • 1 November 2004 – 1 March 2006 - Brigadier Robert Hanbury Tenison Aitken
  • 2006: Regiment amalgamated with The Royal Welch Fusiliers to form The Royal Welsh

Regimental goat

The Royal Regiment of Wales was one of two British regiments to have a goat as its mascot. The other one was the Royal Welch Fusiliers. The regiment's goats were always named Taffy plus a Roman numeral to show the succession, and are traditionally selected from the royal herd kept at Whipsnade Zoo, an outstation of the London Zoo. It's fitting that the two regiments with goat-mascots have now combined as one. The soldier in charge of the mascot is styled as the "Goat Major", who, unlike what the rank suggests, is a corporal.

References

  • Goat Mascot of The Royal Regiment of Wales
  • - Containing information about the Band, the Regimental Goat, and recordings
  • Museums of The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot)