Preceded by a Concert by the Band of the Welsh Guards and the Battalion choir the evening before in the Holy Trinity Parish & Garrison Church, on Sunday 1st March 2020 the Regiment celebrated St David's Day with 1st Battalion Welsh Guards in Combermere Barracks, Windsor for the first time ever.
True to tradition the day started with a church service, again held at the Holy Trinity Parish & Garrison Church, where the Battalion Padre, The Reverend Matthew Dietz CF, conducted the service. The Regiment was delighted to welcome so many families and members of the Association who had travelled from North and South Wales to support the Battalion on this special day, made all the more special as the occasion was chosen as the ideal time to move and rededicate the Falkland Cross from it's home at Alexander Barracks, Pirbright to it's new permanent home in Windsor.
The simple wooden cross with the Welsh Guards plaque attached was erected by members of the Battalion in the Falklands Islands in 1982 in remembrance of all those Welsh Guardsmen that perished. This is just the second time it has moved and hopefully this will be its home for many years to come. It was carried into the church by Brigadier JF Rickett CBE and Captain JF Everett.
The church service, was followed by the presentation of Leeks. This year, in the presence of Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank GCB GCVO OBE DL, Major General Chris Ghika CBE, Major General Commanding The Household Division and General Officer Commanding London District, presented the Leeks and took the salute as members of the Battalion and Welsh Guards Association took to the Combermere Barracks square and marched past.
Whilst 1st Battalion Welsh Guards were celebrating a traditional St David's Day in Windsor, over 5,000 miles South West, members of The Prince of Wales's Company in Belize took a short break from their final exercise and celebrated with the British High Commissioner, Ms Claire Evans OBE presenting the Leeks.
Further afield still and almost 8,000 miles due South, Welsh Guards Falklands War Veterans on the annual pilgrimage to the Falkland Islands celebrated St David's Day at Fitzroy whilst remembering their comrades lost in the conflict in 1982.
The superb set of photographs produced by the Welsh Guards Association Assistant Secretary General, Mr Neil Rice, of the Battalion event can be viewed here.
