Pte Henry Hook VC, one of the heroes of Rorke’s Drift died in 1905. He was buried with full military honours at St Andrew’s Church, Churcham in Gloucestershire. His funeral was attended by fellow Rorke’s Drift defender Frederick Hitch VC. On 22 September 1906, over his grave was erected an imposing memorial stone but over the years weathering has damaged the lead inscription and stonework. Thanks to a generous benefactor the headstone has been restored to its former glory. It is hoped that a formal re-dedication of the grave will take place next year.

The inscription reads:

IF OUR TIME IS COME, LET US DIE MANFULLY FOR OUR
BRETHRENS SAKE, AND NOT HAVE A CAUSE OF REPROACH
AGAINST OUR GLORY

Over the last few days the press has understandably linked this story with the portrayal of Henry Hook by James Booth in the 1964 movie ‘Zulu’. Over the last 130 years there have been never any doubts about Henry Hook integrity, gallantry and devotion to duty expected of a British soldier. In fact Private Hook also has a brass memorial tablet in Brecon Cathedral – the only soldier of the regiment to be given that honour. However, you may wish to read what has been written about this distinguished soldier in recent days:

Daily Telegraph

Daily Mail

If you wish to visit Churcham:

Google Maps

We congratulate the following soldiers of The Royal Welsh who have been recognised for their outstanding service and commitment during operations in Iraq during the period 31 October 2007 and 31 March 2008. Their actions are in the highest traditions of the Regiment. We salute them and their comrades for a job well done.

Lieutenant Colonel J F P Swift MBE
Appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Lieutenant J P Bedford-Smith
Mentioned in Despatches
Lt Simon Bedford-Smith, a platoon commander with 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, personally took the battle to the militias in a series of engagements during his time in Iraq with the 4 Rifles Battle-group. His platoon frequently braved rifle fire, mortar bombs and rockets but he always led his men to respond in kind, sending a clear message to would-be attackers. His extraordinary contribution, leadership and willingness to take the battle to the enemy on his first operational tour, has been rewarded with a Mention in Dispatches. His citation revealed how he had led his platoon in conducting a ‘fundamental review of security’ at the city's Joint Provincial Co-ordination Centre, a vulnerable coalition outpost, and was involved in more than half-a-dozen withering fire-fights. During one contact, when more than 15 insurgents had opened fire, the officer launched a Javelin missile into the enemy stronghold, crushing the assault.

Major M Williams
Mentioned in Despatches
Major Mark Williams, of 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, proved his mettle by commanding A Company in the vanguard of the manoeuvre battle-group. His consistent, strong leadership, intelligent planning and calm execution under fire, was recognised with a Mention in Dispatches. Major Williams's citation recalled how the officer had spearheaded an operation into the dangerous AI Jumhuriya area of Basra, coming under attack and losing one of his Warrior drivers to a roadside bomb. He pressed on to the objective and co-ordinated a complex strike to detain insurgent suspects before pulling out. He suffered the loss of a further soldier to hostile fire when the British armoured vehicles were ambushed in the Hay Hatin district, but he did not falter. Major Williams was also involved in the clearance of vital convoy routes to Basra Palace, braving hits from roadside bombs during actions lasting up to six hours. He led the extraction of troops from the Joint Provincial Co-ordination Centre, rallying his troops to deliver a faultless operation.

Pte J J Illidge
Mentioned in Despatches
Commanders were astonished to hear how Pte Joseph Illidge had remained at his seat, even after his vehicle was hit by four RPG rounds and with the fierce heat of the Iraqi summer sending temperatures in the cabin shooting towards 700C. Having been tasked to clear a convoy route, the member of 2nd Battalion, The Royal Welsh and his colleagues were ambushed by the enemy after the re-supply wagons were delayed. In the ensuing wait, the Warriors in the 20-year-old’s company were transformed into ovens, with soldiers collapsing in the intense heat. Realising there were no more drivers to take his place, Pte Illidge stripped off until he was near-naked and doused himself in water to remain conscious. His heroism, rewarded with a Mention in Dispatches, was confirmed a week later when he was wounded by mortar fire at Basra Palace while preparing to head out on a convoy towards the city's Provincial Joint Coordination Centre. He ran to get help for two other injured soldiers before joining his comrades, driving the Warrior despite the searing pain of the shrapnel wounds to his legs. Patched up by medics, it was only after he arrived back at the Palace five hours later that he sought proper treatment, when he was evacuated back to the Contingency Operating Base. Pte Illidge's citation paid tribute to his courage. ‘These two examples are typical of a soldier who has consistently been courageous, dedicated and resilient.’

Pte M F Azman
3rd Battalion TA attached 2nd Battalion
Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service (QCVS)

We thank the Soldier Magazine (August 2008 edition) for their reports on Major M Williams, Lieut J P Bedford-Smith and Pte J J Illidge.

Reigning champions 2 R Welsh battled back from a ten-point deficit to retain Rugby Union's Army Premiership Cup in a thrilling rain-soaked final at Aldershot, writes Soldier Magazine’s reporter, Roger Thompson.

Like opponents 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC, the Welshmen only returned from operations at the turn of the year and had to play catch-up at a furious pace simply to make it into the competition.

But qualify they did and an effective display propelled the holders to a 17-10 victory that few in the capacity crowd would have predicted at half time.

The loggies sprang out of the traps the fastest as they looked to avenge last season's 22-12 defeat and although number eight Pte Joe Kava loomed large, the Fijian was too often isolated.

With the forwards failing to make an impact, 23 Pioneer found inspiration through Pte Max Vave, whose two tries gave his side a double-figure lead going into the second half .

With their grasp on the trophy loosening, the champions introduced LCpl Chris Budgen from the bench and the prop led a series of short charges to dent his opponent's confidence.

As the Welsh forwards turned the screw, 23 Pioneer lost their composure to give away five cheap penalties, four of which full back LCpl James Balfrey slotted home to put his side into the lead for the first time.

Trailing 12-10, the Pioneers responded well, but a Welsh counter attack ended with scrum half LCpl Marc Jones delicately lobbing into the corner for wing Cpl Tavis Rees to score.

Balfrey missed the conversion, but his side held on to ensure their name remains on the Premiership trophy.

For more stories, fixtures and results, visit SoldierSport at

See Soldier Magazine

A total of 8 soldiers from The Royal Welsh have received honours and awards in the Operational Honours List published on 7 March 2008.

The full list which included 184 names recognises service on operations in Northern Ireland, former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq and other operations for the period 1 April 2007 to 30 September 2007.

AFGHANISTAN

Military Cross (MC)
Fusilier Damion Mark HIELDS

See The Sunday Times for more details


IRAQ

Military Cross (MC)
Corporal Richard Thomas PASK
Major Stephen Nicholas WEBB

Mention in Despatches (MiD)
Private Benjamin John CHAMBERLAIN
Captain David Gareth Evan EVANS
Lance Corporal Darren Stephen GREGORY
Captain Richard Edward Derwent MOGER
Corporal Kelly Lee PETERS

We send our congratulations to those honoured and to all Royal Welsh soldiers for a job well done. At the same time we remember the three soldiers of The Royal Welsh and two from The Royal Regiment of Scotland who gave their lives while serving with 2nd Battalion in Iraq.

BBC Wales link

From 'The Western Mail' - 4th March 2008

ZULU is one of the first films to get a digital makeover. The classic Welsh hero epic, which stars and was co-produced by Ferndale's Stanley Baker, is to be re-mastered in high definition (HD).

It will be screened as part of Sky's Sir Michael Caine season to celebrate his 75th birthday later this month.

Meanwhile, Hollywood studios are working their way through their back catalogue to re-master classic films for high definition services and Blu-ray DVD, which offers improved sound and picture quality.
Sky plans to invest in accelerating the process for British films to make them suitable for its movie channels and akin to looking at "a restored painting".

The 1964 film, once voted the 37th best British fIlm, depicts the actions of around 140 soldiers of the Brecon based 24th Regiment of Foot - later the South Wales Borderers - as they defend the remote outpost of Rorke's Drift in Natal against 4,000 Zulu warriors in 1879.

Among the lines hammering home the Welsh connections are when soldier Jones 593 says to a newcomer, “This is a Welsh regiment, although there are some foreigners from England in it, mind” and the laments of Private Thomas, who, while looking wearily at the South African countryside, says,- “This country’s not a bit as good as Bala and the lake there. Not really green, like.”

There is also a rousing rendition of Men of Harlech. Baker plays Lieutenant John Chard, a gruff contrast to Caine's “I say, old boy” Gonville Bromhead, and it also stars Ivor Emmanuel, from Pontrhydyfen. The opening and closing narration is by Richard Burton.

Ian Lewis, director of Sky Movies, committed the company to investing in re-mastering the classics. He said, “Watching a classic title re-mastered in HD is like viewing a restored painting.”

The announcement comes four days after soldiers from 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh celebrated St David’s Day at their Wiltshire base in the company of Chief Buthelezi, a Zulu leader whose ancestors were among those who fought the British at Rorke's Drift.

One-time foes have met as friends at the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh in Brecon on Friday 29 February to remember the soldiers who fought in the Anglo-Zulu War nearly 130 years ago.

Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, present day Zulu leader and traditional Prime Minister of the Zulu people, whose ancestors took part in the famous battle of Rorke's Drift, said his visit had been "emotional". He added that his people treasured the link they had with Wales.

Many of the British soldiers of the 24th Regiment who defended Rorke's Drift were trained at Brecon barracks.

Chief Buthelezi, 80, on his first ever visit to Wales, was shown Zulu spears, clubs, necklaces and other belongings taken as trophies by British troops from the battlefields. He seemed fascinated by the items on display at a regimental museum and was shown the Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant Gonville Bromhead after Rorke’s Drift.

Later he was taken by the Curator, Martin Everett, to Brecon Cathedral to see the Queen’s Colour of the 1/24th that was saved by Lieutenants Melvill and Coghill after the British disaster at the battle of Isandlwana which took place a few hours before Rorke’s Drift. See BBC Wales

The trip to Brecon followed a visit to 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh at Tidworth. Chief Buthelezi was the guest of honour at the battalion’s traditional St David’s Day ceremonies. See BBC News

You may not have noticed but there is currently a guard at the gates of Cardiff Castle. The soldiers come from A Company, 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh who are based in Tidworth and have recently returned from 6 month’s operational tour in Iraq. The purpose of the guard is to re-enforce the historic links the Regiment has with the City of Cardiff and its citizens. The Regiment was formed in Cardiff on St David’s Day 2006 when 1st Battalion The Royal Welch Fusiliers and 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot) became 1st and 2nd Battalions The Royal Welsh and the infantry territorials in Wales became the 3rd Battalion. The soldiers will remain at the Castle until Sunday 2nd March 2008.

How do you really find out which is the best war film ever made? Forget asking a film critic, go straight to those who should know. A survey conducted by British Forces Broadcasting Service Television (BFBS TV) has shown that the most popular war film of all time amongst the British Forces worldwide is the 1964 classic Zulu*.

These results illustrate that the British Forces have a very different idea as to what makes a great war film in comparison with the general public. When the British people voted for Channel 4’s 100 Greatest War Films, in 2005, Zulu was only voted 8th. Similarly, The Cruel Sea (1952) was placed 41st by the general public but was ranked 7th by the British Forces.

It’s a tribute to Zulu’s iconic status that the vast majority of those serving on the frontline in Afghanistan today were not even born when it was made. Saving Private Ryan (1998) and A Bridge Too Far (1977) were ranked second and third respectively.

General Sir Mike Jackson, former Chief of the General Staff, was torn between A Bridge Too Far, The Longest Day, and Saving Private Ryan. Whilst the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Jonathan Band, chose Tora! Tora! Tora! which didn’t make it into the Top 20. BFBS TV will be showing the top three films on consecutive nights from 1st February.

* The top 20 war films as voted for by the British Forces are as follows:


1. Zulu (1964)
2. Saving Private Ryan (1998)
3. A Bridge Too Far (1977)
4. Full Metal Jacket (1987)
5. The Great Escape (1963)
6. Platoon (1986)
7. The Cruel Sea (1953)
8. The Longest day (1962)
9. Enemy At The Gates (2001)
10. Ice Cold In Alex (1958)
11. We Were Soldiers (2002)
12. Black Hawk Down (2001)
13. Apocalypse Now (1979)
14. Das Boot (1981)
15. Kelly’s Heroes (1970)
16. Schindler’s List (1993)
17. Cross of Iron (1977)
18. The Dam Busters (1954)
19. Where Eagles Dare (1968)
20. Battle of Britain (1969)

For more information please contact Simon Mundell on 0207 993 3006 or email:
simon@oneismore.com

BFBS TV delivers its channels via DTT transmitters in most areas of Iraq and Afghanistan, so that service personnel can watch TV anywhere that there is a power source, rather than being limited to a communal TV in a mess tent. British Forces can watch BFBS TV via an inexpensive freeview style box in their own tent or on their laptop with a USB stick.

BFBS TV is part of UK Forces charity the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), providing TV, Radio, Cinemas, SSVC audio-visual shops and CSE live entertainment to British troops throughout the world.

Taffy III, the stuffed goat mascot of the regiment, is back on display in the museum.

He has been away since July 2006 – borrowed by the Imperial War Museum (IWM) for an exhibition called 'The Animals’ War'. This exhibition was held at the IWM in London before transferring to the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

Before Taffy could go on display, he had to be checked for lice and other infestations. He has been well cared for in Brecon and had a clean bill of health!

'The Animals’ War' showed the many roles animals and birds have played in conflict, such as search and rescue, transport, pest control, guard duties, communication, mine detection, and (as Taffy did) raising morale as mascots.

Other creatures on display included dogs, a ferret, a pig, a horse, pigeons, and a bear. Many animals, such as dolphins, camels and elephants were shown in photographs and paintings.

We were delighted to work in partnership with the Imperial War Museum and give many thousands of people the chance to see Taffy on display in London and Manchester. We are also grateful to Phillip and Matt Yates of M&G Transport and Technical Services of Blackburn who took great care of Taffy on his return journey home to Brecon.

With 2008 upon us, we at Fugitives’ Drift are beginning to look back on a remarkably difficult year. But, as David Rattray has taught us all so well to do, we are looking back and driving on.

Obviously David’s shoes will never, and could never, be filled, but his drive and direction are ever present. With Rob Caskie at the fore, the highest standard of lectures continues, both on the battlefields and abroad, while Nicky Rattray continues to maintain the remarkably high standards in all aspects of the Lodge and Guest House which she and David strove for nearly 18 years ago.

Although Rob, Joseph Ndima and George Irwin continue to deliver the most passionate and complete accounts of the Anglo-Zulu War battlefields (Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana particularly), Fugitives’ Drift can offer so much more. After a morning or afternoon trip to the battlefields, relaxing walks or horse rides through this 5,000 acre game reserve and bird haven are as enjoyable as relaxing by the pool and enjoying the remarkable views over Zululand. Avid historians can be entertained by a plethora of extra trips to less visited battlefields, while other guests may enjoy experiencing the more cultural side to Zululand; a three or four night stay at Fugitives’ will not be wasted.

“An experience not to be missed and never forgotten…”

www.fugitives-drift-lodge.com

Pupils from Llanigon County Primary School used their school website to report on their workshop 'Finding Out About Life on the Home Front in World War Two' at the Regimental Museum in Brecon. You can see them busy using artefacts and documents to research information:
http://www.llanigon.powys.sch.uk/classwork/showpages.php?id=104&layout=2

They then continued this work with artefacts from one of our six loan boxes. Teacher Garry Smith was keen to incorporate IT skills into this work, and you can see the results at:
http://www.llanigon.powys.sch.uk/classwork/showpages.php?id=109&layout=2

The pupils were also lucky enough to use artefacts brought to school by families and local people, including a tail fin from an incendiary bomb and a splendid garment made from blackout fabric. Education Adviser Alison Hembrow was pleased to see these on her outreach visit to Llanigon.

Thank you to the pupils of Llanigon, teacher Garry Smith, and Head Mandy Edwards for their warm welcome.

Rhosgoch County Primary School was one of many schools which visited the Regimental Museum at Brecon this term to do the workshop 'Finding Out About Life on the Home Front in World War Two'. They then hired one of our loan boxes of artefacts on this topic, so they could carry on in school the investigative work they had been doing in the museum. Education Adviser Alison Hembrow followed this up with an outreach visit, taking more artefacts such as a baby’s gas mask for the children to study. She was delighted to see the loan box items put to excellent use as the focal point of a classroom display.

As she left the class were rehearsing for their end-of-term production, which also linked in with World War Two – we hope it all went well! Thank you to Headmaster Robert Downing and his pupils for their hospitality.

The Regimental Museum Executive Committee broke from their monthly meeting yesterday to visit the basement floor of the newly completed Interpretation Centre in Cardiff Castle. This exciting new space has been allocated to the Regimental Museums of the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and The Royal Welsh. It will form part of an enhanced visitor experience which will also include the ‘Victorians’ and the ‘Romans’ in other parts of the castle. The committee were being shown around by Pat Thompson, the Castle’s Project Manager.

The 2nd Battalion The Royal Welsh, who are based in Tidworth, Wiltshire, were greeted with a tremendous reception when they marched through the streets of Cardiff on their return from a six months tour of duty in Iraq. It had been both the most dangerous and demanding tour yet also saw a genuine turning point in the campaign. For some soldiers it was their third tour but for over 220 soldiers it was their first and their medals were presented by Lt Gen Sir Freddie Viggers (Adjutant General) deputising for the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Andrew Farquhar (Commanding 5 Division) and Brigadier James Bashall (Commanding 1 Mechanised Brigade) in the famous Millennium Stadium.

The parade was followed by a Drumhead Memorial Service to remember the five soldiers the battalion had lost. Participating in the very moving service was the Prince of Wales’s Division Band and the Morrison Orpheus Male Voice Choir. Some 3,000 families and friends joined the soldiers of the battalion to pay tribute to:

Pte Craig Barber (2 Royal Welsh)
LCpl Ryan Francis (2 Royal Welsh)
Cpl Paul Joszko (2 Royal Welsh)
Pte Scott Kennedy (Black Watch, 3 Royal Regiment of Scotland)
Pte Jamie Kerr (Black Watch, 3 Royal Regiment of Scotland)

The Regimental Museum Brecon was delighted to receive 93 splendid drawings of Zulus from Sciennes Primary School in Edinburgh. The pupils from Primary 7 (10-11 years old) drew them as part of a project with art teacher Stephanie Troon from James Gillespie’s High School, Edinburgh. Our Education Adviser Alison Hembrow took a morning out from her recent holiday in Edinburgh to visit Sciennes Primary School, to thank them for their interest in the museum and to give an illustrated presentation about the soldiers and events of 1879 to all 93 pupils and their teachers.

The James Gillespie’s High School has links with schools in Kwa-Zulu Natal, and Sciennes teacher Forrest Howie is a member of the Anglo Zulu War Historical Society, so we were pleased to be able to add to the pupils’ existing knowledge of and interest in the Zulus. Alison is grateful to Sciennes for the warm welcome provided by Headteacher Alison Noble and her staff; she enjoyed her visit to Sciennes and was very impressed by the pupils and their work.


Sciennes Primary School website:http://www.sciennes.edin.sch.uk/
James Gillespie’s High School website:http://www.jghs.edin.sch.uk/
Anglo Zulu War Historical Society website: http://anglozuluwar.com/home/

Recent improvements on the internet could help you in military family history research, in particular:

* Army Service Records for soldiers serving after 1920
* Claiming campaign medals
* Finding details of service casualties since WW2

The Home Page of the British Army Website www.army.mod.uk now has a section headed ‘Veterans’. This section (bottom right-hand side of home page) covers Veterans UK, Medals/Badges, Pensions, and Service Records.

1. Clicking on ‘Service Records’ (4th bullet point under the Veterans heading), it is possible for a member of the general public to download a Subject Access Request (SAR) Form. The completed form can be sent direct the APC, Glasgow (the full postal address is on the form). Enquirers should however clearly read the instructions particularly about Proof of Identity on the web page before completing and sending the form. There is now a helpline number for APC, Glasgow 0845 600 9663 from which additional advice can be obtained. However, the SAR form has to be completed for every request, i.e. the helpline does not handle telephone requests for service records.

2. Clicking on ‘Medals/Badges’ (2nd bullet point under the Veterans heading), it is possible for a member of the general public and non-serving personnel to download a Medal Application Form. There is advice on claiming for particular medals, i.e. Canal Zone and the Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal, and the Veterans Badge. For additional advice from the MoD (Joint Service) Medal Office at RAF Innsworth there is now a free phone number 0800 085 3600 and an email address JPAC@afpaa.mod.uk

3. On Friday 12 October 2007, HM The Queen unveiled the Armed Forces Memorial at National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire. The memorial contains the names of 16,000 servicemen and servicewomen killed on duty or as a result of terrorist action since WW2. The Roll of Honour currently provides information up to 31 December 2006. Access to the Roll of Honour and a facility to print a certificate is available at www.forcesmemorial.org.uk The Memorial itself was open to visitors from 29 October 2007.

Dear Contributors,

I write to thank you for your generous support in contributing through the South Wales Borderers Museum Trust to The David Rattray Foundation and to give you a brief update on progress.

We set out initially to cover the costs of the funeral and to commission a portrait and a bronze bust of David. We have a beautiful painting of David (an image of which is attached) and the sculptor has begun to work on the bust. Thanks to Mark Read we have incurred costs at a fraction of the going market rate for these two items.

An amount of approximately 610,000 RAND after settlement of 292,000 RAND of funeral costs and 40,000 RAND for artworks, was put into the foundation. The Isandlwana Education Appeal Trust and the Rorke’s Drift Education Fund will be consolidated into the Foundation which will add a further 400,000 RAND (approximately), resulting in a total fund of approximately 1,010,000 RAND which is available for Education and Health projects. All of the amounts quoted will be finalised in due course by the auditors.

The Foundation was introduced at the launch of David’s wonderful book in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.

We have secured sponsorship from two Corporations to fund dinners in Johannesburg and London hosting lectures on history and political reconciliation and are in the process of soliciting suitable calibre speakers. More on these events will follow in due course.

A group of Foundation Directors and a local Chief conducted an on-site inspection of the schools in Rorke’s Drift and Isandlwana area to gain a first-hand understanding of the communities’ needs. A list of projects to develop these schools is being finalised and quotations are being gathered for the first project to build 3 classrooms at Mathutshana.

Internet Solutions donated a stand at their annual conference attended by more than 1,200 customers who were invited to purchase books; Nicky has generously agreed to donate 25% of these proceeds to the Foundation.

Sarah Wharton-Hood has agreed to work part-time, pro-bono, to helping carry on the Foundation’s activities and Myles Ruck has kindly made the services of his assistant Desiree Leggett in support. We are grateful to all these people.

Finally, we have started an initiative whereby foundation members, or any person who attended the funeral, taking a group of 6 or more people to the Lodge will be invited to plant an indigenous commemoration tree in living memory of David at a local school which tree will be suitably marked with that person’s name. Nicky has kindly offered a 10% discount for such groups who book directly with the lodge. Pat Goss has generously donated the first 100 trees.

More exciting opportunities to perpetuate David’s legacy and sustain the Foundation are in planning. I look forward to updating you more on these in due course.


Kind regards

Rob Taylor

On 31 July 2007 a blue plaque was unveiled in the gardens of Llanelli Town Hall in a ceremony to coincide with the 90th anniversary of an act of bravery for which Llanelli resident Ivor Rees was awarded the Victoria Cross.

The plaque was instigated and funded locally by the service veterans of Llanelli and the generosity of private donors.

Sergeant Ivor Rees enlisted into the 11th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers in 1914 at the age of 21. Arriving at the Western Front in 1915, he served with distinction, taking part in the capture of the notorious Mametz Wood in July 1916. Exactly a year later, the South Wales Borderers were tasked with attacking the heavily fortified Iron Cross ridge near Pilckem during the third battle of Ypres (known as Passchendaele). As the 11th Battalion approached its objective a machine gun opened fire upon the battalion at close range, inflicting heavy casualties. With complete disregard for his own personal safety Sergeant Rees led his platoon to over-run the machine gun emplacement. By capturing this position Sergeant Rees undoubtedly saved many lives and proved to be an inspiration to his fellow soldiers.

The blue plaque together with an adjoining descriptive panel was unveiled by the Chairman of Carmarthenshire County Council, Councillor Dewi Enoch. The impressive ceremony was witnessed by no less than 59 members of Ivor Rees’s family together with representatives from the Royal Welsh (the present day regiment), other local service associations and many civic dignitaries.

See link
For more info

Taffy the goat is a favourite with visitors at the Regimental Museum in Brecon. But he is just starting a two-year holiday from the Museum, as he has been selected to appear in an important exhibition.

“The Animals’ War” is a high-profile Imperial War Museum exhibition which starts in London (14th July 2006 to 22nd April 2007) and then transfers to the IWM North in Manchester. It tells the story of all creatures great and small caught up in conflict on the home front and in the front line of battle.

Brecon’s Taffy is Taffy III, who was the mascot of the 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales. He died on 7th June 1993 and his remains, suitably preserved, were presented to the Regimental Museum in Brecon. For the past 13 years he has stood guard and – with his silver horn-caps, colourful regimental coat, and regimental head-plate – has generated much interest from visitors.

In “The Animals’ War” Taffy III will represent Taffy IV of the Welch Regiment. Taffy IV was a Royal Goat, presented by Edward VII. He served in World War One, accompanying the 2nd Welch in August 1914 from Southampton Docks via Le Havre to the Western Front. He was with them during the epic retreat from Mons, with them at the first Battle of Ypres and Gheluvelt, and later at Festubert and Givenchy. Worn out by the campaign and old age, he died 20th January 1915 and was buried at Bethune – the only Royal Goat to die on active service. Taffy IV was awarded the 1914 Star campaign medal.

It is for this heroic story that Brecon’s Taffy III will provide a focal point at the Imperial War Museum exhibition. Hundreds of thousands of visitors will see him and learn of his links with Brecon. We look forward to his return after his two-year tour!

For more about “The Animals’ War”…..

http://london.iwm.org.uk/server/show/conEvent.992

It is 100 years since Henry Hook was laid to rest in the quiet Gloucester churchyard of St Andrew's Church at Churcham with much pomp and ceremony. For Private Henry Hook was one of those gallant soldiers who defended the mission station at Rorke's Drift in far off Natal on 22nd/23rd January 1879. Eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded that day – included in this select number was Henry Hook of Churcham whose gallantry under fire was recognized for saving the lives of the sick patients held in the building being used as a temporary field hospital.

On Saturday 3rd September 2005 at an impressive graveside service organised by the 1879 Group Living History Group, Henry Hook's passing and gallantry was again remembered. Gathered in the small churchyard were members of his family, comrades from his old regiment – the 24th Foot – now the Royal Regiment of Wales and relatives of other defenders of Rorke's Drift, namely Private Frederick Hitch VC and Private John (Fielding) Williams VC.

The service was conducted by the Very Reverend Nicholas Bury, Dean of Gloucester and the music provided by Lydney Town Band. At the end of the service wreaths were laid, and the last post and reveille sounded. The tranquillity of the day was poignantly broken by a volley fired by the 1879 Group as those present paused to remember a truly gallant man of Gloucestershire.

One other man remembered during the service was actor James Booth who recreated the role of Henry Hook in the 1964 movie ‘Zulu'. This portrayal although memorable, as written by the film scriptwriter, John Prebble, was far from the actual real life character and upset the family considerably. He was to be invited to the service but sadly died age 77 years a few weeks earlier.

Page: 1 | 2