Welsh Regiment

Welsh Regiment during World War 1

Formed: 1881

Disbanded: 1969

The Welch Regiment (or “The Welch”) was a British Army regiment from 1881 to 1969.
It was formed as part of the wholesale Cardwell reforms of the Army in 1881 from the 41st (Welsh) Regiment of Foot, recruited generally from south west Wales, and remained so until it was amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers (24th Foot) into the Royal Regiment of Wales in 1969.

It should not be confused with the Royal Welch Fusiliers (23rd Foot), recruited generally from Mid Wales and North Wales.

The Welch Regiment can trace its origins from its constituent regiments back to the Regiment of Invalids formed from – among others – Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea (hence the name) in 1688.

Originally organised as the county regiment of Carmarthenshire, Glamorganshire and Pembrokeshire, the new regiment encompassed its Militia and Volunteer infantry and united two regular battalions.