Description
Welsh Guards ‘Trooping The Colour’ in their Centenary Year
1915 saw the raising of the Welsh Guards by order of King George V. A few days after the Battalion mounted its first King’s Guard at Buckingham Palace. Later that year they found themselves in France ready to do battle. A century on and celebrating their 100 years the Welsh Guards have once again the honour to parade before the country’s reigning monarch as part of the Queen’s Birthday Parade and Trooping The Colour.
To mark both of these historic occasions BFPS, in partnership with the Welsh Guards, is producing a special commemorative cover to be released on the 13 June 2015. The cover carries superb past and present images of the Battalion on ceremonial and combat duties. Signed limited editions will be available to buy.
A Welsh regional definitive stamp will be franked by the unique BFPS numbered 3188 special handstamp, the centre of which shows a silhouette of a leek, the emblem of the Welsh Guards. Included will be an A4 insert sheet with information about “Trooping The Colour 2015” and also a brief history of the Welsh Guards. The insert and covers will be presented in a cellophane sleeve to create a high quality souvenir to mark the event.
Versions of the cover include a standard unsigned priced at £6 and a limited edition signed by Lt Col GR Harris DSO MBE, CO 1st Battalion Welsh Guards (and also ‘Field Officer in Brigade Waiting’) priced at £12.
The image of a soldier standing in the poppy fields of Sangin, Helmand in Afghanistan is of Ian Edwards-Jones, then Colour Sergeant 1st Battalion Welsh Guards. He has kindly given us permission to use this photograph and of the day the picture was taken he has said:
“The picture was taken in the summer of Op Herrick 10, Sangin, Helmand, Afghanistan. I remember the morning very well; our patrol was out on an early morning clearance and ground domination patrol after some heavy engagements. The poppy fields were nearly ready for harvest, which is always a touchy very hostile time. With a morning mist across the valley and wet underfoot, the patrol was heavily armed and nervous. I was bringing up the rear of the patrol with Pte Ian Jansen Van Rensburg, the GPMG Gunner. I would like to thank all the members of Amber 21 during that tour and I have the fullest respect for you all.”
The covers may be purchased from the BFPS online shop (www.bfps.org.uk/shop). They will cost just £6 for the unsigned version and £12 for the signed version (UK/BFPO p&p free). They are available to order now on a strictly first-come-first-served basis. The covers are also available by post by sending a cheque (payable to ‘BFPS CIC’) to BFPS The Old Post Office Links Place
