Royal Welsh Army (Welsh History Post Glyndwr)

Amongst the oldest Armies in Europe (only England, France, Spain and Portugal are older in terms of countries still in existance) the Welsh Army has seen substantial changes over the years. It has been influenced by many outside agencies. For most of its history it has paralleled the British Army, both in regimental and organisational matters. In the 20th Century the notable influences have been the Germans in the thirties and the United States from the 1950’s onwards. From the largely volunteer organisation of the Great War era to the conscripted army of the 1950s (National Service), it has settled again onto a volunteer based system. There are approx 25,000 soldiers in the Army, 11,000 regulars and 14,000 in the reserve Militias. The Army is very much like its cousins across the Bristol Channel in ethos and operation however prolonged exposure to US troops that were based in the country until the late 80’s has had an effect. Welsh soldiers wear US style uniform, salute in the American style and much of the equipment used is of US or Canadian manufacture.

The current Commander of the Army is Field Marshal Alun ap Grufydd Cleddyf-Gof. A former Infantry officer of great experience having fought in the 60s alongside the US Army and on operations in the first Gulf War.

History of the Byddin Frenhiniol Gymreig (BFG)
The Army started as most European armies did, as feudal levies raised by the Lords to serve in war and then to return to their previous occupations. The Welsh were a little different as for the 100 years or so following the Edwardian conquest Welsh soldiers had plied their trade both in England with the English armies of the period and on the continent. Hence, when Owain Glyndwr raised the Golden Dragon Banner he already had a small core of what was for the 15th Century, a professional army. He was also able to call upon feudal levies, something which had never before been available to Welsh Princes

The Royal Welsh Army 1400-1650
The Army raised in 1400 was for all that a rag-tag army. Men loyal to the lords that raised the unit, some units such as the Plant Owain were little more than bandits. The numbers raised by Owain and the lords loyal to him were small in number at first. With the Battle of Pumlumon seeing a Welsh army of just 400 men. From 1402 things began to move upwards in scale. The French and Bretons begun to send men and equipment to Wales. The Breton's out of a cultural loyalty, the French from a political need to counteract the English. In 1405 a French army of 2800 knights landed in Wales and with this increase in men at arms Owain was able to wage war more effectively and gained more territory. In 1405 the most important battle in Welsh history was also fought. The Battle of Worcester, between Henry IV and Owain Glyndwr cemented Welsh independance, with the archers and pikemen of the Welsh Army standing up to the English forces and finally defeating them. This defeat opened up the whole of the Welsh March and gave Owain the platform from which to cement his independance, wedded to his French alliance which would see in 1408 the English recognition of Wales as an independant Principality.

With Independance the Welsh armies were disbanded, the men returning to their fields, livestock and previous lives. Wales though was now allied to the English and the new king, Henry V of England demanded Welsh troops to form part of his army to invade France. The heir to the Welsh throne, Prince Maredudd led the Welsh troops and served under Henry at the Battle of Agincourt. Welsh troops remained with the English army until the completion of Henry's war with Charles of France, although Maredudd returned to Wales in 1419 to become Prince of Wales at the death of his father, Owain.

With the death of both Henry and Owain, the Welsh armies again returned to the fields and towns of Wales, but the new Prince was more warlike than his father and again drew upon the feudal levies of Wales to fight the Pembrokeshire Wars. The year 1425 saw Maredudd send the summons to the lords of Wales to form units to fight against the English in Pembrokeshire. The war would see Wales regain control of the area with Maredudd marching triumphantly into St Davids Cathedral in the April of 1427. The following year would also see Maredudd's coronation as King of the Welsh.

With the successful completion of the Pembrokeshire war the army again, disolved as the men returned to their usual forms of living. Maredudd however did retain a small number as part of his retinue, much in the manner of Welsh Princes of old. Retaining enough men to man all the Royal Fortress' of Wales and providing his Household with a Personal Guard. This core nuclei would become the central formation of all Welsh Armies until the 1600's.

The English Wars of the Roses is the next occasion that Welsh Levies are raised, though not all Cantref's are asked to raise men. Primarily it is the men of Gwent and Morgannwg along with the Cavalry of the Marches that see action as Wales supports the House of Lancaster in its attempts to retain the English Crown, though with the heir to the throne supporting the House of York there are tensions within Wales. Welsh forces see action in the Battles of Bloreheath, Northampton and Wakefield under the Lancastrian banner. However, in 1462 with the Prince Owain gaining stronger political control Welsh forces lay seige to Lancastrian held Chester which Owain took on the 8th August that year. Under Owain, Welsh forces fought at Hexham (under the King) and at Tewkesbury (under the Duke of March)

The practice established by Maredudd of maintaining enough Men at Arms to man all the Royal Fortress' proved a sensible one in 1490 with the 1st Rebellion of March. The heir to the throne, Prince Hywel, using the Royal Guard and his father's personal retinue of troops moved southwards from the Royal Fortress of Shrewsbury, whilst the southern Lords raised feudal levies and marched northwards through Henffordd. The limited actions of this period were the last actions of the 15th century Welsh army, though in 1492, with the Treaty of Ravenscraig, the Royal Arsenal was formed in Conwy utilising Scottish cannon and artillery pieces.

The next 100 years (1500-1600 AD) would see some wars (the 1st Anglo-Welsh war of 1535-39), the first recorded use of the rank of General by a Welsh Army (1547, John Grey, Duke of March). The century would also see the 2nd Anglo-Welsh War (1547-49). The century would also see the gradual decline of the use of feudal levies as well as technology advanced.

The 2nd Anglo-Welsh war saw the first use in Wales of the arquebus, whilst in the 1560 Powysian rebellion the Welsh army for the first time in its history saw more salaried Men-at-Arms than feudal levies (though the Army would still depend on such troops until the 1598-1600 Protestant Rebellion which saw the last battles fought in Wales using such troops.

Welsh troops, had a long reputation in Europe and the late 1500's saw in increase in the number of mercenaries being employed abroad of Welsh descent. This was something that would flavour the Protestant Rebellion as such soldiers served on both sides and that conflict saw the first use in Wales of the Pikemen-Musket-Arquebus units as well as being the first time that no units comprising of archers formed part of a Welsh Army.

The fifty years from 1600 to 1650 saw a gradual semi-professionalism enter the realms of Welsh soldiering. Whilst not a professional or standing army, the Kings Household Guard and the Royal Fortress Guards became a more established military model, with the Royal Arsenal in Conwy suppling and maintaining the growing use of muskets and arquebus' whilst Bristol established itself as a centre for the practice of artillery (something which would be maintained by the army into present times)

First Foundation of the BFG - 1650 to 1718
etc

The BFG in Exile 1718-1796
etc

The Second Constitution of the Army 1796-1821
etc

Second Foundation of the Army - Granting of Kings Charter 1821
etc

Army Actions in the 19th Century
tc

Army Actions in the 20th Century
etc

Current Constitution of the Royal Welsh Army
The Army is split into three distinct Army Groups, North, South and Central. The Joint Service Operational Headquarters is in Caerphilly (Based in the former Royal Palace of Caerphilly Castle) but each group has its own HQ unit. North is at Glyndwr Barracks, Caernarvon, and Central at Diamond Barracks, Ludlow and South at Brecon in Corless Lines. The Army is then split into its constituent branches etc.


 * Transportation Corps
 * Medical
 * Corps of Military Police and Security
 * Corps of Signals/CIS
 * Special Services Section (One Coy of Rangers and one of SF)
 * Infantry Corps (Includes one Battalion of Airborne Infantry)


 * Artillery Corps


 * Armoured Corps
 * Corps of Engineers
 * Supply and Ordnance Corps

Most units of the Army are involved in the defence of the home nation. But Regts of the Infantry are currently deployed in support of Operations in Afghanistan. There are soldiers deployed in many locations and differing numbers on UN operations and also on exchange tours with the British, German and US forces. Border patrols are also the job of the Army in conjunction with the Police and National Border Control Service. The Army currently is also deployed to Afghanistan.

The Army currently fields two specialist units. The first of these is the Border Rifles. The Regiment is the Premier Infantry Unit and also the Airborne or Para unit. They are currently deploying 2 companies to Afghanistan. The second of these is the Special Services Section, “The Grey’s”. A 2 Company unit providing a Ranger element and a dedicated SF element. This is drawn from all three services and trains alongside the US Marines and British SAS. There is a small Marine Infantry unit but this is part of the Navy and covered elsewhere.

The main HQ for the army is in Brecon and contains HQ elements for all of the constituent corps. Also it houses the training regiments for officers and enlisted ranks. The Army Group (South) HQ is also located in the area at Corless Lines. There are large bases at Sennybridge, Cardiff, Llantwit Major, Welshpool, Holyhead and Pembroke. As well as many smaller bases dotted around the country.

Weapons and Equipment
The standard field uniform of the Army is currently the US Marines MARPAT uniform in Woodland and Desert. It replaced the older US woodland and Desert uniforms in 2003. Equipment varies between units, Infantry units are issued with modern Molle based LBE in Coyote Brown. This does give the Welsh Army a distinct American look and reflects the US influence on the nation during the last thirty years. In Support units olive green ALICE equipment is used but many soldiers opt to privately purchase their own. The Air Force and Navy have the same uniforms issued for field or combat deployments. Service dress is khaki and follows the same pattern as the British Army.

The standard Infantry weapon is the Canadian C7/8 System. With the M249 as the standard support weapon. This replaced the earlier M16A1 in the late 80s. Sidearms are either Beretta 92F or Sigarms 226 pistols. Heavier weapons are the usual M2 fifty calibre machine gun and the now standard FN MAG GPMG. Snipers usually opt for the Accuracy International in 7.62mm whilst the Barratt Light Fifty is also used for longer ranges. The SSS use a variety of systems from around the world but the Counter Terror unit use FN P90s, FN Five Sevens and M40A2s.

Vehicles range from Ford Pickup trucks, Land Rovers and Hummvees to MAN trucks. The SSS operate Iveco Panther vehicles and Dingo MRAPs in deployed locations. Armoured vehicles include M1126 Stryker vehicles in a number of guises from APC to Armoured Engineer and mobile gun platforms. M2 Bradley CFVs and M60A4 MBTs are being withdrawn from service and replaced with Italian C1 Areite MBTs and a further order of Strykers. Artillery is towed British 105 mm light guns, US 155 mm howitzers and Stryker based mobile weapons as well as a small number of MLRS systems