Soldiers to march through Carmarthen
Soldiers of the 1st Batallion The Royal Welsh will proudly march through the streets of Carmarthen next week as Carmarthenshire County Council grants them the Freedom of the County.
Just weeks after the parade and ceremony the soldiers will leave for a tour of duty in Afghanistan where they will be serving on the frontline.
Members of the public are being encouraged to come out in force and support the Regiment as the Freedom is granted – the highest honour the council can bestow.
It is the first time the county has granted the honour.
It means the name of the Regiment is entered on the roll of honorary freeman of the county, giving them the right to march through the streets on ceremonial occasions.
The parade and ceremony is taking place in Carmarthen on Wednesday, September 9.
The Regiment, accompanied by a military band, will parade from St Peter’s Car Park from 11.30am, marching along King Street, through Notts Square and on to Guildhall Square.
The parade will be followed at noon by an inspection of the parade at Guildhall Square by Carmarthenshire County Council Chair Cllr Tyssul Evans, Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Robin Lewis OBE, and Brigadier RHT Aitken CBE, representing the Colonel of the Regiment.
Prayers will be offered by the Chairman’s Chaplain, and following the reading of the resolution by the council Chair, the Freedom Scroll will be presented and National Anthems played.
The Regiment will then exercise its newly conferred rights and will march along Lammas Street and St Catherine Street, turning right on to Water Street, and turning left back along Lammas Street to return to Guildhall Square.
Traffic may be briefly interrupted, but any disruption will be kept to a minimum.
Carmarthenshire County Council is grateful to all businesses which have fully co-operated with preparations for the parade.
Cllr Evans said: “Council decided to grant the Freedom of the County to the Royal Welsh in recognition of the long and close association between the people of Carmarthenshire and the regiment, and in recognition of the long and arduous service of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Wales and The Royal Welsh, all of which have distinguished themselves in carrying out their duties in an exemplary manner and in the highest traditions.”
Granting the Freedom of Carmarthenshire to the Royal Welsh was agreed by full council last year.
They are the infantry regiment for Wales having been formed on St David's day in 2006 by merging the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
It was the 4th Battalion the Welch Regiment which developed close links with Carmarthenshire when it moved to Llanelli in the 19th Century.
The Welch Regiment then amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers in 1969 to form the Royal Regiment of Wales.
The Council has the power to admit honorary freemen of the county, being persons of distinction who have rendered eminent services.
Apart from individuals, local authorities have often used the power to grant a "freedom of entry" to British Army regiments that have rendered conspicuous service and are closely associated with the area.
The Royal Welsh already enjoys the freedom to march in Llanelli and the whole of the former Borough of Dinefwr, by virtue of three previous council resolutions.
Just weeks after the parade and ceremony the soldiers will leave for a tour of duty in Afghanistan where they will be serving on the frontline.
Members of the public are being encouraged to come out in force and support the Regiment as the Freedom is granted – the highest honour the council can bestow.
It is the first time the county has granted the honour.
It means the name of the Regiment is entered on the roll of honorary freeman of the county, giving them the right to march through the streets on ceremonial occasions.
The parade and ceremony is taking place in Carmarthen on Wednesday, September 9.
The Regiment, accompanied by a military band, will parade from St Peter’s Car Park from 11.30am, marching along King Street, through Notts Square and on to Guildhall Square.
The parade will be followed at noon by an inspection of the parade at Guildhall Square by Carmarthenshire County Council Chair Cllr Tyssul Evans, Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Robin Lewis OBE, and Brigadier RHT Aitken CBE, representing the Colonel of the Regiment.
Prayers will be offered by the Chairman’s Chaplain, and following the reading of the resolution by the council Chair, the Freedom Scroll will be presented and National Anthems played.
The Regiment will then exercise its newly conferred rights and will march along Lammas Street and St Catherine Street, turning right on to Water Street, and turning left back along Lammas Street to return to Guildhall Square.
Traffic may be briefly interrupted, but any disruption will be kept to a minimum.
Carmarthenshire County Council is grateful to all businesses which have fully co-operated with preparations for the parade.
Cllr Evans said: “Council decided to grant the Freedom of the County to the Royal Welsh in recognition of the long and close association between the people of Carmarthenshire and the regiment, and in recognition of the long and arduous service of The Royal Welsh Fusiliers, The Royal Regiment of Wales and The Royal Welsh, all of which have distinguished themselves in carrying out their duties in an exemplary manner and in the highest traditions.”
Granting the Freedom of Carmarthenshire to the Royal Welsh was agreed by full council last year.
They are the infantry regiment for Wales having been formed on St David's day in 2006 by merging the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
It was the 4th Battalion the Welch Regiment which developed close links with Carmarthenshire when it moved to Llanelli in the 19th Century.
The Welch Regiment then amalgamated with the South Wales Borderers in 1969 to form the Royal Regiment of Wales.
The Council has the power to admit honorary freemen of the county, being persons of distinction who have rendered eminent services.
Apart from individuals, local authorities have often used the power to grant a "freedom of entry" to British Army regiments that have rendered conspicuous service and are closely associated with the area.
The Royal Welsh already enjoys the freedom to march in Llanelli and the whole of the former Borough of Dinefwr, by virtue of three previous council resolutions.
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