Drummer Dale Leach, who was injured in Afghanistan during the Battalion’s last tour, was presented with his Afghanistan medal by The Prince of Wales. Photo: Sgt. Steven Hughes, RLC/MoD
Vigilance can report that last week, officers from 1st Battalion The Welsh Guards were presented with ceremonial leeks by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales at Cavalry Barracks in Hounslow to mark St David’s Day.
According to a source at the MoD the Prince of Wales, who is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Welsh Guards, visited the Battalion ahead of its forthcoming deployment to Afghanistan and was received by the Battalion’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dino Bossi, who greeted the Prince and took the salute during the St David’s Day Parade.
The first ceremonial leeks were presented to the Welsh Guards on the Somme on St David’s Day in 1916. Since then, the ceremony has been an annual highlight in the Battalion’s calendar.
After the officers received their leeks, respective company commanders presented the emblems to the assembled companies.
Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Dino Bossi, said: “All Welsh Guardsmen past and present are extremely proud of our close connection with HRH The Prince of Wales and his presence with us at Hounslow today is enormously appreciated. For both the Guardsmen and their families it is particularly pleasing to know that our Colonel is behind us in our endeavours in Afghanistan and being presented with a leek on St. David’s Day is a powerful demonstration of his support. We are grateful that HRH has chosen to spend St. David’s Day with his Regiment. A Dewi Sant!”
Drummer Dale Leech, who was injured in Afghanistan during the Battalion’s last tour, was presented with his Afghanistan medal by The Prince of Wales in the Sergeants’ Mess. Drummer Leach lost one of his legs to an I.E.D in 2009. Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were also presented to other soldiers during the parade.
Vigilance learnt that Some 400 members of The Welsh Guards will be deployed to Afghanistan in the coming weeks and The Prince of Wales met some of the soldiers and their families before they leave for the frontline. During the visit he viewed the Unit Welfare Office to see how families will be supported while the Battalion is deployed.
The Prince of Wales also viewed the newly constructed single living accommodation at the barracks built as part of the Single Living Accommodation Modernisation (SLAM) project, in the new Fasfous block. The accommodation is named after Lance Sergeant Tobie Fasfous. Welsh Guardsman Tobie Fasfous was killed on 28 April 2009 on foot patrol near Gereshk in Afghanistan while working as a mortar fire controller while attached to the Light Dragoons Battlegroup. During his deployment he saved many lives while calling in direct fire to support friendly forces.
The six new accommodation blocks at the Hounslow barracks was completed as a two-year partnership project with Debut Services. The final building was completed in summer 2011 and completes the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s (DIO) delivery of 396 new rooms at the barracks.