Portal:British Army/Selected unit/5
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The Welsh Guards (Welsh Gwarchodlu Cymreig) is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division.
The Welsh Guards came into existence on February 26, 1915 by order of His Majesty King George V in order to include Wales in the national component to the Foot Guards. They were the last of the Guards to be created, with the Irish Guards coming into being in 1900. Just two days later, the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards mounted its first King's Guard at Buckingham Palace on 1 March 1915 - St David's Day.
One way to distinguish between the regiments of Foot Guards is the spacing of buttons on the tunic. The Welsh Guards have buttons arranged in groups of five.
On March 17, 1915 the 1st Welsh Guards sailed for France to join the Guards Division to commence its participation in the First World War. Its first battle was some months after its initial arrival, at Loos on September 27, 1915. The regiment's first Victoria Cross came two years later in July 1917 awarded to Sergeant Robert Bye at Pilckem.
The Colonel-In-Chief of the Regiment is Queen Elizabeth II.
The Colonel of the Regiment is Charles, Prince of Wales.
