badge, headdress, British, The Welch Regiment, other ranks

light bronze-coloured plastic badge in the form of the Prince of Wales's plumes, coronet and motto ('ICH DIEN'). Below the plumes is a scroll bearing the title 'THE WELCH'.

Second World War period plastic cap badge for the Welch Regiment. Plastic cap badges, which were first introduced into the British Army during 1941 as a result of metal shortages caused by the prioritised demands of industrialised war production, proved very unpopular with British Army personnel. This pattern badge sealed 14 February 1943. Badge of the pattern worn 1921 1958. In 1719 a number of Independent Companies of Invalids was raised, which later the same year were formed into Colonel Edmund Fielding's Regiment of Foot. In 1747 the Regiment was ranked 41st of Foot, also known as "The Royal Invalids", and in 1751 became officially known as 41st Regiment of Foot or "Invalids". "Invalids" in this context did not have the modern connotations and would have been primarily personnel from the Chelsea Hospital too old for active service but capable of garrison duties. In 1782 they served as Marines and were re-designated 41st (Royal Invalids) Regiment of Foot. In 1787 the "Royal Invalids" title was dropped and the Regiment upgraded to a Line Regiment. In 1831 the Regiment was re-designated 41st (The Welsh) Regiment of Foot. By 1874 they were wearing a badge that included the Prince of Wales's plumes, coronet and motto scroll. In 1881 the Regiment merged with the 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot and became The Welsh Regiment. With the introduction of the forage cap in 1898 a badge was adopted consisting of the Prince of Wales's plume, coronet and motto scroll above a simple scroll bearing THE WELSH. In 1920 the Regiment petitioned the War Office to be allowed to use the traditional spelling, WELCH, which request was granted at the beginning of 1921. The same permission extended to the ROYAL WELCH FUSILIERS. The scroll was changed to read THE WELCH, but was introduced only as supplies of the older badge were expended. In 1958 the Regiment joined the Welsh Brigade. When the Brigade broke up in 1969 the Regiment merged with the South Wales Borderers to form the Royal Regiment of Wales. In 2006 this Regiment merged in its turn with the Royal Welch Fusiliers to form the Royal Welsh Regiment.

Ich Dien - I serve (motto of the Prince of Wales) The Welch