Pennod 1 Milwyr y Welsh Guards

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-Since World War I...

-..the Welsh Guards have been

-a symbol of British military power.

-From the Battle of Loos in World

-War I to Dunkirk in World War II...

-..from the Falklands

-to Afghanistan...

-..the Guards have been central

-to the army and Crown since 1915.

-The regiment

-is proud of its history.

-Everyone who joins has to buy

-into that history and tradition.

-Famous for their bravery

-on the battlefield...

-..their red uniform

-and bearskins...

-..the Guards are a special regiment,

-but their role is changing.

-We've finished in Afghanistan

-so we're learning new skills.

-On the verge of their centenary

-and amid financial cutbacks...

-..they face new demands

-after the Middle East...

-..and the future looks uncertain.

-Most serving soldiers

-know nothing apart from Afghanistan.

-They need training

-for their new role.

-We're the only regiment

-who are soldiers and guards.

-We're unique and that's what

-makes the Guards so special.

-Why does a tourist go to London?

-To see the Changing of the Guard.

-Filmed over 18 months with special

-access to the life of the Guards.

-It is not acceptable.

-I will not take it in this platoon.

-From the Welsh soldiers...

-From the Welsh soldiers...

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-Colour Sergeant Dean Hughes.

-This is conventional warfare and

-it's what we're taught in training.

-Luke Rowlands.

-I shout the orders

-in terms of speed and direction.

-It's a lot of pressure.

-..to English officers.

-This one's called Sheamus.

-From the barracks

-to Buckingham Palace.

-They're shining up and all bling.

-It's all good, all good.

-From Afghanistan to North Wales.

-It broke my heart when he left home

-for the first time on Mother's Day.

-A Welsh regiment at the heart

-of the British establishment.

-This is the story of the soldiers

-of the Welsh Guards.

-The escort is by the Prince of Wales

-1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

-The 1st Battalion are also

-in Number Two and Three Guard.

-The Welsh are prominent

-on Horse Guards this year.

-By the left.

-Quick march!

-# The British Grenadiers #

-The escort steps off smartly to

-the march of The British Grenadiers.

-The men take centre stage...

-..to show the results

-of weeks of hard work.

-Three weeks earlier

-Pirbright, Woking

-It's early days in preparations

-for the Queen's Birthday Parade.

-We're sorting out the mechanics

-but it's coming together.

-The Guards

-have always protected the monarch.

-We've been active since 1915.

-Every country within Britain

-has a component in the Foot Guards.

-The King, out of recognition for

-the Welsh soldiers in World War I...

-..historically decided

-to have a Welsh Guards regiment.

-The officers were drawn in, as were

-the boys, to form on 1 March 1915.

-We're on the blue line for things

-like Margaret Thatcher's funeral.

-I've done Trooping the Colour

-three times and I love it.

-What are we guarding?

-For all intents and purposes, we

-are the Queen's personal bodyguard.

-Here we go.

-We're the only regiment

-who are soldiers and guards.

-We're unique and that's what makes

-the Guards so special.

-I'm Drill Sergeant Jiffy Myers,

-the choreographer for the Troop.

-Shorter!

-I'm not talking Northwalian, am I?

-I teach the lads where to go,

-what to do...

-..and spread OCD love around...

-..so they know

-somebody's always watching.

-Make sure that it is in the centre

-between your toecaps.

-A couple of you

-are not quite hitting your bricks.

-Sergeant Major

-is picking us up on it...

-..so get that right tomorrow.

-In terms of the Welsh Guards...

-..people think we only stand outside

-Buckingham Palace wearing medals.

-The Welsh Guards

-and the entire Household Division...

-..take part in operational tours

-across the world.

-We also have ceremonial duties.

-We do this job and our duties in

-Afghanistan or wherever we're sent.

-There isn't a lot of time

-between stations.

-We came home in November and were

-at Buckingham Palace in February.

-It's tough to come back from Afghan

-and go straight into this.

-You get used to it.

-The squad needs to be disciplined

-for the ceremonials...

-..and out in Afghan too.

-We know what's happening.

-We're waiting for the arrival of the

-minor Royals from the approach road.

-It wouldn't necessarily

-be incorrect to say...

-..most officers in the Welsh Guards

-are from public schools.

-He's a natural. Look at him.

-He loves the camera.

-Especially in the Guards, I think

-the officers are quite posh...

-..for a boy from Caernarfon.

-They aren't in the ranks. They stand

-in front of us with their swords.

-Some of the officers will carry

-the Colour and are called ensigns...

-..which is a very important job.

-It shows the gap between

-the officers and the other ranks.

-The officers think they are

-like the head of the family.

-I'd say it's the Platoon Sergeant

-or Company Sergeant Major...

-..and not the Platoon Commander.

-At the strike of eleven, Her Majesty

-will step on to the dais.

-It's the best stage show

-in the world.

-The Queen is there

-so it's a Royal Variety Performance.

-This is my fifth Troop.

-This is the first Troop

-for some of the younger boys.

-They are quite shy

-and don't understand what to do.

-I shout the orders

-in terms of speed and direction.

-It's a lot of pressure

-but we'll be fine on the day.

-We've got to put a bit of polish

-on there and get them shined up.

-They're doing alright,

-especially on a day like this.

-Where would you be

-if you hadn't joined the army?

-I'd probably be in jail.

-I was a delinquent

-when I was younger.

-I was caught drink driving

-when I was 16...

-..and my life

-was on a downhill slide.

-If I hadn't joined the army,

-I'd be in jail!

-I watched the Trooping the Colour

-when I was a boy...

-..and I wanted to be

-one of the soldiers.

-When you're actually in the ranks

-in the red uniform and bearskin...

-..you get goosebumps.

-I'm saying this every time

-and you're not doing it.

-You'll look daft and the Japanese

-tourists are still filming you.

-They wear different-sized bearskins

-so that they're all the same height.

-Without them, there are different

-heights so they need to look right.

-In the past, you had to be over

-six feet tall to join the Guards.

-The recruits

-were placed in height order.

-The Prince of Wales Company

-is the leading company on a parade.

-The Prince of Wales Company are the

-Prince of Wales's personal company.

-Inevitably very smart

-and always think they are the best.

-The soldiers

-were allocated by height.

-The Prince of Wales Company

-are tall!

-Two Company are the guys

-from North Wales, more than likely.

-They're the heavy

-Welsh-speaking company.

-The short guys in Three Company

-are called Little Iron Men!

-They do the same job.

-It's just the different characters

-of those companies.

-The Welsh Guards

-always pull it out of the bag.

-You get a big stage show presence

-and you know you've got to do it.

-You can see the boys

-are getting their kit ready.

-They're shining up and all bling.

-It's all good, all good.

-We have to get up at about 4.30am

-and go to Wellington Barracks.

-We're at the barracks for two hours

-before marching to Horse Guards.

-The parade lasts two hours

-so it's quite tough.

-Billy Mott ensures all the boxes

-are ticked for Trooping the Colour.

-But if someone moves

-or does something wrong...

-..you can hear him shouting

-a mile away!

-He has risen through the ranks from

-a guardsman to his current position.

-He has achieved a lot

-in his military career.

-We served together in the Falklands.

-He was onboard the Sir Galahad

-with myself when that was hit.

-It was no surprise that

-at Margaret Thatcher's funeral...

-..he led the coffin bearers.

-To have the presence to stand on

-the parade square and command it...

-..when you have upwards

-of 700-800 people on that square...

-..takes quite a degree

-of confidence...

-..and strength of personality.

-Any soldier in the Welsh Guards

-would be a liar...

-..if he said that he didn't want to

-emulate what this man has achieved.

-These bollards

-have been the biggest bugbear...

-..the biggest nightmare for me...

-..for the last eight,

-maybe nine years.

-They're a nightmare.

-There's always a problem with them.

-The hydraulics are fine

-but gravel gets trapped in there...

-..or kicked in

-by pedestrians and tourists.

-They're always getting blocked

-and broken.

-The skills on the Queen's Birthday

-Parade in a ceremonial world...

-..allow soldiers

-to be self-disciplined.

-Getting that amount of men to react

-to one word of command or one man...

-..is a remarkable feat.

-On civilian streets, there would

-be disorganization and chaos.

-People wouldn't know

-what they are meant to do.

-Arms!

-It only takes one minute problem

-to cause a snowball.

-Whatever the minuteness is

-can ruin the parade.

-It's coming up

-to 34 and a half years now...

-..and I've met

-some wonderful people.

-It hasn't given me a woman...

-..but there is somebody

-that's in line for that now.

-It's given me everything

-that a man would want.

-Caernarfon has a strong tradition

-of producing army soldiers.

-There isn't much else to do!

-I had a good childhood

-with my mother in Caernarfon.

-I had a lot of good friends...

-..and played football in Caernarfon.

-But I wasn't very good at school

-and I had relatives in the army.

-My uncle was in the Green Jackets

-and Dad was with the Royal Welsh.

-I knew some of the Welsh Guards...

-..so it just felt natural

-for me to join the army.

-I don't think that Llangefni

-is a good or a bad place.

-I remember being in the car

-with my father...

-..and seeing young boys and girls

-drinking outside Spar.

-I didn't want to be like that.

-I wanted to be proud of myself

-and for my family to feel the same.

-That was when

-I chose to join the army.

-# Men Of Harlech #

-At Trooping the Colour,

-the march-past to Men Of Harlech...

-..is a very proud moment

-in your life.

-There are people with Welsh flags

-shouting and clapping.

-My father calls me after a Troop

-to say I looked smart on television.

-It makes you feel proud.

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-Over the last 18 months...

-..we've been with the Welsh Guards

-in the run-up to their centenary.

-Before joining the Guards, recruits

-train for six months at Catterick.

-Today, the new recruits

-face their first test...

-..to see if they can join

-this iconic regiment.

-I'm a bit nervous now.

-They expect everything

-to be perfect.

-After seven weeks...

-..the young men

-are settling into army life.

-Get by your beds.

-Have you ironed that bedding?

-Have you ironed that bedding?

-

-Yes, sergeant.

-It's not symmetrical. That one's

-nice and square and that one isn't.

-What's this sock doing on the floor?

-Did you press that?

-The collar is not pressed flat.

-It needs to be flat.

-These points need to be rectified

-before the Adjutant walks in.

-You've got 20 minutes to do it.

-Make sure you get it squared

-for the Adjutant.

-Crack on!

-We've emptied our lockers

-for the inspection by the Adjutant.

-Everything needs to be ready

-and perfect.

-My uniform needs to be folded

-and shirts should be neat...

-..with all the right creases.

-And everything has to be clean.

-How dirty is that there?

-How dirty is that there?

-

-This is stinking.

-If you look underneath the chair,

-there's bits of dust.

-You wouldn't see it

-until you get your finger in.

-He will get in awkward positions

-just to catch you out.

-Back home, you'd never do that sort

-of thing and check behind here.

-Here, you've got to do it.

-It's a nightmare.

-I've been here for seven weeks.

-I expected it to be disciplined...

-..but I wasn't sure

-how extreme it would be.

-After trying other kinds of work...

-..I thought I'd join up

-and try my hand at it.

-I'd always wanted to do it...

-..but Mam was totally

-against the idea...

-..and wanted me to try other things.

-I went to college

-and studied sports.

-I enjoyed it and went to Glyndwr

-University, which wasn't as good.

-I wanted to join

-a regiment from Wales.

-While the soldiers are trained

-in the north of England...

-..the officers attend a cornerstone

-of the British establishment.

-The site has trained military

-officers since the 18th century.

-The sword is an officer thing.

-Back in the day,

-cavalry swords were heavier.

-When in battle,

-they could charge down on the enemy.

-Privates, by the left.

-Quick march!

-Everyone marches everywhere.

-It reiterates until we've passed

-out that we're under training...

-..and haven't earned the right

-to walk normally yet.

-Sandhurst is very prestigious.

-It's the world's best facility

-for officer training.

-Churchill, Prince Harry and William,

-Rupert Thorneloe.

-All these great people

-have come through these gates.

-That is something

-the young officers aspire to.

-It is that reputation of excellence.

-That reputation of the people who

-marched up the steps is important.

-Sandhurst and ITC Catterick

-are similar in the first five weeks.

-They spend a year at Sandhurst...

-..so focus on leadership and the

-academic side of being an officer.

-The officers tell you to kill

-the enemy. You follow their orders.

-What is key is that ability to lead,

-and lead by example.

-For the Welsh Guards, it's about the

-characteristics which reside within.

-You go forward.

-"Sir, good morning. There are..."

-And he'll give me the wrong figure.

-"..620 officer cadets from the

-Royal Military Academy Sandhurst...

-"..and 210 will commission today."

-Some of them will have been to Eton

-while I went to Syr Hugh!

-Most of them are great boys.

-They are posh and had a different

-upbringing but they are great.

-The officers arrive and don't

-understand a recruit's background.

-One recruit might be from

-a council estate in Merthyr Tydfil.

-Some officers

-haven't encountered that before.

-It takes time to adapt

-to the needs of these men.

-The motivation of the officers

-differs to that of the cadets.

-I've wanted to join the army

-since I was a kid.

-Sandhurst was my ambition.

-Whichever regiment you go to

-defines your military career.

-Every regiment has different traits

-or characteristics.

-The Welsh Guards

-was the one I liked the most.

-Back in Catterick, the recruits

-are ready for their inspection.

-If the room is not in order...

-..the boys can't continue with

-their training and some will leave.

-I'm looking for general cleanliness,

-adherence to our standards...

-..and their general demeanour.

-Whether they've grasped the concept

-of looking after their kit...

-..and administrating themselves

-in barracks.

-Room! Room, attention.

-Room! Room, attention.

-

-Room!

-Good morning, sir.

-Room One, 1 Section

-ready for your inspection, sir.

-Yes, how many have we got?

-Yes, how many have we got?

-

-There's ten, sir.

-Ten in this section.

-This my Welsh Guard section, is it?

-This my Welsh Guard section, is it?

-

-Yes, sir.

-They've clearly

-looked after their kit.

-I didn't have any problems.

-They have personality.

-What's the weather like up there?

-It's really to see

-if they've got the confidence.

-Having the confidence

-to speak to people is important.

-They'll meet people who don't even

-speak the same language.

-Where are you from, Thomas?

-Where are you from, Thomas?

-

-Anglesey, sir.

-Anglesey?

-That's the island at the top.

-Is that your girlfriend and mates?

-Is that your girlfriend and mates?

-

-Yes, sir.

-Is that in the local pub?

-Is that in the local pub?

-

-Yes, sir.

-Talk me through the picture

-of what appears to be a strip show.

-Yeah...

-In university,

-I was in the rugby team.

-We were raising money to go on tour.

-We had to do a little strip for...

-We had to do a little strip for...

-

-Really.

-It's an interesting relationship

-as these guys are new into training.

-The relationship between

-the guardsman and officers...

-..is that I'm a leader

-and they are being led.

-A lot are from

-deprived backgrounds....

-..but they are bettering themselves.

-Hats off to them for that.

-I'm very happy.

-Good luck

-on your Adjutant inspection.

-Thank you, sir.

-And best of luck

-with the section competition.

-May I have leave to carry on, sir?

-May I have leave to carry on, sir?

-

-Please do. Thanks very much.

-At the moment,

-it seems as though you've passed.

-This is the first stage.

-You now need to pass your drill.

-Sort your lockers out

-and get your drill kit out ready.

-Get your head into the game

-to pass the drill test.

-Next week

-on Milwyr Y Welsh Guards...

-Stand by the next man...

-..who does not follow

-the simple instructions that I give.

-We're lucky to be going

-to the Wales v England match.

-I'm a fan and the guard of honour.

-The players come through me.

-Come on, Roberts.

-They do the two-miler in 18 minutes.

-It's one of the toughest things

-in the army.

-Who am I?

-Um... sir.

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