Pennod 4 Milwyr y Welsh Guards

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-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...

-

-Ben Howard from Harlech.

-We're like brothers whether

-we're from South or North Wales.

-Gethin Owens from Amlwch.

-If you don't train,

-you'll get skill-fade.

-But it doesn't take long

-before you're back on form.

-..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.

-When the Guards aren't fighting

-on the front line...

-..they take up residency

-at the barracks in London.

-It's close enough

-for ceremonial duties...

-..outside the Tower of London

-and Windsor Castle.

-Today, they're preparing for

-the Changing of the Guard.

-Guardsman Rhisarts from Aberdare.

-This is my corridor.

-They're down here in the corridor.

-He doesn't want to get

-his sexy body in!

-This is my room.

-I'll show you around.

-This is the palace.

-Are your parents going to

-Trooping the Colour?

-No, they won't.

-It's a fair trek for them.

-Will they watch it on television?

-Will they watch it on television?

-

-Yes, my mother will be.

-She always watches out for me

-on the screen.

-She always catches me out.

-The barracks remind me

-of an university block.

-There's a common room

-and a shared kitchen.

-Guardsman Rhisarts

-set fire to the kitchen.

-It went up in flames

-so we've got a brand-new kitchen.

-This is it.

-Alright?

-Excuse the mess.

-I'm preparing my kit.

-This flag has been in all my rooms

-from when I first joined the army.

-The photographs are of my family,

-girlfriend and friends.

-When I was fighting in Afghan,

-I was able to call home once a week.

-I had to share 30 minutes

-between my girlfriend...

-..mother and father....

-..so I couldn't call them

-all the time.

-I'd contact one person a week.

-They were always relieved

-to hear my voice.

-Some of the boys speak Welsh

-to each other...

-..but the others

-don't understand us.

-They think that

-we're talking about them...

-..but this isn't the case.

-If I had a problem with them,

-I'd speak to them in English.

-We're all like brothers

-from different backgrounds.

-Some are from the Gambia,

-South Wales or North Wales.

-We're all like brothers.

-Let me show you what I've been doing

-in preparation for tomorrow...

-..and the Queen's Guard.

-This is the tunic

-I'm wearing tomorrow.

-The top of the leek

-represents the princes of Wales...

-..and the bottom

-serves as the counties of Wales.

-You close all the buttons...

-..and there are clasps at the neck.

-Have you got your bearskin here?

-Have you got your bearskin here?

-

-Yes, it's in there.

-Sorry. It's in here.

-It's up here because it's wet.

-I'll stick it under the tap

-with shampoo and conditioner...

-..and leave it to dry.

-The bearskin is made

-from the fur of a Canadian bear.

-When fighting in wars...

-..it made the Guards look taller

-when they'd charge at the enemy.

-It intimidated the enemy

-and it gave them a fear factor.

-Soldiers on horseback would try

-to swipe off a Guard's head...

-..but they'd hit off

-the bearskin instead.

-The difference between an officer's

-bearskin and those of other ranks...

-..is that an officer's bearskin

-is made from female bears.

-An officer's bearskin

-is thinner and taller...

-..but a guardsman wears

-a smaller and thicker hat.

-An officer's bearskin

-is better quality.

-It's taller and the fur is smoother.

-The officers' bearskins

-look better than others.

-The guardsmen wash them

-with shampoo and conditioner...

-..but the officers

-just brush their hats.

-They're quite light to wear.

-The frame is made from cane

-and they have to fit properly.

-A quality bearskin

-sits perfectly on your head.

-If there's a gap,

-it'll wobble on your head.

-A tight hat will get stuck

-and restrict any ventilation.

-If the bearskin doesn't fit,

-it places pressure on the head...

-..and causes a guardsman

-to collapse on parade.

-The fur

-makes your nose and eyes itch.

-The guards will shake their heads

-or try to blow it away.

-They're not meant to, but they

-do it when nobody is looking.

-The red jacket originally

-was cochineal dyed...

-..so if the person got shot,

-the enemy wouldn't see.

-It was my father who got involved.

-He was a phenomenal tailor...

-..and he got the first contract

-for the scarlets...

-..some sixty-eight years ago.

-I suppose the word is proud

-and it does come before money.

-Most tunics look the same...

-..but the buttons

-are the obvious difference.

-The 5th Foot Guards

-wear a cluster of five buttons.

-Our cap badge also appears

-on the epaulettes...

-..and on the collars.

-This is cutting a guard's tunic.

-It goes from one person.

-He marks, they cut.

-The next part is the young ladies.

-They work on the jackets...

-..once they've been cut

-on a machine.

-That's a solid week's work.

-How are you getting on?

-It's difficult and not easy.

-This is really hard to sew.

-It's not easy at all.

-It involves a lot of work.

-It's not like a civilian jacket

-with just seams.

-These are embroidered

-with all sorts of things on them.

-That's a very intricate collar.

-It looks normal but nothing

-on an uniform is normal...

-..because everything stands

-and falls.

-It's very hard

-to make it look right.

-The tunics differ between

-junior and senior ranks.

-These are three different styles

-of tunic.

-This tunic

-is worn by a warrant officer.

-The collar, epaulettes

-and sleeves...

-..all feature gold stitching.

-The leek on the collar and epaulette

-is made from silver embroidery.

-The tunics are

-tailored-made for you.

-A sergeant's tunic is custom-made

-and includes your name.

-A warrant officer's tunic features

-more gold and looks a lot smarter.

-A guardsman wears this tunic

-until he becomes a lance sergeant.

-The sleeves are white...

-..and so are the leeks

-on the epaulettes and collar.

-There's also white on the back

-instead of gold.

-What's the difference between

-an officer and guardsman's tunic?

-They are made

-from the same material.

-But the officer's tunic

-includes more gold and swirls...

-..and they carry a sword.

-The uniforms haven't changed

-for hundreds of years.

-When you see the uniforms, you see

-hundreds of years of tradition.

-You do feel proud...

-..because it's quite

-a prestigious ceremony.

-The crowds are astounding.

-The Welsh Guards are fortunate

-to wear this uniform every day.

-We're proud to continue tradition...

-..and wear attire

-that's part of Welsh history.

-That's a state coat.

-What's it for?

-What's it for?

-

-It's worn by the household cavalry.

-He's a musician.

-A very expensive musician.

-The underneath

-is all gold and embroidery.

-They cover it

-so it doesn't get damaged.

-How much does it cost?

-How much does it cost?

-

-I can't tell you.

-I'm sorry. I can't tell you.

-This work on its own isn't enough.

-We couldn't afford to do it

-if we didn't have other work.

-It would cost us around 1 million

-a year if that's all we were doing.

-We can't put everything

-we possess into it.

-This is what we do and enjoy doing.

-I'm sewing through rock-hard inners.

-Buckram.

-You don't do that because you

-have to but because you want to.

-They'll do this

-for as long as it exists.

-This is not something that another

-company can whip up and start doing.

-We've been in it a long time.

-You've got to love this

-or don't do it.

-They've got the same attitude.

-It's love for what they do.

-.

-Subtitles

-Subtitles

-

-Subtitles

-Over the last 18 months...

-..we've had special access

-to the life of the Welsh Guards...

-..leading to their centenary.

-For the last five months...

-..new recruits have trained

-at Catterick...

-..to be part of an iconic regiment.

-Steady on, lads.

-Place your kit down.

-The obstacle course is over.

-Hopefully, we've done well.

-Catterick is key.

-The assault course inspires people

-to work as a team.

-Without teamwork, the army

-and Welsh Guards won't work.

-The section skills are gruelling,

-especially when carrying a kit.

-Go! Go on, lads. Attack it!

-The conditions around

-the assault course were dire.

-It's too slippery.

-I knew you had to be quite fit,

-but not to that extent!

-Every muscle is used

-to the point of exhaustion.

-Timing is everything.

-When you scale the wall...

-..you need to judge it.

-If you're too close,

-you'll jump into the wall.

-Big jump. Jump on landing.

-Ready? Big hit... go!

-The wall is about

-ten or twelve-feet tall.

-Everyone worked as a team,

-but it was still punishing.

-You learn to pull together

-as a team when someone is flagging.

-If you're in Afghanistan

-and a soldier is struggling...

-..these experiences and skills...

-..steer you through

-the tough times together.

-I enjoyed the fitness test.

-I had to push myself

-and we worked as a team.

-It's easy, come on.

-You're shouting at others

-just to motivate them.

-It's uplifting to see this.

-It's only nerves.

-You do it as fast as you can.

-I finished first in my section.

-It was horrible.

-My weapon kept getting caught.

-It slows you down.

-It slows you down.

-

-It's difficult with a rifle.

-I went to university

-without any aspirations.

-I didn't know why I was there...

-..but I'm happy

-that I've chosen this career.

-The Welsh Guards are the Queen's

-bodyguards at Buckingham Palace.

-A ceremonial role means that they

-must focus on events in London...

-..and dismiss their role

-as a soldier on the front line.

-I prefer the operational

-as there's a focus.

-The ceremonial is fantastic

-on the day you're doing it.

-But we do it for months on end,

-so the monotony gets overbearing.

-The Guards haven't been

-on the battlefield since Kenya.

-We've been occupied

-with ceremonial duties.

-We grab every opportunity...

-..to swap the red uniform

-for some combat gear...

-..just so they can maintain

-their skills.

-March 2015

-Pirbright, Woking

-Our training focuses

-on conventional warfare.

-We don't prepare them

-for Afghanistan or Bosnia.

-We teach the fundamentals

-and adapt them to each operation.

-Our basics must be spot on.

-If we head overseas tomorrow,

-we'll adapt our skills for it.

-When you've had a long period

-of public duties...

-..it's always nice to refresh

-your operational skills.

-Every few months, an exercise

-will keep us competent and ready.

-Get around the boys now.

-Get them loaded and made ready

-for a section attack.

-A section attack leads

-to a platoon and company attack...

-..then a battalion attack.

-If we don't get it right,

-we won't succeed.

-You have to think about contact

-and make quick decisions.

-Some of us are Welsh speakers, so

-it's easier to communicate in Welsh.

-In a single file?

-In a single file?

-

-Yes, when you're ready.

-I'll express anything important

-in English...

-..as most of the boys

-from the south speak English...

-..but if it's just me and him,

-I'll speak Welsh.

-The boys were patrolled in...

-..but the location of the enemy

-or point of contact is unknown.

-We'll test their reaction

-to the enemy.

-GUN SHOTS

-Contact, right! 213, close in!

-Contact, right! 213, close in!

-

-213, close in!

-Get on your belt buckle

-and change that mag, Harding!

-After the initial reaction...

-..the section commander

-has to make a decision.

-Does he go left, right

-or straight ahead?

-213, take over!

-Charlie, call cavalry fire!

-Kes, peel around!

-They can suffer from skill-fade.

-If you don't do it every day,

-you'll experience skill-fade.

-But it doesn't take long

-before you remember everything.

-After a couple of days,

-you're back on form.

-The officers try to grab

-every opportunity...

-..to fit in as much training

-as possible.

-We aren't a tourist attraction

-but soldiers with a job to do.

-I had to control

-the whole section...

-..and made sure that everyone

-defeated the enemy.

-We don't need to worry about

-collateral damage or civilians.

-This is conventional

-so we worry about the enemy.

-Oh ****!

-Rapid fire!

-Rapid fire!

-

-Rapid fire!

-GUN SHOTS

-There's so much smoke.

-For ***** sake!

-Some were good and others were poor.

-You'll smoke off your fire support.

-They decided to release the smoke.

-But unfortunately,

-they used it incorrectly.

-The smoke screened them off.

-They couldn't see Charlie

-and shot around him.

-This is the time to make mistakes.

-To get that angle on

-your fire support...

-..you need to go right

-or move your fire support.

-The army hasn't changed much...

-..but they way we treat

-and train soldiers has evolved.

-Come on! Get up the hill.

-When I joined,

-the instructors were scary.

-They'd dish out commands

-and treat soldiers like robots.

-Our training is different now.

-We want soldiers to make

-their own decisions.

-Make your way down to the bottom.

-Take your helmet off

-for a quick de-brief.

-What happened?

-What happened?

-

-We got contact.

-From where?

-From where?

-

-Up there.

-Is that left, right or front?

-Is that left, right or front?

-

-Left.

-Just a couple points, boys.

-We're here to learn.

-Passage of messages.

-The session commander

-hasn't got time to repeat himself.

-He was shouting it

-three of four times.

-He shouts it once and you obey it.

-The boys can feel restricted

-to their duties in London.

-It's great at the start...

-..but after six months

-the novelty wears off...

-..and they want to return to this.

-They could be back in London

-tomorrow...

-..so it's important

-that we switch roles.

-On the plus side,

-there was aggression.

-Harding did well going across the

-front and came around left-flanking.

-Would you choose

-ceremonial duties or this?

-I enjoy both roles.

-I like the ceremonial duties

-but I also like this.

-The Guards

-leave Kenya on a Friday...

-..for forecourt duties

-in London on the Monday.

-Nobody else does this.

-S4C Subtitles by Tinopolis

-.