1st March 1775; This being St. David's Day the officers of the 23rd Regiment, or Royal Welch Fusiliers, dinned together according to the custom. All the General & Staff Officers, the Admiral, and several other person's were invited to dine with the Regiment...."
From the diary of Lieutenant Frederick MacKenzie.
The "custom" was on each Saint David's Day following dinner the regimental goat with the drummers and fifers are led around the mess table. The drum major has a silver plate with raw leeks and the mess sergeant carries a loving cup filled with champagne. They halt by the newest joined officer who then stands on his chair with his left foot and places his right foot on the table and eats a leek while the drummers play a continuous roll. Once he has consumed the leek he is handed the loving cup and before drinking toasts "And Saint David!" All present who have not eaten a leek, including guests are expected to do so. Similar ceremonies occurs in the sergeants and the other ranks mess. This custom, described as "ancient" in 1775 is still observed in peace and during war time up to the present time.
Eating a raw leek....it seems a pretty good reason not to join a Welsh regiment to me! But as Jim Davidson says about his story of punishing a horse for defacating on the parade square (the regimental mascot of the Parachute Regiment)...."Putting a horse in jail.....it's what makes the British Army work!)
ReplyDeleteI did not know about the horse! What a great story.
ReplyDeleteIn miniature armies which regiments I paint and field on the table are very important to me. I enjoy researching their history. As an example many American regiments trace their history to the War of 1812. Traditions like gray coats and sayings like "I'll try Sir" date to those regiments. To me it's all fascinating
Yes I agree...what era do the Westpoint uniforms dat from...they look a bit later than 1812 to me but obviously before the ACW...so perhaps the 1830,s or 1840's?
DeleteThe gray coats pre date 1812. Gray was a color usually worn by militia. But West Point cadets are reminded the uniform honours Scott's brigade at Chippewa.
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