1st Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment (Rory Lewis Military Portrait Photographer London.
The 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, based in Tidworth, represents one of the most historically significant infantry lineages in the British Army. Their iconic ceremonial uniforms—rooted in traditions dating back to the Victorian era and the height of the British Empire—carry centuries of regimental identity, inherited from the Royal Welch Fusiliers and the Royal Regiment of Wales.
For this sitting, members of the battalion’s ceremonial cadre were presented to the lens. These included Colour Sergeants, Pioneers, and the celebrated Goat Major, guardian of the regiment’s cherished and symbolic mascot, the Regimental Goat Llewellyn. Each soldier brought with them not only a distinguished bearing but a living link to traditions still upheld with pride today.
Lt Ixer 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment (Rory Lewis Military Portrait Photographer London.
A Regiment Forged Through Three Centuries of Service
Sgt Walters 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment (Rory Lewis Military Portrait Photographer London.
The Royal Welsh trace their heritage over 300 years. Their antecedents, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, earned acclaim at the Siege of Yorktown during the American War of Independence, and later fought with valour in the Crimean War. Soldiers from the regiment also participated in the Battle of Waterloo, serving with honour during one of the most pivotal moments in European history. In the 20th century, the regiment further distinguished itself in World War II and on the rugged battlefields of the Korean War.
Zulu Heritage and Enduring Legacy
Colour Sergeant Woodley 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment (Rory Lewis Military Portrait Photographer London.
The regiment’s lineage is immortalised in the classic Michael Caine film Zulu, which portrays the heroic defence of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. Standing before these ceremonial troops—richly uniformed in scarlet, blue, and gold—felt reminiscent of stepping onto the film set itself. Their colours, traditions, and discipline lent themselves naturally to a powerful series of portraits, culminating in a striking group portrait honouring the battalion’s ceremonial contingent.
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Regiment (Rory Lewis Military Portrait Photographer London.