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  1. #1
    macwilkin is offline
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    "...And St. David!"

    For the US Marines on the board, today, St. David's Day, has some meaning.

    During the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900, the US Marines and the Royal Welch Fusiliers served together in a number of actions. The traditional toast of the RWF, "...and St. David!" (The full toast is "Toby Purcell, his spurs and St. David!") was used as a password between the Marines and the Fusiliers.

    Since then, on St. David's Day and the Marine Corps birthday, the Commandant of the USMC and Colonel of the RWF have exchanged the greeting "...and St. David!" in honour of their join service. Marine Corps band leader John Phillip Sousa also wrote a march entitled "The Royal Welch Fusiliers".

    http://marinecorpsbrotherhood.usmchq.com/custom2.html

    Sadly, as of today, the RWF is no more. They are being amalgamated with the Royal Welch Regiment to form the new "Royal Welsh":

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4760102.stm

    For more on the St. David's Day customs of the RWF, see here:

    http://www.rwfnet.co.uk/news/tradition.htm
    http://www.colwyn-bayrwf.org.uk/tradditions.htm

    The Red Dragon Forever!

    Todd
    Last edited by macwilkin; 1st March 06 at 08:30 AM.

  2. #2
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    Thanks Todd! 'lest we forget.

    Semper Fi...and St. David!

  3. #3
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    Todd,

    As always you jog my memory back to the great meanings of days. I thank you!
    Glen McGuire

    A Life Lived in Fear, Is a Life Half Lived.

  4. #4
    starbkjrus's Avatar
    starbkjrus is offline
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    I'll have to modify what I was going to post today to:

    For all of those in Wales or of Welsh decent and any US Marines, Happy St. David's Day!
    Dee

    Ferret ad astra virtus

  5. #5
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    Thank you. I almost forgot.

  6. #6
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    Thanks Todd,

    Got so busy being busy at work plumb forgot. Appreciate the reminder, and the history.

    Semper Fi!

    Ron
    A Marine with Welsh blood
    Ol' Macdonald himself, a proud son of Skye and Cape Breton Island
    Lifetime Member STA. Two time winner of Utilikiltarian of the Month.
    "I'll have a kilt please, a nice hand sewn tartan, 16 ounce Strome. Oh, and a sporran on the side, with a strap please."

  7. #7
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    Saw the Black Watch and Welsh Guards show last night--St. David's Day! The Guardsmen all had little green and white ribbons in their buttonholes to simulate miniature leeks (a real leek is about a foot long). Close observation revealed that there were a couple of Irish Guards band members, and one from the Scots Guards. I noticed that none of the BW seemed to be wearing a kilt pin. I was going to ask someone about that, but the crowd was so busy I didn't have the chance.

    Great show, by the way. The Black Watch played one German song on their pipes--"Wooden Heart," a great tune for Scotchtoberfest.

  8. #8
    macwilkin is offline
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    St. David's Day...

    Quote Originally Posted by kiltimabar
    Saw the Black Watch and Welsh Guards show last night--St. David's Day! The Guardsmen all had little green and white ribbons in their buttonholes to simulate miniature leeks (a real leek is about a foot long). Close observation revealed that there were a couple of Irish Guards band members, and one from the Scots Guards. I noticed that none of the BW seemed to be wearing a kilt pin. I was going to ask someone about that, but the crowd was so busy I didn't have the chance.

    Great show, by the way. The Black Watch played one German song on their pipes--"Wooden Heart," a great tune for Scotchtoberfest.
    I am very impressed (and slightly jealous!) that you got to see the Welsh Guards on St. David's Day! Did the narrator acknowledge it? I would have liked to see their "leeks", wouldn't mind to even copy one to wear next year.

    I didn't see any IG or SG bandsmen, but I was too far away to look for hackles and/or button patterns.

    My mom perked up at "Wooden Heart" -- evidently it was sung by Elvis at one point (and the King's ancestors were from Aberdeenshire!)

    Cheers,

    Todd

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot
    I am very impressed (and slightly jealous!) that you got to see the Welsh Guards on St. David's Day! Did the narrator acknowledge it? I would have liked to see their "leeks", wouldn't mind to even copy one to wear next year.
    I wouldn't mind seeing that myself.
    We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance. - Japanese Proverb

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot
    I am very impressed (and slightly jealous!) that you got to see the Welsh Guards on St. David's Day! Did the narrator acknowledge it? I would have liked to see their "leeks", wouldn't mind to even copy one to wear next year.

    I didn't see any IG or SG bandsmen, but I was too far away to look for hackles and/or button patterns.

    My mom perked up at "Wooden Heart" -- evidently it was sung by Elvis at one point (and the King's ancestors were from Aberdeenshire!)

    Cheers,

    Todd
    Yes, they made several mentions of commemorating St. David's Day, and the connections to the US Marines right up to the present Iraq war. Some of the band members were decorated veterans of that conflict. A retired US Marine was the special invited guest, and of course they played all the US service anthems. The "leek" was made of a couple pieces of 1/4" ribbon (green and white) each about 4" long knotted together, and another piece of ribbon covered the knot and was attached through the tunic buttonhole. Couldn't see if the jock and the paddies were wearing it too. I don't think the BW did.

    If anyone sees them on their St. Patrick's Day performance, check for shamrocks.

    They mentioned that Wooden Heart was one of the King's hits, but unfortun-ately didn't cite Elvis's Scottish heritage.

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