Today was the third freedom ceremony I have been involved in as Lord Mayor, when the council honoured the 157 (Welsh) Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps.
After the ceremony I inspected the troops and then addressed them before driving ahead of their march through the City Centre to take the salute with the Lord Lieutenant and Major General Swift in Oxford Street.
This is the speech I delivered to the troops in front of the Guildhall, which also provides some of the history of the regiment:
Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Honorary Recorder, Major General Swift, Brigadier Richmond, Brigadier Ewart –Brooks, Colonel Simpson, Colonel Francis, Colonel Lawton, Distinguished Guests
It is with great pleasure, that as The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of the City & County of Swansea, along with my council colleagues, we are honoured to be able to grant 157 (Welsh) Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea in our 50th year as a city.
The Royal Logistic Corps’ (RLC) 157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC, known colloquially as The Welsh Transport Regiment, has a special friendship with the people of the city and county of Swansea.
The Regiment’s Squadron in Swansea started life within Headquarters 53rd (Welsh) Divisional Train, Army Service Corps (ASC) whose origins date back to 1912.
August of 1915 saw the 53rd (Welsh) Division take part in the landings at Gallipoli where it earned praise for its part in supplying ammunition to the 160th Brigade, now 160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales.
Following the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps on the 1st of April 1993, 223 (Welsh) Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) became 223 Artillery Support Squadron RLC.
The 1998 Strategic Defence Review saw 223 Artillery Support Squadron RLC become 223 Transport Squadron RLC and in 2014, 223 (West Glamorgan) Transport Squadron RLC.
It was not only the Squadron that re-organised over the years, similarly in 2007, 157 (Wales and Midland) Regiment RLC was retitled The Welsh Transport Regiment RLC which became in 2014, 157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC as we know it today.
As titles have come and gone, the people within the Regiment have remained steadfast; support from the City and County of Swansea has also remained constant, ambassadors for our Armed Forces community at large.
Swansea is proud of its relationship with the Armed Forces and welcomes every opportunity to show our support.
It is my pleasure to be able to give permission for you to exercise your right of Honorary Freedom to march through our streets with your drums beating and bayonets fixed. I am sure the people of Swansea will give you a very warm welcome as you pass through the city, and I welcome the opportunity to speak more informally to many of you later today.
After the ceremony I inspected the troops and then addressed them before driving ahead of their march through the City Centre to take the salute with the Lord Lieutenant and Major General Swift in Oxford Street.
This is the speech I delivered to the troops in front of the Guildhall, which also provides some of the history of the regiment:
Lord Lieutenant, High Sheriff, Honorary Recorder, Major General Swift, Brigadier Richmond, Brigadier Ewart –Brooks, Colonel Simpson, Colonel Francis, Colonel Lawton, Distinguished Guests
It is with great pleasure, that as The Right Worshipful The Lord Mayor of the City & County of Swansea, along with my council colleagues, we are honoured to be able to grant 157 (Welsh) Regiment of the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Honorary Freedom of the City & County of Swansea in our 50th year as a city.
The Royal Logistic Corps’ (RLC) 157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC, known colloquially as The Welsh Transport Regiment, has a special friendship with the people of the city and county of Swansea.
The Regiment’s Squadron in Swansea started life within Headquarters 53rd (Welsh) Divisional Train, Army Service Corps (ASC) whose origins date back to 1912.
August of 1915 saw the 53rd (Welsh) Division take part in the landings at Gallipoli where it earned praise for its part in supplying ammunition to the 160th Brigade, now 160th Infantry Brigade and HQ Wales.
Following the formation of the Royal Logistic Corps on the 1st of April 1993, 223 (Welsh) Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) became 223 Artillery Support Squadron RLC.
The 1998 Strategic Defence Review saw 223 Artillery Support Squadron RLC become 223 Transport Squadron RLC and in 2014, 223 (West Glamorgan) Transport Squadron RLC.
It was not only the Squadron that re-organised over the years, similarly in 2007, 157 (Wales and Midland) Regiment RLC was retitled The Welsh Transport Regiment RLC which became in 2014, 157 (Welsh) Regiment RLC as we know it today.
As titles have come and gone, the people within the Regiment have remained steadfast; support from the City and County of Swansea has also remained constant, ambassadors for our Armed Forces community at large.
Swansea is proud of its relationship with the Armed Forces and welcomes every opportunity to show our support.
It is my pleasure to be able to give permission for you to exercise your right of Honorary Freedom to march through our streets with your drums beating and bayonets fixed. I am sure the people of Swansea will give you a very warm welcome as you pass through the city, and I welcome the opportunity to speak more informally to many of you later today.
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