&
The United States Marine Corps
General Information
Links to Living History Groups, and Historic Sites
Links to Revolutionary War Reenactment Groups
Regimental Information
"The Fusilier" Regimental Newsletter
A Brief History
of the 23rd Foot
Traditions of the Royal Welch Fusiliers
Photograph of John Phillip Sousa with Officers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers,
United States Marine Corps, Naval and Military Attaches and Charge d'
Affaires of the
United States Embassy in London following Mr. Sousa's presentation of
the original script of his march, "The Royal Welsh Fusiliers"
to the regiment on June 25th, 1930 at Tidworth, England.
(Photo from the author's collection)
Click to Enlarge Photo
The strong and enduring relationship between the United States Marine
Corps and the Royal Welch Fusiliers date back to the time of the Boxer
Rebellion in China when they fought together as a combined Allied unit.
To this day the Royal Welch Fusiliers are the only unit of the British
Army to have the unique Battle Honour "Pekin" on the Regimental
Colour.
Annual greetings and salutations have been
traditionally
been rendered on the occasion of the Marine Corps Birthday
and on St. David's Day, birthday of the patron saint of Wales. Of interest
also is the origin of the American Naval mascot, a goat, which was
originally
given by the Royal Welch to the United States Marine Corps, who at that
time came under the command of the United States Navy. At the time of
the Marine Corps' evolution into its own arm of the service, they selected
the bulldog as a form of distinction from the Navy, while the Navy retained
the goat as its particular mascot.