Local Infantry Regiment to Exercise Its Freedom of Guildford

Published on: 29 May, 2024
Updated on: 1 Jun, 2024

The colour party at the previous Freedom march in 2018. Each regiment has two colours, the Queen’s Colour on the left, and a Regimental Colour. They bear the battle honours won by the regiment and are held in reverence as they represent the regiment’s spirit. The PWRR colours have the oldest battle honour awarded in the British Army – Tangier 1662-1680.

The 4th Battalion, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (4 PWRR) will exercise its Freedom of Guildford on Saturday, June 8.

The Freedom of Guildford was originally granted in 1945 to The Queen’s Royal Regiment, which had its depot at Stoughton.

A past event to bear in mind when Guildford hosts Armed Forces Day in 2015 on behalf of the UK. This picture shows The Queen’s Regiment marching down Guildford High Street on the occasion of it receiving the Freedom of the Borough of Guildford on April 28,1945.

Following the formation of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment in 1992, the civic honours were handed down to the Regiment, via the Queen’s Royal Surrey Regiment (1959-65) and the Queen’s Regiment (1966 t0 91).

The Freedom entitles the Regiment to exercise their right to march through the town with Colours flying and bayonets fixed.

The Princess of Wales’s Regiment marches up the High Street with band playing, colours flying and bayonets fixed in 2018.

The parade will be led by the Kohima Band (Kohima was a crucial Second World War battle in Burma in which predecessor regiments fought with distinction) as it makes its way up Guildford High Street. This special occasion will mark the 80th Anniversary of D-Day.

His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, Michael More-Molyneux, the Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Sallie Barker MBE, and Colonel (Retd) Patrick Crowley MBE DL, Deputy Colonel of the Regiment, will take the salute at Tunsgate.

The salute party will then participate in a short service outside Holy Trinity Church to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day and inspect the parade.

The parade will be inspected by HM Lord-Lieutenant, Col (Retd) Patrick Crowley MBE DL and the Mayor of Guildford. 4 PWRR is at the forefront of the Army Reserves equipped with the very latest equipment.

Residents and visitors to the town are being invited to join the commemoration of this significant anniversary. Local veterans, representatives of service and cadet organisations will also be attending.

The parade will start at 12:15pm on Saturday, June 8. The service will end at approximately 1pm.

Share This Post