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Since the Welsh Guards were established in 1915, the regiment has played its part in every significant war and conflict of importance including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq.

In their unique red tunics and black bearskin hats, the soldiers are well known to anyone visiting Buckingham Palace or Horse Guards Parade in London.

S4C has been filming the regiment over 18 months for a new series, and over the next six weeks we will meet some of its characters.

While many of the officers were educated in private schools, others are lads from the Welsh Valleys who form part of the 1st Battallion Welsh Guards.

Hedd Wyn

Sion Prysor Williams, aged 19, from Penygroes in Gwynedd, joined the regiment eight months ago.

He isn’t the first in his family to join a Welsh unit: many of the men in his family have followed in the footsteps of their ancestor, bard Hedd Wyn. He was a soldier with the Royal Welch Fusiliers and was killed in World War One just weeks before it was announced that he had won the 1917 National Eisteddfod chair.

“My great-great-grandmother on my father’s side was a first cousin to Hedd Wyn,” says Sion. “Many of the men in my family have joined the army and my uncle was in the Falklands War. It was natural, therefore, for me to join the Guards.”

Sion is based in Pirbright, Surrey, and has already travelled to Kenya for intense training. This trip, which features in the series, demonstrates the international role of the regiment, protecting British interests around the world.

In tomorrow’s first programme of the series, we see members of the regiment practising for Trooping the Colour and meet some new recruits training in Catterick and Sandhurst.

Related: Hundreds turn out for St David's Day parade in Cardiff Bay

Behind the scenes

Steffan Morgan, producer of Milwyr y Welsh Guards, said: “The series gives us a unique behind-the-scenes insight.

“We come to understand some of the challenges they face and the pride they feel serving in one of the most well-known regiments in Britain.

“The Guards are of constitutional, ceremonial and international importance, as they are part of Trooping the Colour and the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace.

“The tourists flock to the Tower of London to see members of the Welsh Guards protecting the Crown Jewels – as well as greeting the Queen on special occasions.”

The regiment’s first Victoria Cross was awarded in July 1917 to Sergeant Robert Bye, who “displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy’s positions”.

Just before the outbreak of the Second World War the Welsh Guards were dispatched to Gibraltar, and then the regiment was increased to three battalions. The 1st Battalion fought valiantly in all the campaigns of the North-West European theatre. The 2nd Battalion fought in Boulogne in 1940 while the third fought in the North African and Italian campaigns of 1943.

In May 1940 at the Battle of Arras, the Welsh Guards gained a second Victoria Cross, that of Lieutenant Christopher Furness, killed in action.

The 1st Battalion was subsequently part of the legendary evacuation of Dunkirk of more than 340,000 British and French troops.

Milwyr y Welsh Guards is on S4C at 9.30pm tomorrow.