The Countdown Is On: Armed Forces Day South Wales In Caerphilly

It’s less than two weeks until Armed Forces Day South Wales 2016, which for the first time will take place in Caerphilly on Saturday 25 June. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hundreds of Armed Services personnel, cadets and veterans will march through the town at 11am, before holding a special Drum Head Service, held against the backdrop of the impressive Caerphilly Castle. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A free action packed event then takes place at Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields (on Crescent Road) in the heart of the town, where the area will be filled with military stalls and marquees, demonstrations, an events arena, licensed bar and much more. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event is organised and coordinated by the South Wales Armed Forces Day committee, a dedicated team of volunteers – and supported by Caerphilly County Borough Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Celebrating the commitment of servicemen and women past and present, the event will be attended by: the First Minister of Wales, the Rt. Hon Carwyn Jones; Major-General Richard Stanford General Officer Commanding Support Command; Commodore Jamie Miller, Naval Regional Commander, Wales and Western England; Air Officer for Wales, Air Commodore Adrian Williams; and Brigadier Martyn Gamble, Commander 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Phil Hubbard, Chair of the South Wales Armed Forces Day Committee said: “Armed Forces Day is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to show their support and recognition for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, including current serving troops, Veterans, Cadets and Forces Families. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This year’s Armed Forces Day event is particularly important as it marks some key anniversaries, including the centenary of the Battle of Mametz Wood, which began in early July 1916 as the Somme offensive was at its height. Hundreds of Welshmen died at Mametz, most of them volunteers, and thousands more were casualties. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s also the 75th anniversary of the RAF Air Cadets which comprises both the Air Training Corps (ATC) and the Combined Cadet Force (RAF) and both were established in 1941. We’re delighted that the No 1 Welsh Wing Band, which is formed of ATC Cadets in South Wales, will feature in the parade and also perform in the main events arena.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The day of free events will also feature military displays, musical performances, and a parachute display by the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) Silver Stars. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of the Council, Cllr Keith Reynolds said, “As we mark the countdown to the South Wales Armed Forces Day event, we greatly look forward to welcoming this occasion to Caerphilly. We are great supporters of our armed forces here in Caerphilly county borough and I have no doubt our residents and visitors alike will turn out in their thousands to help celebrate and show support at this wonderful event”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​