THE 23rd Foot, Royal Welch Fusiliers, has seen many changes in duties since they were given the Freedom of Ludlow in 1995.

Marching in red, black and gold uniforms, battle-axes at the ready, they were welcomed back from Bosnia, colours flying and paraded through the town, writes Jen Green.

Regimental secretary, Major Robert Lake, recalled: "We had been through an uncomfortable time and were looking forward to coming home; the town gave us a great reception and an exceptionally good tea-party which made it a memorable day for the fusiliers. The silver-topped stave, a gift from the people of Ludlow, is displayed with all our other regimental honours, in my office."

It all started in 1689. William of Orange invited Lord Herbert of Chirbury to raise a Regiment of Foot to 'the beat the drum' in Ludlow. Assuring himself of a lucrative income, he accepted the challenge and since then the 23rd Foot has continued to establish it's credentials on just about every battle zone in the world.

They first saw action at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690 and hold 14 Victoria Crosses for gallantry in the Crimea, the Indian Mutiny, Gallip-olli, France, Belgium and Palestine. Their long list of battle honours are woven onto the colours.

The White Hackle worn in a fusilier's cap dates back to 1709 when officers informally adopted the wearing of feathers, 80 years later it was officially sanctioned. For over 300 years the regiment in review, is always preceded by a goat from the Sovereign's wild herd in North Wales, and at the battle of Bunker Hill during the American War of Independence, the goat was at the forefront of the action.

In the Officers Mess, the loyal toast is never proposed except on St David's Day, neither do officers and guests stand for the National Anthem at the end of a programme.

But in war or peace, home and abroad, the 23rd Foot never fails to honour St David's Day, leeks are pinned on lapels and those who haven't eaten one raw, must do so.

Today, they are highly-trained, technically equipped soldiers, skilled parachutists and sophisticated weapons experts serving all over the world, and since coming to Ludlow the battalion has served three tours of 'peace-keeping' in Northern Ireland, a two-year spell at Tern Hill barracks in Shropshire, and two months on a conventional warfare exercise in Kenya.

Press officer Captain Charles Carver explained: "We are now a mechanised infantry battalion equipped with armoured personnel carriers, and as well as coping with the move and the training, we have been firefighting in South West London manning 27 Green and Red Goddesses and an arial water tower during the strikes ".

Praising his men, Commanding Officer Lt-Col Mark Blagbrough said: "The soldiers of the Royal Welch Fusiliers are extremely ad-aptable and have done very well throughout the strikes. Despite coming at a busy time for us, and the army as a whole, the troops have coped tremendously well with all the challenges thrown at them."

Asked about the Gulf, Major Lake confirmed: "We are not the first 25 per cent already there, but I'm sure the battalion is ready and willing to go. After all, that's what we are trained for."