His Majesty King George VI signed the Royal Warrant of Authority to raise the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards on the 18th May 1939.  They were stationed at HM The Tower of London where they carried out Public Duties and field training was carried out at Richmond Park, with the Companies travelling by Underground.  The 2nd Battalion remained there until April 1940, when they handed over to the 22nd Royal Canadian Regiment.  On the 22nd April 1940 the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards moved to Old Dean Common, Camberley, where they formed part of the newly 20th Guards Brigade.

 On the 10th May 1940 Germany invaded Holland and Belgium, at this time the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards had gone away on Whitsun Leave, they were ordered back as all leave had been cancelled.  At 1130 hours on the 21st May 1940 the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards were warned to pack and proceed overseas immediately.  They arrived in Dover that evening and embarked on S S Biarritz arriving at Boulogne on the 22nd May and disembarked about 1000 hours.  Their mission was to defend Boulogne.  During the late afternoon of the 22nd enemy recce patrols were seen and during that evening tanks probed the positions and there were many clashes, and fights at close quarters.  As darkness fell the enemy withdrew; however despite the Battalion being tired after a long journey and digging in they still patrolled throughout the night.  On the morning of the 23rd May enemy tanks with Infantry supported by artillery and dive-bombers attacked the Battalion.  Until that afternoon the Battalion managed to successfully hold of the enemy, who continued to attack all positions with artillery.  Late that afternoon the Battalion was ordered to withdraw and hold a close perimeter round the docks, the withdrawal was carried out successfully.  The evacuation of Dunkirk was completed by the 25th May 1940.  However four hundred and fifty three (453) remained in enemy hands.

October 1941 Codford
January 1943 Fonthill Gifford
April 1943 Thetford
October 1943 - 44 Pickering, North Yorkshire
 
 
June 1944 soon came, probably quicker than one would care to imagine.  The 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards embarked for N.W Europe, however in the days to follow despite untimely storms in the channel, the build up of Allied Forces continued.  The 1st and 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards crossed in various detachments between 18 - 29 June landing in Aromanches, with shelters of artificial harbour formed by grounded block ships with specially constructed "Mulberry" units.

Disembarking on sandy beaches going by steeply rising bulldozed ramps to the trampled marshalling area in fields above, thousands of vehicles with the multiplying personnel of swelling Army moved there.

The 2nd Battalion moved and occupied fields near Bayeux with the 1st Battalion a little east of them, ready to do what might be required of them.

The 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards lay near Bayeux for some time.   On the night of July 17 - 18th the 2nd Battalion moved out, heading for Cagney and Le Poirier long lines of vehicles were formed up, with their engines ticking over, despatch riders sitting astride their machines with throttles opening and shutting, in the distance you could hear the Regimental Sergeant Major shouting; one might have thought they were on exercise.  Signposts were put up by the Provost Company with an illuminating light, the tanks were moving bumping and swaying out of the fields in to narrow lanes, it was impossible to go wrong.  The heat of the engine combined with the hypnotic winking of the next vehicle convoy light soon sent one into a fitful doze, but there is no room for excitement in the coma induced by a night drive in convoy.

The first contact the 2nd Battalion had was just short of Orne, but suffered no casualties or losses of equipment, however One Squadron numbers 1, 2 and 3 Troop were engaged by anti - tank fire in a wood called Le Prieure, number One Squadron suffered with a loss of 4 tanks but thankfully had no casualties.  The 2nd Battalion lay up for a few days between Cagney and Emieville, but still maintained to carry out patrols between these two places, it also gave them a chance to work on their tanks, for in every fighting Battalion there is a first aid post for casualties, in every Armoured Battalion there is a Light Aid Detachment to deal with wounded tanks.  The 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards had been carefully trained to maintain their tanks in good working order and carry out minor repairs; this was probably the first of very many chores they would have to carry out during their rest up.

In August 1944 the Battalion's saw fighting in the "Bocage" the fighting in which they were heavily engaged in was largely conditioned by the nature of the Country in Normandy.  By the end of the 1st week of August reports had been received that the enemy had a firm hold on Montamy.  This saw the 2nd Battalion move to Montamy.   What was called the fighting in the "Bocage" covered a wide range of places like St Pierre Tarentaine, Monthcamp and Le Bas Perrier, however during these attacks both Battalions had suffered some losses.

The 28 August 1944, both Battalions of Welsh Guards had left the pleasant Country of Normandy, where they had been resting and licking their wounds.  Then came the ever quickening, long record breaking advance to Brussels.

1 September was a memorable day; it was the last occasion on which the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards fulfilled its role of battle reconnaissance in front of the division.  The advance began at dawn Number One Squadron on the left Number Two on the right Number Three in reserve; the objective was the Vimy Bridge by Arras.  It became apparent that the enemy was totally disorganised, some villages, there was no resistance with quantities of Germans giving themselves up without opening fire.  By 1100 hours Number One Squadron had captured two hundred prisoners.  Soon afterwards they had the pleasure of shooting up a large quantity of German transport passing down a main road, with great damage being done to their transport and personnel.

They moved on 2 September to the outskirts of Douai and there a series of marriages took place, for the Guards Armoured Division was reorganised in Regimental Groups; each consisted of One Armoured and One Infantry Battalion of the same Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalions forming the Welsh Guards Group.  It was a most happy wedding of Infantry and Armour, battle experience had taught that neither arm could be fully effective without the support of the other and this linking of Battalions of the same Regiment secured the closest unity.  The inter - Battalion friendship which already existed was strengthened by teamwork in battle and the spirit and tradition of the Regiment were given in full scope.

In the afternoon the 2nd Battalion moved to an aerodrome near Douai to perform maintenance upon their long-suffering vehicles and to rest themselves which was long overdue after the week had been so hectic.

The distance to Brussels was just short of a hundred miles; the start line was in Douai and punctually at first light Number One Squadron and Prince of Wales Company started up engines and were ready for all and everything that lay ahead.  The advance grew faster as the roads grew better and wider.  As the columns approached each village, crowds of delirious citizens appeared, laughing and crying, fruit being thrown and drink at the tank crews, yelling the latest which always proved to be unreliable information on the enemy's whereabouts.  How on earth was it possible to remain calm and unaffected in this exciting atmosphere, (one will never know or can never imagine).

The next serious hold up was at Hal as things started to get serious about Brussels, with it getting nearer and nearer every minute but Hal was soon cleared up by Number One Squadron and Prince of Wales Company.  The advance to Brussels resumed, the Cromwells performing miracles of speed and endurance, a triumph for the manufactures, fitters and drivers.  They stopped only once on the advance for the sole purpose of oiling, greasing and tightening nuts and to fill with petrol.

A few enemy were encountered in Englien but not enough to stop the advance.  The Battalion's reached the outskirts of the City before the first instalments of Sniper bullets whistled over their heads.  There had been a complete absence all day of enemy artillery and mortars on the advance, the Household Cavalry and Grenadier Guards had been held up and not yet reached the City.  It was up to the Welsh Guards to be the first to enter, penetrate and liberate Brussels, a proud and never to be forgotten operation.  Night fell on the 2nd September; the columns still split and deployed the ground hard and unable to dig in, the tanks got into a huddle under the shadows of the trees.

The 3 September 1944 at 0700 hours the Welsh guards liberated Brussels, Lieutenant J A W Dent of Number Three Troops, One Squadron being the first tank into Brussels.

After the Liberation of Brussels the 1st and 2nd Battalion's moved on to Wavre, then came Helchteren, Hechtel and Leopoldsburg, where they suffered a lot of casualties mainly of the 1st Battalion.

From Hechtel they moved to Nijmegen from there they went twenty miles south to Veulen, after Veulen there remained to be cleared the Rhineland territory lying South of Nijmegen, as the Welsh Guards entered there had been heavy fighting.  The 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards had been split up to support different Regiments.  On the 16 February Number One Squadron was ordered to support the Coldstream Guards at Mull, it was a sorry day for them as the tanks got bogged in one by one.

30 March 1945 the 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards crossed the Rhine, on the 2nd April the 2nd Battalion were making for Oldenraal, they were crossing a salient of Dutch territory, Oldenzaal being a Dutch Town gave a tremendous welcome.  Their advance was held up while blown up bridges were repaired.  Number One Squadron was sent off to shoot up German transport, which had been reported, moving South - East, this was done successfully.

On the 18 April 1945 the 2nd Battalion reached Visselhovede, this is where the fun began, without any warning Headquarters were surrounded by German Marines attacking at close quarters.  Headquarters managed to keep fighting, Number One Squadron soon joined the fray and the Marines soon realised they were beaten and surrounded, the total prisoners were Four Hundred and Forty with a Brigade Commander and his Staff.

26 April 1945 the 2nd Battalion were in Westertimke, there was known to be an S.S Camp where guards lived on the hill leading down to Westertimke.  Two German Officers came out with white flags asking for a ten-hour truce so they could evacuate the Prisoners of War.  The sound of enemy transport was reported, so the Artillery shelled the Village before the 2nd Battalion moved in.  The 2nd Battalion Welsh Guards had fought their last war.

The 2nd Battalion left Westertimke on the 29 April 1945 and passing back through Zeven turned northwards.  On the 1 May they entered Stade and remained there for a week.  After their long and toilsome journeying it was a great relief to rest in what was called a quiet old town.