Young Cardiff soldier follows in father’s footsteps to prepare for King’s Birthday Parade

Eighteen year old Guardsman James Calford of the Welsh Guards will be on a global stage when he steps out in central London on 17 June with his regiment, more than 90 per cent of whom are Welsh, many having Welsh as their first language.

The King’s Birthday Parade, known as Trooping the Colour, will be watched live in over 50 countries worldwide, a ticketed audience of 8,000 in Horse Guards Parade and many thousands more lining The Mall and in the Royal Parks.

Guardsman Calford will be marching as part of Number 2 Guard and as the soldier in the centre of the line will be clearly visible throughout the entire parade.

It’s a huge role and responsibility to fill for such a young soldier, but it’s a role he dreamed of from being four years old.

Although James and his family hail from Cardiff, he spent a lot of his late childhood growing up in Berkshire, because his father who also serves in the Welsh Guards, was based in Combermere Barracks, Windsor. His father has had the honour of taking part in several Troopings of the Colour, but this year it is the turn of his son.

Youngest Guardsman

James is the youngest Guardsman in the Welsh Guards, having joined the Army in November 2022, and whilst the fact he is the youngest has not been commented on by his fellow Guardsmen there has been a lot to learn in a relatively short space of time.

With his father being a Welsh Guard, it comes as no surprise that James watched it every year on the television as a child, but he is quick to point out:

“Trooping the Colour is a lot harder than it looks on TV, once you have got your tunic and bearskin on and carrying your rifle, it is like being stood in a sauna with a 200kg dumb bell in your hand”.

Practice Make Perfect

Last week, Guardsman Calford took part in the Brigade Major’s Review on the 1 June, followed by the Major General’s Review on the 3 June. These large scale run-throughs involve every one of the seven regiments of the Household Division: soldiers from the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards, The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and the Massed Bands of the Household Division. They are also joined on parade by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and their six first world war era horse drawn Guns.

The vast dress rehearsals in central London follow weeks of rehearsals at Pirbright Army Training Centre in Surrey and have transformed each individual soldier’s polishing of their kit and units’ drill practice into a glittering spectacle, described as “The Household Division’s personal birthday gift to His Majesty.” As one of the Welsh Guards described it, “it’s about getting one and a half thousand or so individual minds to think, and just as importantly, move, as one.”

Makes Me Proud

And with plenty of practice they are doing just that. James admits he now dreams about the Troop and getting his drill right and in perfect synchronisation with those around him. He has the advantage, that despite having joined the Welsh Guards as recently as last November, he is now no stranger to ceremonial activity, having been part of the Guards marching contingent for The King’s Coronation. For him this was a real career highlight: “I loved the way everyone suddenly came together, the crowds were incredible, they do really care about supporting their armed forces and the Royal Family and that makes me really proud.”

Treated Like An Adult

In the months he has been in the Army, James has already gained a lot.  He had always enjoyed sport, in particular, rugby, at school but some subjects, in particular English and Maths were challenging in that environment. He has since found learning easier in the Army, because he says, “Here you are treated like an adult, there’s a lot more respect. The Army will get me through my English and Maths exams and I’ve got no trouble picking up military training quickly because that change of attitude from teachers at school to the way the instructors treat you in the Army has made all the difference.”

Like A Family

His father had initially wanted his son to get a trade but James was determined to follow in his father’s footsteps, and it has paid off: “The discipline, the standards, on the drill square and out in the field, the combination is unlike any other career” he said. That along with the strong sense of loyalty, the camaraderie that comes from the unique environment of the Guards and a shared sense of identity and communal background that many of the Welsh Guardsman have grown up with makes the Welsh Guards “like a family.” Everyone knows each other and looks out for each other, it’s a team that feels like being home.

Dual Role

With plenty of ceremonial activity under his belt, Guardsman Calford is looking forward to the operational side of things which a career in this dual-role Regiment uniquely offers. Shortly after the Trooping of the Colour he will be joining other Welsh Guards as they deploy on a 10-day exercise carrying out operational combat training with US Forces in Louisiana in the United States.

Setting the Standard

Before that, he and his fellow Guardsmen are looking to deliver the best possible King’s Birthday Parade they can, as his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel John Livesey, put it, “My aspiration is to set the standard from the outset by which future King’s Birthday parades are judged.”

For Guardsman Calford, if it were needed, there is the added incentive that his parents, Simeon and Kirsty Howells will be watching from the stands on the day of the King’s Birthday Parade, and they couldn’t be prouder.

If being a Guardsman is something that interests you, click here.