Presenting leeks to the Welsh Guards, St David's Day (colour photo)

Presenting leeks to the Welsh Guards, St David's Day. Although the Welsh Guards are the youngest regiment in order of formation of the Brigade of Guards, they had speedy opportunity of proving their mettle, for within seven months of their inception in 1915, they were under fire at Loos, where their behaviour was a credit to the Guards. Their regimental badge is the Welsh national emblem of the leek, and on St David's Day it is the custom for leeks to be distributed to officers and men of the Regiment in honour of the national saint. In like manner, the Scots Guards receive sprigs of heather on St Andrew's Day, while the Irish Guards are presented with shamrock on St Patrick's Day. Illustration for one of a set of 50 cigarette cards on the subject of Interesting Customs and Traditions of the Navy, Army and Airforce issued by Lambert & Butler in 1939.