Regimental Stories

Every year, the Royal Welsh celebrate the 1879 Battle of Rorke's Drift where 122 British soldiers survived an attack by 4,000 Zulu warriors. This documentary tells the real story behind the epic film Zulu and shows how regimental history continues to inspire and motivate new recruits to this day.

Created to spearhead the liberation of Europe in World War Two, the Parachute Regiment prides itself on having the toughest selection process in the British Army. This film reveals how its historic missions in Normandy and Arnhem continue to motivate the Regiment's recruits to this day.

The Royal Tank Regiment began as a top secret band of plumbers, electricians and mechanics brought together to break the stalemate of trench warfare in WWI. They revolutionised warfare and the regimental history of bravery and innovation inspires members of the regiment to this day

In this film, we meet the British army’s most senior Scottish regiment - famous for a daring cavalry charge that helped defeat Napoleon at Waterloo. With unprecedented access behind the scenes, we join the 400 soldiers of the regiment as they prepare to deploy on their latest combat mission to Afghanistan. We discover how this modern tank regiment is still shaped and inspired by its cavalry past – and why 18 June 1815 is celebrated as the regiment’s finest hour. Born out of the bloodshed of Scottish rebellion 300 years ago, the regiment is still bound together by its Scottish roots and its history. We meet a family of Dragoons whose regimental ties go back 3 generations; witness the ancient rituals of an officers mess dinner; and join the men as they practice Scottish reels. On Salisbury plain, we join the soldiers as they take part in their final pre-deployment training – the army’s biggest exercise of the year. Although they are mounted on armoured vehicles not horseback, they explain how the cavalry traditions of speed and shock action live on. Soldiering on horseback continued until 1941. Two of the last surviving veterans of the final cavalry days remember practising sword drills, the troop charge and the rally. The programme culminates in an emotional farewell parade as the men prepare to deploy to Afghanistan.

In this programme, we meet the longest continuously serving Regiment in the British Army. They were formed to fight against the Crown in the English Civil War but they ended up playing a decisive role in restoring the monarchy. Their reward was to become one of the King’s official Foot Guards. They continue to serve as a bodyguard to the Queen to this day.