Alf PRICE
Served In: Welsh Guards, WW2, Palestine
Service Number:
Served as: Drill Sergeant
5th Regiment of Foot Guards (Welsh Guards)
3rd Battalion at Spoleto, Italy
Guards Composite Brigade in Palestine
A PROUD OLD SOLDIER OF THE FAMOUS WELSH GUARDS
Alf, who claims descent from the ancient Kingdom of Mercia, joined the Welsh Guards in 1944 and trained as a Signaller. He served in Italy during World War II and participated in key operations, including crossing the River Po. After the war, he engaged in ceremonial duties at notable locations in the UK. In 1946, he was deployed to Palestine with the Guards Composite Brigade, where he patrolled the border with Lebanon and managed local tensions. Alf left the army as a Drill Sergeant, later joining the Shropshire Constabulary in 1950. He emigrated to Australia in 1963 and continued his police career with the Australian Federal Police, joining the North Beach RSL Sub-Branch in 1979.
Alf Price claims that he was born in the ancient Kingdom of Mercia of good Welsh and Lancastrian stock. He joined the 5th Regiment of Foot Guards (Welsh Guards) in 1944 and trained at the infamous Guards Depot, Caterham and later the Training Battalion in Pirbright. Alf qualified as a Signaller and Wireless Operator, manning the No 18 Back Pack set and No 20 Wireless Communications unit.
In 1945 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion at Spoleto, Italy, the Battalion being linked with the 1st Guards Brigade at Perugia and then to the Adriatic coast. The Battalion moved with the 5th Army to the River PO and on the 24th of April crossed that river to secure the bridge across the Biaco Canal between the PO and the Adige. The Battalion left the 1st Guards Brigade at Adige and returned to the U.K. to be disbanded, first to camp at Galashiels, Scotland and later to the Regiment’s Home Barracks at Chelsea.
With the cessation of hostilities in Europe the Regiment returned to its normal role of Ceremonial Duties, such famous places as Buckingham Palace, the Bank of England, the Tower Guard, etc, being on their itinerary. Guard duty on No. 1 Post outside the Palace Gates was a double sentry post. Members of the public were always intrigued when watching the two Guardsmen patrol and questioned how they avoided a collision with each other at the centre of the patrol. As they were not permitted to respond the secret remains. (Actually, they had learnt from the Cornish that one always kept to the left, a simple movement forgotten by many in Perth today. Ed).
In 1946 Alfs group kitted out for overseas duty, on that occasion joining the Guards Composite Brigade in Palestine. Disembarking at Port Said transit camp they were moved at night time by Arab Dhows to Haifa Port, and then shifted to Tiberius on the Sea of Galilee. The Battalion maintained patrols on the border with Lebanon and later transferred to Sarafan Camp near Tel Aviv. There it took over duties from the Airborne Regiment controlling illegal immigrant and Jewish s Terrorist’ Group activities. The withdrawal of British troops from Palestine in 1948 saw the Regiment return to perform Home Duties stationed at Chelsea Barracks.
Alf left the Regiment with the rank of Drill Sergeant, being schooled by such eminent Regimental Sergeant-Majors as Bill Britain of the Coldstream Guards and ‘Piggy’ Reece’ of the Welsh Guards. Alf wishes to assure readers that those were experiences that he would not wish on his worst enemy.
When he joined the Shropshire Constabulary in 1950 as a Police Constable Alf renewed many old Regimental acquaintances. He emigrated to Australia in 1963 to continue a Police career with the Australian Federal Police (then known as the Commonwealth Police). After service in Canberra he transferred to Western Australia in 1966, and joined the Scarborough Sub-Branch RSL in 1968, transferring to North Beach during 1979.