Unless I missed something Britain and its people who are British is made up of the following nations. Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. So being it is a British song.
This song is a Welsh song made famous by the film Zulu , 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded due to the bravery of the Welsh Guards defending Rorkes Drift outpost against the Zulu tribe .
Nope, the song is written about the Yorkist siege of Harlech castle (the longest siege In British history) during The War of the Roses. It’s written from the point of view of the Lancastrians who held the castle for 7 years before eventually losing the siege.
The “lancastrians” being led by Dafydd ap Ieuan, son of the Baron of Hendwr, fighting for the Welsh Tydurs of penmunydd (yes those Tudors) claim to the throne of England? Never mind it was originally called Gorhoffedd Gwŷr? It’s definitely a welsh patriotic song, it wasn’t used officially by any British military unit until the welsh guards in 1915, where notably they didn’t choose one of the many versions with lyrics about Saxon invaders learning of the bite of Welshmens swords.
Despite the myth perpetuated by the film "Zulu", the 24th Foot was not a Welsh regiment during the Zulu War. It was an English regiment and it's full title was the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. The regiment's depot had moved to Brecon in 1873 and it had begun to recruit some Welshman who mainly served in the 2nd battalion. Even so, about a third of the men at Rorke's Drift were Welsh. The rest were mainly English with a few Irish and Scots. The 1st battalion that was wiped out at Isandlwana had very few Welsh in the ranks. After the Zulu War the regiment had to recruit heavily to replace the casualties and it was only then that most of the new recruits came from Wales. In 1881 the regiment's name was changed to South Wales Borderers to reflect its new national character. Of the eleven Victoria Cross winners at Rorke's Drift six were English, three Welsh, one Irish and one Swiss.
One funny bit from the movie: when the sergeant begins to sing "Men of Harlech," Jack Hawkins' English officer gives him an uneasy look. And why not? It's a song about Welshmen going out and killing English invaders.
In fact, the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) of foot's march was Warwickshire Lad not Men of Harlech, so would be more accurate to the regiment in Zulu, (1964).
if you've ever once seen the film and remember it: The regiment IS English. Confirms exactly how you explained it, only a portion of the regiment is Welsh in the film and they are all from a particular battalion or two.
The earliest known version with lyrics was published around 1830, and this version is the one used by the regimental band of the South Wales Borderers, as for the date of this specific recording, I was unable to locate a date. If I find one I will update the description and reply to your comment again.
@@imperialglory I can't post the link. But if You Google "Men of Harlech" you Will See this version with a black and white lyric video. After the last lyric, it tells the date it was recorded and by which regiment.
@@imperialglory 1793 John Oxenford 1830 Broadside version 1862 John Baker And there's the Gurads version and also Zulu film version all have some what different verses yet all sing about killing The Saxon invaders (english )
I have run across at least two sets of lyrics in Welsh. I suppose the _'Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio'_ may be the most popular, over _'Aid y wai ac aid a wedi, i bob Cymru chan uchelfri,_ and there are even more and perhaps bloodier variations in English.😮
And oh look: 'Harlech Cyfod dy Faneri.' Sounds pretty rousing... Cymraeg is stiff with cognate words. Their word for "window" is pure if elderly French.
Because the Welsh are British (Britons) more so than the English, whenever I see a person say the English/Scots/Irish aren't British I think whatever that's their opinion but when someone says the Welsh aren't British I just think they are a clueless idiot 🤷🏻♂️ they were here first if this island (Great Britain) belongs to anyone it's the Welsh 🇬🇧🏴
@@CarlJones-in8pm if your welsh and you were brought up to believe that then you have been educated by someone who isn't sure on their own history/culture. You should absolutely be proud to be welsh but your still a Briton/British and even if the UK falls apart the only Britons will be the welsh. the island belong to the welsh before the Saxons pushed them into modern day wales if you look at the original welsh borders wales owned all of modern day England and southern Scotland and the isle of man. the only part of England that could possible get away with also being Briton is Liverpool and Cornwall.
@@thespecialist3728 The word British even though of medieval hertiage it wasn't used till the early 17c with king James coming to the throne, and the Romans neither called us British or celts, we're Britons anyone can be British and I don't use the term Welsh either as it's stranger in Angel Saxon always told your not a stranger in your own country
Wrong, the Welsh come from the original Britons who occupied the British Isles (Britannia) before the Romans. The Anglo-Saxons called the people of what is now called Wales the "Wealesc" meaning "strangers" or"foreigners". "Cymru" and "Cymri" I believe is the Welsh name for Wales and the Welsh
read the title, we are Welsh then British. this is a traditional song, never British unless the English want it to be. We have a long heritage, longer the the English
@@deepditch3651modern british people no matter what we identify as here and now are a mix of the great nations that make up our isle (scotland, welsh, irish, english). we are truly brothers and sisters by blood. men of harlech is truly a proud welsh song, and being welsh means being british and there is no shame in that. as Britains we conquered the world, we are stronger together. its good to remember the roots of our peoples but to look ahead is to be british. my point being: I'm english and i love this song. :P
The Angles and Saxons aren't the British either. They are a conquered people. The British are descended from the Norman French. Still the song is much nicer in Cymraeg.
the Welsh are the original British. They occupied most of what is now England and the Scottish Lowlands when the Romans invaded "Britannia". After the Romans left in the 400's AD the Anglian and Saxon invaders eventually pushed the Britons back into what is now Wales. The word "Welsh" comes from the Saxon word "Wealsc" meaning "Stranger" or "Foreigner"" i.e. not Anglo Saxon. So to describe the song as "British" is correct.
@@sublicense18a13 oh dear. we were and are Celtic first, i can only assume you are English or from somewhere that isn't Celtic.i know the history of my country and the language and the song mentioned isn't British if you are a minority. please understand and show respect to someones heritage
@@deepditch3651 Wrong, I have Irish and Scottish ancestry and was brought up in the Scottish Borders where my mother came from. Do you disagree that the Welsh were the original Britons? Also modern research has cast some doubt on whether some of the original inhabitants of pre Roman Britain were in fact Celts i.e. originating from central Europe.
This is is not a "British Patriotic Song". This is a Welsh song. It depicts the 7 year Siege of Harlech during the Wars of the Roses, where the outnumbered Welsh Lancastrian forces took shelter inside of Harlech Castle in North Wales. Them and their Welsh commander Constable Dafydd ap Ieuan, son of the Baron of Hendwr, held out against the English monarch Edward IV's besieging Yorkist forces for 7 years. These details are purposely left fuzzy in this version of the song. In other versions of the song, it more clearly depicts the events and how it was the Welsh vs the English rather than "Britain" against an unspecified enemy. This song is still used by the Royal Welsh regiment as their marching tune. I find it disrespectful that the achievements of my country shall be used to compliment what was once the enemy, the Englishmen fighting for the (victorious) House of York. Also, the imagery of the British empire is in no ways relating to the song, due to the lack of existence of any British Empire during the events described.
We’re taking it to Zulu land with this one 🗣️🔥🔥🔥
“Blazes, where the deuce did they get those?”
“I’d say off your dead regiment as Isandlwana.”
I love the United Kingdom, love from Chile🇨🇱❤️🇬🇧
🇬🇧❤🇨🇱
Thanks but Pinocet was a Fascist and you've stolen Ben Brereton.
A great British patriotic song full of Umph!
A welsh song not really British but was made in uk so idk
@@British-v1h Some in Wales see themselves as British😉
@ not most though
This is a Welsh patriotic song old son
Unless I missed something Britain and its people who are British is made up of the following nations. Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England. So being it is a British song.
This song is a Welsh song made famous by the film Zulu , 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded due to the bravery of the Welsh Guards defending Rorkes Drift outpost against the Zulu tribe .
I love this song, God bless Britannia and the Man of Harlech!!!!
A Welsh patriotic song.
Nope, the song is written about the Yorkist siege of Harlech castle (the longest siege In British history) during The War of the Roses. It’s written from the point of view of the Lancastrians who held the castle for 7 years before eventually losing the siege.
The “lancastrians” being led by Dafydd ap Ieuan, son of the Baron of Hendwr,
fighting for the Welsh Tydurs of penmunydd (yes those Tudors) claim to the throne of England?
Never mind it was originally called Gorhoffedd Gwŷr?
It’s definitely a welsh patriotic song, it wasn’t used officially by any British military unit until the welsh guards in 1915, where notably they didn’t choose one of the many versions with lyrics about Saxon invaders learning of the bite of Welshmens swords.
Much older than that.. @@Cheesemonkey2239
Wales is part of britain.
@@SStupendousno it isn’t that’s where the song comes from, wales is apart of Britain and it was part of British history
glory to the empire!
I’ve been to the United Kingdom before and my family is from the UK so I love this song
Glorious Song 🇬🇧🏴!!!
One of the best Welsh regiment associated songs!
@@imperialglory Tottaly agree. They were singing it in Zulu film.
this song sound so much better in the movie zulu............. from a Belgian fan.
Despite the myth perpetuated by the film "Zulu", the 24th Foot was not a Welsh regiment during the Zulu War. It was an English regiment and it's full title was the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.
The regiment's depot had moved to Brecon in 1873 and it had begun to recruit some Welshman who mainly served in the 2nd battalion. Even so, about a third of the men at Rorke's Drift were Welsh. The rest were mainly English with a few Irish and Scots. The 1st battalion that was wiped out at Isandlwana had very few Welsh in the ranks.
After the Zulu War the regiment had to recruit heavily to replace the casualties and it was only then that most of the new recruits came from Wales. In 1881 the regiment's name was changed to South Wales Borderers to reflect its new national character.
Of the eleven Victoria Cross winners at Rorke's Drift six were English, three Welsh, one Irish and one Swiss.
One funny bit from the movie: when the sergeant begins to sing "Men of Harlech," Jack Hawkins' English officer gives him an uneasy look. And why not? It's a song about Welshmen going out and killing English invaders.
In fact, the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) of foot's march was Warwickshire Lad not Men of Harlech, so would be more accurate to the regiment in Zulu, (1964).
if you've ever once seen the film and remember it:
The regiment IS English. Confirms exactly how you explained it, only a portion of the regiment is Welsh in the film and they are all from a particular battalion or two.
The Swiss man was part of Natal mounted police correct or is that more movie fiction
When was this song made?
The earliest known version with lyrics was published around 1830, and this version is the one used by the regimental band of the South Wales Borderers, as for the date of this specific recording, I was unable to locate a date. If I find one I will update the description and reply to your comment again.
@@imperialglory I can't post the link. But if You Google "Men of Harlech" you Will See this version with a black and white lyric video. After the last lyric, it tells the date it was recorded and by which regiment.
@@imperialglory It's posted by some "Mark Mains"
@@luisna9021 Thank you kindly for the info, I will add the credit in the video description tomorrow.
@@imperialglory 1793 John Oxenford
1830 Broadside version
1862 John Baker
And there's the Gurads version and also Zulu film version all have some what different verses yet all sing about killing The Saxon invaders (english )
hi, what's the painting at 1:57-2:04?
This is part of a set of picture postcards by Simon Smith. This particular postcard was called "Rescue".
Call you Harlech 0:21
Men
okay so my great gran is welsh on my mothers side and my great great great granddad is welsh so can i sing this with patronage ?
The Welch given Britannia eternal victories....
So did the Scots, English and Irish..
Does anyone know why there are different versions of this song?
Well, I know that one version is in Welsh.
I have run across at least two sets of lyrics in Welsh. I suppose the _'Wele goelcerth wen yn fflamio'_ may be the most popular, over _'Aid y wai ac aid a wedi, i bob Cymru chan uchelfri,_ and there are even more and perhaps bloodier variations in English.😮
And oh look: 'Harlech Cyfod dy Faneri.' Sounds pretty rousing...
Cymraeg is stiff with cognate words. Their word for "window" is pure if elderly French.
Hardly a 'Brtish' song. It's origins are in the Welsh fighting the English invasion of Wales.
Please please explain to me how this is a British Patriotic song , when it's singing about killing the Saxon ( english ) invaders.
Because the Welsh are British (Britons) more so than the English, whenever I see a person say the English/Scots/Irish aren't British I think whatever that's their opinion but when someone says the Welsh aren't British I just think they are a clueless idiot 🤷🏻♂️ they were here first if this island (Great Britain) belongs to anyone it's the Welsh 🇬🇧🏴
@@thespecialist3728 I was brought up to use the term Briton and British for everyone else .
@@CarlJones-in8pm if your welsh and you were brought up to believe that then you have been educated by someone who isn't sure on their own history/culture. You should absolutely be proud to be welsh but your still a Briton/British and even if the UK falls apart the only Britons will be the welsh. the island belong to the welsh before the Saxons pushed them into modern day wales if you look at the original welsh borders wales owned all of modern day England and southern Scotland and the isle of man. the only part of England that could possible get away with also being Briton is Liverpool and Cornwall.
@@thespecialist3728 The word British even though of medieval hertiage it wasn't used till the early 17c with king James coming to the throne, and the Romans neither called us British or celts, we're Britons anyone can be British and I don't use the term Welsh either as it's stranger in Angel Saxon always told your not a stranger in your own country
@@CarlJones-in8pm the romans referred to this isle are Britons and Germany Germanic peoples ect.
British you mean WELSH 🏴 🏴🏴🏴 patriotic song
🇨🇦❤️🇬🇧
THEY DIDNT MAKE IT THE WHALES MADE IT WAY BEFORE THIS
Whales no whales, just Welsh people
Humpback Whales?
💀💀💀
Hail Britannia!! The deliverer of Civilizations.
Long live the British empire now look at us a pathetic country who can't control it's borders
It's not British, a bunch of Anglo-Saxons, it's Welsh, who are Celts. There is a great difference.
Read description
Wrong, the Welsh come from the original Britons who occupied the British Isles (Britannia) before the Romans. The Anglo-Saxons called the people of what is now called Wales the "Wealesc" meaning "strangers" or"foreigners". "Cymru" and "Cymri" I believe is the Welsh name for Wales and the Welsh
read the title, we are Welsh then British. this is a traditional song, never British unless the English want it to be. We have a long heritage, longer the the English
@@deepditch3651modern british people no matter what we identify as here and now are a mix of the great nations that make up our isle (scotland, welsh, irish, english). we are truly brothers and sisters by blood. men of harlech is truly a proud welsh song, and being welsh means being british and there is no shame in that. as Britains we conquered the world, we are stronger together. its good to remember the roots of our peoples but to look ahead is to be british. my point being: I'm english and i love this song. :P
The Angles and Saxons aren't the British either. They are a conquered people. The British are descended from the Norman French.
Still the song
is much nicer in Cymraeg.
its not British, it's Welsh. saying British is insulting to out nation. Great song, nut learn the facts and change the title.
the Welsh are the original British. They occupied most of what is now England and the Scottish Lowlands when the Romans invaded "Britannia". After the Romans left in the 400's AD the Anglian and Saxon invaders eventually pushed the Britons back into what is now Wales. The word "Welsh" comes from the Saxon word "Wealsc" meaning "Stranger" or "Foreigner"" i.e. not Anglo Saxon. So to describe the song as "British" is correct.
@@sublicense18a13 oh dear. we were and are Celtic first, i can only assume you are English or from somewhere that isn't Celtic.i know the history of my country and the language and the song mentioned isn't British if you are a minority. please understand and show respect to someones heritage
@@deepditch3651 Wrong, I have Irish and Scottish ancestry and was brought up in the Scottish Borders where my mother came from. Do you disagree that the Welsh were the original Britons? Also modern research has cast some doubt on whether some of the original inhabitants of pre Roman Britain were in fact Celts i.e. originating from central Europe.
Welsh is British, whatever you want to say.
@@deepditch3651 You don't even know your own history claiming to be Welsh. The Welsh are the original British, being Celts does not change that fact.
This is is not a "British Patriotic Song". This is a Welsh song. It depicts the 7 year Siege of Harlech during the Wars of the Roses, where the outnumbered Welsh Lancastrian forces took shelter inside of Harlech Castle in North Wales. Them and their Welsh commander Constable Dafydd ap Ieuan, son of the Baron of Hendwr, held out against the English monarch Edward IV's besieging Yorkist forces for 7 years.
These details are purposely left fuzzy in this version of the song. In other versions of the song, it more clearly depicts the events and how it was the Welsh vs the English rather than "Britain" against an unspecified enemy. This song is still used by the Royal Welsh regiment as their marching tune.
I find it disrespectful that the achievements of my country shall be used to compliment what was once the enemy, the Englishmen fighting for the (victorious) House of York. Also, the imagery of the British empire is in no ways relating to the song, due to the lack of existence of any British Empire during the events described.