British Troops Mark Minden Day At Battlefield Memorial

The first day of August has seen units in the British Army wearing a rose in their beret in honour of a decisive battle, 259 years ago, in what is now western Germany.

The Battle of Minden, in 1759, was fought during the Seven Years' War which saw an Anglo-German army defeat a French force.

Among the troops were the predecessors of 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, who are based in Germany, and chose the anniversary to visit the site of the battle. 

The ceremony was marked on the site of the battlefield, at a memorial, just outside the town of Minden.

It is said that during the battle the British put roses in their headgear, before charging the enemy. Since then, on Minden Day, regiments have continued to mark the event with a rose in their beret.

WO1 Steven Iszard, Regimental Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment said it was an honour to visit the site on the anniversary. 

"We are an hour and a half’s drive away - You’d be crazy not to come up and do it this morning and present our soldiers their rose"

While most British Army units are set to leave Germany, a contingent of Royal Engineers will remain in the town so the tradition of marking Minden Day at the memorial is likely to continue.