A WARRINGTON soldier received a unique gold medal today, Monday, at the Tower of London to mark his regiment’s golden anniversary.

Drummer Ben Wallwork, from The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, celebrated St George’s Day with added fervour.

Each soldier received a specially struck, unique gold medal, bearing an image of the dragon-slaying saint on the front and a hackle, with the words ‘The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 50th Anniversary 1968 – 2018’ on the back.

As the Regiment was formed on St George’s Day, 1968, the award is to mark the Regiment’s golden anniversary.

Today began with a special Thanksgiving Service in the presence of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, Colonel-in-Chief for the Fusiliers, in the Chapel Royal at Her Majesty’s Tower of London.

After the service, the soldiers were presented with their medals and then went on to be hosted to a celebratory lunch by The Mercers’ Livery Company, the senior City Livery Company, which is an active supporter of the regiment.

The Tower of London is the Regimental Headquarters of the Fusiliers and to mark this occasion, the Fusiliers have been granted special permission to guard the Tower for 48 hours. They will also take part in the ancient ritual of the Ceremony of the Keys which happens at the Tower of London every evening.

Colonel (Retired) James Denny, regimental secretary for The Fusiliers, said: “For our 50th anniversary we wanted to celebrate, commemorate and to remember. The Thanksgiving Service is the first event of what promises to be an exciting and reflective year for us all. Having the presence of our Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, is a great honour and we all look forward to what the future holds for us a famous infantry regiment.”

Since forming, the Fusiliers have seen service across the world in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans, the first and second Gulf Wars and Afghanistan.

The Regiment has two battalions – First Fusiliers in Tidworth and Fifth Fusiliers in Newcastle.