Big promotion for Welsh Guard Charles

A SERGEANT who served in Afghanistan has been promoted to the second highest rank a soldier can receive.

Welsh Guard Charles Scarf has celebrated a morning to remember after being promoted to the coveted rank of Warrant Officer Class 2.

A keen rugby player and off-road motorcyclist, the colour sergeant joined the Army on August 8, 1997.

Since then he has served with the Welsh Guards on tours of Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland and on exercise in the USA, Belize, Kenya and Canada.

While a sergeant in the Prince of Wales’ Company, WO Scarf’s team built checkpoint Jamboy One, later known as Sterga Two the last checkpoint to close when British Forces pulled out of the Helmand province.

Among many, other achievements for the Welshman including serving in the Prince of Wales’s Coy, driving Scimitars in the Reconnaissance Platoon and later completing a recruiting post with the Army in Crickhowell where he was given a commendation for his efforts.

As part of his promotion WO Scarf will receive the Queen’s Warrant, a spectacular hand calligraphed document signed by the Secretary of State for Defence.

On August 29 he received his promotion in the historic room in the heart of Horse Guards, once presided over by the Duke of Wellington. It was presented by Major General Ben Bathurst, General Officer commanding HQ London district, and a former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards.

WO Scarf said: “You work hard for your Warrant in the Army, so this is a real achievement and I’m delighted to get this. It really does mean a lot to me to have been selected.”