While getting used to ceremonial soldiering in London between the wars the Welsh Guards also served in the Middle East. The first battalion (1 Bn) was in Gibraltar in 1939 and early following the year joined the British Expeditionary Force (BEF). The second battalion was landed only as the German Panzer spearheads were pushing towards Dunkirk and, with the 2 Bn Irish Guards they held the perimeter at Boulogne, until overwhelmed. Meanwhile 1 Bn was holding up Rommel's 7th Panzer Division.

Such defensive actions, including the defence of the Dunkirk perimeter, where a Welsh Guardsman won the VC, bought time enough for the BEF to be snatched from the beaches.

In June 1942 1 Bn joined the Thirty Second Guards Brigade (32 Gds Bde) within the newly formed Guards Armoured Division (Gds Arm Div), while 2 Bn formed the divisional recconnaissance (VECCE) regiment.

In July 1944 Gds Arm Div landed in Normandy and was concentrated around Bayeux for the notorious Operation Goodwood. After fierce fighting, the break-out came for the regiment, but it ran into bitter fighting at close quarters. In August, 2 Bn was releived in the recce role by the Second Household Cavalry Regiment and the Welsh Guards were reconstituted. 1 Bn as mechanised infantry and 2 Bn in Cromwell Tanks.

On 3 Sepyember 1944 the drive on Brussels began with 32 Gds Bde on the right of the 75 mile axis of advance and with Granadier, Irish and Coldstream Guards of 5 Gds Arm Bde on the left. The Welsh Guards went flat out, and theirs was the first vehicle to reach the center of the liberated capital - to an unforgettable welcome.

Triumph turned to fustration at the failure to link with the embattled First Airborne Division at Arnhem, and months of hard fighting lay ahead before th Division reached the Elbe on 5 May.

Peace brought a return to royal and ceremonial duties, as well as committments to the British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) and service in the conflicts arising from Britians withdrawal from the colonies

The Welsh Guards saw action in Palestine, Aden and Cyprus, and returned to Cyprus as part of the UN peacekeeping force in 1975. The regiment has also rotated regularly through Ulster

On 1 June 1982 1 Bn Welsh Guards went ashore on the Falklands with the Fifth Infantry Brigade at San Carlos. Without helicopter lift they were sent forward to Fitzroy by sea, lead elements landing from HMS Fearless on the night of 6/7 June. Bad weather delayed the remaining guardsmen of 1 Bn, who were embarked aboard Sir Tristam and Sir Galahad, to be caught by the airstrike on Bluff Cove with the loss of 32 men.