Llanfair Caereinion resident and Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams said he will be pressing that the UK Government commit to support serving and ex-service personnel “as fully as possible”.

Mr Williams added that he will be doing all that he can to support the British Armed Forces

His comments were made following an annual gathering in London with officers and soldiers from the Royal Welsh Regiment.

At the reception in Portcullis House, a parliamentary building adjacent to the House of Commons, Mr Williams met with 28-year-old Captain Sam Johns, from Llanfair Caereinion.

The former Caereinion High School pupil went on to Sandhurst Military Academy where he has been deployed to various locations across the world such as Belize, Brunei, South Africa and Estonia. He will soon be deployed to Ukraine.

Captain Johns, representing 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh, said the armoured infantry battalion was about to deploy to in Germany for a four-week gun camp, with further deployments to the US, Canada and France to come.

Captain Johns said: “There are plenty of opportunities for soldiers, not just in terms of travel, but the educational programmes available and constant up-skilling, which isn’t just beneficial for their careers in the Army, but prepares them for life beyond the military.

He added: “We have more than 300 years of history and we’re very proud of our traditions”.

Craig Williams MP said: “It is great that Welsh regiments are receiving huge amounts of support from the Ministry of Defence, and that Montgomeryshire residents go on to have highly successful careers in the army”.

“I wish Captain Johns well for his upcoming deployment and look forward to meeting with him again when he returns”.

In the final address Brigadier Richmond said that, in his nearly four years as Commander of 160th (Welsh) Brigade, based in Brecon, he had seen a lot of change, with a much more collegiate relationship with Welsh Government and Defence.

“I believe Defence now has an approach that is absolutely devolution-aware, with unprecedented scrutiny on Defence and the Army in Wales,” he said.

“That can only be a good thing to ensure the Army’s connection and footprint in Wales is appropriately maintained. And with more focus on us, as icons of the union and indeed our, and the cadets role as part of that connective tissue of the union, there is that improved understanding of the nuances of military service within a devolved environment.

“It’s also good for you and your constituencies to have that presence of Regular soldiers and their families, Reservists, veterans, cadets forces, adult volunteers and of course Defence industry, that not only brings in Defence pounds, but also strong values, standards and that volunteer ethos to enhance prosperity and community spirit.”