Trooping the Colour, Changing of the Guard, etc: Public Duties

Coronation Day was 1953……so it’s only 69 years ago…..

 

What I did notice was the Foot Guard on Horse Guards was quite small, maybe 360. Secondly very few Other Ranks appeared to have any medals. I know that Guardsmen can serve on Public Duties for periods, so those on parade might be new entrants and so ineligible for medals. Clearly the Irish Guards now recruit black soldiers, at least three at a minimum were in the Guard to The Colour. Very few of the Kings Troop, Royal Artillery had medals; this has been explained by the BBC before - the details of which I have forgotten.

Still an impressive parade, we've been at least five times to the once free first rehearsal, the Major-General's Review IIRC.

 

Tulleybrone,

I was never very good at Maths. Does that mean that I am younger or older than I thought? I checked my Coronation crown coin but it is not dated.

Mike.

PS.
I noticed several badly behaved horses. A grooms horse declined to leave the Palace. One of the Household Cavalry horses went sideways down the Mall. As the Household Cavalry did their trot past there was a loose horse with an empty saddle. Not the horse artillery of course.

Mike

 

I saw that one go by on a raw feed.
Turns out he slipped and fell a moment or two earlier and ran off before the rider could get back on.
Nobody hurt.

 

Not quite right. In WW1 The Royal Regiment of Artillery was split into three branches - Royal Horse Artillery, Royal Field Artillery & Royal Garrison Artillery. The RFA & the RGA amalgamated in 1924 as the Royal Artillery. In 1938 the Royal Artillery Brigades became Regiments. The Regiment is, and has been since 1924, The Royal Regiment of Artillery with two branches, the Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Artillery.
As for the gun, the 13 pdr was designed for the RHA whose job was to support the cavalry. The 18 pdr was for the RFA who had a more static role. In the event the 13 pdr shell proved to be too light, particularly in trench warfare. Those RHA Batteries not in direct support of cavalry units were re-equipped with the 18 pdr later in the war.
Derek

 

At Windsor

 

Trombonist soldier plays on after fainting


Trombonist soldier tries to play on after fainting

Trombonist soldier tries to play on after fainting

A member of the Massed Bands of the Household Division was one of several soldiers who fainted during a rehearsal ahead of next weekend's Trooping the Colour.

After he came around he got to his feet and attempted to play on, but was then led away.

 

17th June 2023

Trooping the Colour


Flypast
Kings Birthday Flypast 2023 - Trooping the Colour - Military Airshows News & Press Releases.

 

What preparation are troops taking for the challenge of parading for hours? What are they recommended to have for breakfast, what to drink? Conflict: You do not want to dehydrate but you also can't sneak away to take a pee... Ok, in the heat you probably sweat out a lot. Still, the army must have recommendations. Sorry, might seem silly but I am really curious about these practical matters. I cannot imagine that they just count on discipline, resilience. Or do they?

 

I was told the other day that there is a club in the Guards Brigade called somehting like the "Unhorsed club" with membership of foot guards officers thrown by their mounts on the Trooping of the Colour or other ceremopnial events. The average infantry major does not spend much time on horseback.

 

Alberk,

I rather think they do depend on discipline and regimental pride. They are after all the Kings guards, the chosen few, the elite. A few years ago I was standing on the Mall watching the parade going down to Trooping the Colour when a route liner started to sway and look ill. An officer noticed and came along and spoke quitely saying, 'Hang on man She will be here in a minute. Breathe deeply and wiggle your toes but hang on till She has passed'. The soldier still swayed gently and the officer returned and said, 'She will be here any second. Hang on. You don't want Her to see you on the ground'. All in vain the soldier slid gently to the ground and was carried off.

A few minutes later I turned to leave and saw a serjeant calling to a very overweight guardsman, obviously not considered fit to be seen by Her Majesty and so relegated to other duties. 'Did you know that Private.... fainted?' said the serjeant. 'Yes serjeant' said the private'. 'Well he has been taken to the first aid tent now. You are responsible for securing weapons of anyone fainting so where is his rifle?.' The private stood rigidly at attention with his eyes desperately searching for some clue before finally saying.' Don't know serjeant.' What follows is definately unprintable but finally the serjeant relented and said 'Lucky for you Private... recovered the rifle. You get along and take over from him. You have not heard the last of this'.

Mike

 

What is the correct salute for UK police officers? It looks like they are covering an eye and keeping the elbow to the side. Where should the other arm be? Not in front I'm sure.