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

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, May 7, 2009.

  1. ww2ni

    ww2ni Senior Member

    Really enjoyed the programme.

    An excellent group of soldiers and the service in the Guards Chapel was very thought provoking.
     
  2. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the flypast info CL1, might be able to see some of it from my back garden!

    Mike
     
  3. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

  4. KevinC

    KevinC Slightly wierd

  5. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Despite the pot belly I wouldn't advise anyone to tangle with that guy, or any Legionnaire. And don't even think about getting into a drinking competition!
    Mind you I am sure a few of our Guards would give it a go - just for the experience you understand.

    Mike
     
  6. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    Despite the pot belly I wouldn't advise anyone to tangle with that guy, or any Legionnaire. And don't even think about getting into a drinking competition!
    Mind you I am sure a few of our Guards would give it a go - just for the experience you understand.

    Mike

    I remember a fellow Signaler asking to some Legionaires in the ECOS at Slim Lines, Kosovo why they marched so slow.

    His rely was something like, 'We march slow because we fear no one and don't need to rush anywhere'

    I said that's quite ironic when you consider the speed that the Light Infantry march at - I guess it's only relevent if you are advancing or retreating to or from the battle. They as with most French people had a sense of humour failure at that point.
     
  7. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    The entire military tradition of the Legion seems to be based on fighting and dying to the very last man. They can march as fast or slow as they please I think.

    This is drifting off pageantry though.
    I see it was suspended for the duration of WW1 & 2:
    The Sovereign's Birthday Parade from 1895
    The 1947 one must have been quite some do... Where had the 2nd Battalion of Coldstreams been for the last few years?

    Edit: All over the shop by the looks of this:
    Derrick Jacksons WWII Memories
     
  8. Drew5233

    Drew5233 #FuturePilot 1940 Obsessive

    It was also suspended in QE2's reign because of the rail strike.
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  10. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    'All over the shop'
    As in
    'Where they had been'

    Looks great in Battledress.
     
  11. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    sorry, I read it wrong:blush:
     
  12. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Sorry Adam, I much prefer to see the Guards in scarlet.
    What struck me about Di's 1947 Pathe film is how the ceremony is identical today. Music, words of command, everything. Bloody fabulous.
    Only in Britain eh?

    Mike
     
  13. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

  14. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    fightmick.jpg The Micks, wonderful lads, when next door to us in Chelsea all those years ago one Mick said, 'our HQ Company', the Liverpool Irish!

    The Troop, in 'Home Service Clothing' heavy lined tunic, with heavy thick 'Tweeds' (trousers) that must 'break' (rest) on the second lace hole of your boots. A bearskin cap designed by a sadist the leather and wicker inner attempting to crush your skull, a curb chain black leather backed with brass links polished - no marks on the leather! Boots 'tackety' (ammunition) double tapped (soled) studded and affectionately known as 'black diamonds' - too hot and it can be murder, rain and the whitening on your sling, belt with brass fittings and regimental buckle plates, bayonet frog, (the frog had brass and copper studs, we polished them with the end of a cigarette filter - just the right diameter) starts to run from the buff leather. those going directly on to guard duty after the Troop will be cursing, as they have to clean up before mounting. Happy days! An American author who was the guest of the Household Division early 1980s, said - 'The Guards are an anachronism one foot in the past, yet fully prepared to move with the times, (they formed some of the special forces of WW2) mocked by many yet known for their fighting qualities. Guardsmen of all ranks have a certain dignity, the outsider will marvel at the inter regimental rivalry, yet be foolish enough to say one word and then they are all brothers. If they have a fault it is the hospitality, if they offer- accept, they do not take kindly to refusal. A guest offering to pay will be greeted with an offended silence. I noted that with the Scots and Irish the officers are closer to the men, the Scot will expect his officers to 'dig in' alongside the guardsmen. The 'fighting Mick' above - A Mick might like to tell us about Alexander and his offer to the battalion.
     
  15. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From my Dad's notes:
    Oh a dandy lad is the Irish Guard
    When you see him on Parade
    In his tunic of red and topping his head
    his bearskin and blue cockade.
    All spick and span like a soldier man,
    all shirkers they are barred,
    For you must be select and all correct,
    to be an Irish Guard.

    You will see him again in sunshine or rain,
    at Buckingham Palace gate,
    Pacing to and fro on sentry go,
    erect, how stern and straight.
    Sometimes they send him to Windsor town
    to line the Palace yard
    For you must be select and all correct
    to be an Irish Guard.
     
  16. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    GUARDSMAN_516x384_119932a.jpg

    An Idle Jock - when this happened, (in my time) the Company Sergeant Major would have picked a Lcpl and said 'put him on the report' The Lcpl would write out the charge on a slip of paper (Guards only used 252 for battalion/ or courts martial charges.) This would be taken to the Sergeant Majors office where he would 'frame the charge' and sign the slip in this case Section 29a of the Army Act 1955 - in that he left his place of employment without prior permission'. If the Guardsman could prove he went to breakfast that day he was usually admonished, if he had failed to attend breakfast - the only meal that was a commanding officers parade he would be charged with failing to attend a parade. The guards worked under a raft of regulations, Queen's Regs, Manual of Military law,Regs for the Household Division and regulations for your own regiment - regs for Scots Guards etc. The joke being if they were going to throw the book at you at least you had a choice!
     
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  17. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    More recent than the event in my avatar - In Wills picture they are using SA80.
    Always look forward to the Trooping - a truly magnificent example of British 'Bull' that is rarely, if ever, bettered anywhere in the world.
     
  18. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

  19. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    yep as ever very well presented by the Military.


    caught a glance of the Red Arrows bowling over the London suburbs
     
  20. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

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