Airmen's Attic Extreme summer - RAF Lakenheath

By Sal Davidson – Community Relations AdviserTrooping the colours, the Queen’s birthdayThe official birthday of the Sovereign will be marked by a colourfuland historic military parade and march-past, known as Trooping theColour, on June 17. Trooping the Colour takes place each June on HorseGuards Parade, Whitehall, in front of crowds of onlookers. It is alsoenjoyed by millions world-wide on TV. The troops participating in theparade are drawn from a military organisation which, though a part of theArmy and therefore composed of fully trained, operational troops, is anational institution - the Household Division.It’s The Queen’s Colour of a Foot Guard battalion which is ‘trooped’each year before the Sovereign. Only one colour can be trooped, carriedalong the ranks, at a time, and the five Regiments – Grenadier, Coldstream,Scots, Irish and Welsh – taketheir turn year by year.The ceremony derives fromtwo old military ceremonies -Trooping the Colour andMounting The Queen’s Guard.The origin of the ceremony goesback to the early eighteenth century,and possibly even earlier,when the guards and sentries forthe Royal Palaces and otherimportant buildings in the capitalwere mounted daily on theparade ground by the HorseGuards building. A feature ofguard mounting was for thecolours (or flags) of the battalion,which are symbols of honour, butalso in the past served as rallyingpoints in battle, to be carried or‘trooped’ slowly down the ranksso it could be seen and recognised by the soldiers. In 1748, it was orderedthat this parade would also mark the official birthday of the Sovereign.From the accession of George IV the parade became, with a few exceptions,an annual event.Because the Guards, both Horse and Foot, are Household Troops whotraditionally have the honour of guarding the monarch, their link with theSovereign has been especially close. Until 1913, the normal procedure forguard mounting from Horse Guards Parade was marked on the officialbirthday of the Sovereign by the attendance of the King, Prince of theBlood Royal, visiting members of foreign Royal Families, the ArmyCouncil and other senior officers, and a large number of foreign militaryattaches and members of the Royal Households. In 1907, when KingEdward VII arrived on the parade there were over fifty in his mounted procession.Over the years there have been many modifications to the procedure,but today’s ceremony is largely based on the format introduced by KingGeorge V in 1914.The Queen’s first appearance at the Trooping the Colour was in 1947,when she was Princess Elizabeth. This was the first Birthday Parade to beheld after the Second World War and she was mounted and in the uniformof Colonel of the Grenadier Guards. All ranks wore battledress except theSovereign’s escort of the Household Cavalry, mounted officers and membersof the regimental bands who were in service dress. The Princess worea blue uniform with a forage cap, which later became the style of theone worn by members of the Women’s Royal Army Corps. The Queen hasbeen at the saluting base every year of her reign with the exception of1955, when a national rail strike forced the cancellation of the parade.The scarlet tunic that was worn by the Queen when she rode on horsebackalways bore the badges and button groupings corresponding to theregiment whose colour was being trooped that year. Also, the plume onher tricorn hat changed to match the plume worn on the side of the guards’bearskins, the large black hats worn by the soldiers. The Queen is normallyaccompanied by The Duke of Edinburgh who wears the uniform of theColonel of the Grenadier Guards, and The Prince of Wales, who wears theuniform of the Colonel ofthe Welsh Guards.From 1969 until 1986,the Queen rode a horsenamed Burmese, but sincethat time has arrived in aphaeton originally built forQueen Victoria in 1842. Sheno longer wears her uniforms,which were essentiallydesigned to wear onhorseback.The Band of theGrenadier GuardsIn 1685, during the reignof King Charles II and thesame year Handel and Bachwere born, music was introducedinto the Regiment byCourtesy photoRoyal Warrant.Authorisation was given for 12 Hautbois in the King’s Regiment ofFootguards in London. With the addition over the years of various instruments,by 1858 the Band sounded much as it does today and includesflutes, piccolo, clarinets, bassoons, French horns and trumpets among otherinstruments.Despite their musical prowess and impressive ceremonial role, everymember of the Band has another role. In the event of war, the Band providesessential enforcement as Medical Attendants. All have undergone alengthy and thorough initial course to train as “Medics” and annuallyundertake refresher training.Watching The Event:On Saturday, June 10 there is a rehearsal for the main ceremony. This iscalled ‘Colonel’s Review.’ This is exactly the same as the main parade butthis year HRH, The Prince of Wales is taking the salute. There is an offchance there could still be tickets for this so call (02079) 760 850 and theycan confirm availability. The tickets are £8.The main event gets sold out via ballot in January. and February. ofeach year so I hope those of you who want a birds eye view followed myadvice in the January article.People without tickets will be able to get a good view from the Malland also from St. James’ park but you have to be there early to secure aspot.PAGE 18 JET 48 MAGAZINE JUNE 9, 2006