Versa: Issue Eleven

14 Featured OA
15
LT COL ANTHONY GILHAM PREPARES FOR THE QUEEN’S VIGIL
both OAs. “I was immensely honoured to parade for Her
Majesty and to be a representative for my Regiment. I was
also extremely proud of the Soldiers and my Second In
Command that marched with me from the Royal Tank
Regiment. They did a brilliant job and showcased the
Regiment to the highest standard. This was a historic
event, that will probably never happen again, so we were
all delighted to be taking part,” said Andy.
“Her Majesty was far more
than just a distant figurehead,
she was genuinely loved by
those in Defence.”
“Riding out for the parade that afternoon was an
incredible experience – gone were the quiet streets of the
EMR, and the route from Knightsbridge to Wellington
Barracks was already packed, with the procession route
even busier, and the sheer wall of noise as we rode past
was immense,” said Anthony. “The Mall itself was an
experience that I will never forget – a whole raft of
emotions were flowing through me: sheer pride to be part
of a once in a lifetime parade that was being televised
globally, the concentration of keeping my horse Isengard
at the right speed and in the right position relevant to the
others, nerves, as well as an overwhelming thirst (because
adrenaline will dry the mouth, and because those about to
sit on a horse for three or four hours dehydrate ourselves
for obvious reasons).
“All these thoughts and feelings whirring through me
on The Mall were put out of my mind as we approached
the Queen Victoria Memorial (known as ‘the birthday
cake’) outside Buckingham Palace. We turned right
and simultaneously moved into a close order, needing
everyone to ride well, before then providing a ‘Royal
Salute, Eyes Right’ to the dais, with the salute being taken
by the then Prince of Wales on behalf of his mother. The
single moment that sticks in my mind from the whole
Jubilee period was this instant; as I was looking up and to
my right while saluting, seeing His Majesty returning the
salute and looking down on us all, with just a split second
of eye contact as he reviewed the troops. It was a huge
privilege to have been there, marking 70 years of Her late
Majesty’s most extraordinary and exemplary reign.”
It was therefore a shock for Anthony, having been
celebrating Her Majesty’s reign only a few months
beforehand, to then be part of Op LONDON BRIDGE.
“As soon as the tragic news of Her late Majesty’s passing
was broken the plan for Op LONDON BRIDGE was
implemented. Being a Household Division commanding
officer, I knew that I would be heavily involved, so I
packed a multitude of uniforms, bade farewell to my
family and moved into the Officers’ Mess at Hyde Park
Barracks for a fortnight.”
“This planning meant that
the whole Pageant did indeed
run like clockwork and was a
moment of intense pride.”
Due to a change in role, Andy wasn’t part of the funeral,
but his reaction will resonate with many. “Like the rest of
the nation, I was deeply saddened and in a bit of shock, Her
Majesty was such a pillar in my life. My wife and I spent the
whole evening watching the coverage on the TV the day
that Her Majesty passed, just not really too sure what to do
with ourselves.”
Anthony’s role in the funeral began with a crucial role in
the Vigil. “The Household Cavalry provides the first Vigil
for the late Sovereign on the catafalque in Westminster
Hall, and I had the genuinely enormous honour of not
only being in the 18 officers that provided the first Vigil,
but was in fact one of the four to mount the first watch –
marching down the north steps of Westminster Hall and
taking up position on the catafalque as His Majesty, the
Royal Family, the Lords, and the Commons looked on. I
think this was probably the proudest moment of my 19-
year career to date.”
With the greatest change to the monarchy in 70 years,
the UK is now in a moment of change both psychological
and literal, changing the National Anthem, currency
and – for Andy and Anthony – badges, buttons and flags
to incorporate the cypher of His Majesty King Charles
III. Andy said: “The Royal Tank Regiment cap badge has
the Queen’s Crown on it, and I wear a Queen’s Crown to
denote my rank, so there will be lots of change to move
over to a King’s Crown.”
There is also an emotional change to go through. During
the period of national mourning, many members of the
Armed Forces commented that the Queen was more
than a figurehead, something Anthony agrees with. “Her
Majesty was far more than just a distant figurehead, she
was genuinely loved by those in Defence and when people
said they did their job ‘for Queen and Country’ it was
more than just an expression, it was how we all feel.”
But as we look forward, there will be plenty of time to
recalibrate, particularly with the upcoming Coronation
in May 2023. Andy said, “I think the Coronation will be
a fantastic opportunity to truly make that transition. As
[the Queen was] our longest serving Monarch, it is only
natural for us all to feel a bit unfamiliar. However, God
Save The King!”
MAJ ANDY PILSWORTH, ALONG WITH A FELLOW OFFICER AND 24 SOLDIERS,
MARCHES PAST THE CENOTAPH DURING THE PLATINUM JUBILEE PAGEANT