Page 50 - Bugle No. 17 Spring 2021

Junior Officers
Sandhurst Sovereign’s Parade
December 11th 2020
We commissioned four new Riflemen into the Regiment: 2Lts Aidan Roche (1 RIFLES), Joseph Coombs and George Smith (3 RIFLES), and Joseph Hayes (5 RIFLES).
Our Col Comdt, General Sir Patrick Sanders, was representing Her Majesty
and took the salute. You might spot that
one of the four new Riflemen is missing from this photograph! With only the Seniors on parade (due to COVID-19 measures),
this was probably the second smallest Sovereign’s Parade of the decade, if not the last 100 years. A positive test that morning had taken a further platoon off the parade and into isolation. After a follow-up test showed negative for that one individual,
the Academy rose to the challenge and put on a second Sovereign’s Parade, for which General Patrick again took the Salute. On marched the lone Platoon, including our new Rifleman, George Smith. Outnumbered even by the Band, they had the Old College square entirely to themselves. They marched past, they advanced in review order, they received a personal address from General Patrick, and to the enthusiastic applause of the very reduced body of spectators they slow-marched off parade and up the steps of the Grand Entrance. Job done!
December 2020, must have seen the two smallest Sovereign’s Parades ever. The final photograph shows General Patrick with
2Lt George Smith, and his two guests (his cousin and her husband).
With only the Seniors on parade, this was probably the second smallest Sovereign’s Parade of the decade, if not the last 100 years
50 RIFLES The Bugle