Page 144 - RSDG Year of 2023

142 EAGLE AND CARBINE
commence both on the TV and outside the window. At 1135hrs, the RAC stepped off from Wellington Barracks in reverse order and made their way to the respective start points. Despite the gloomy weather, the atmosphere around St James’s Park was electric as the RAC moved to their halting positions. At 1300hrs, the entire procession was able to step off in unison thanks to a nifty countdown being played into all the drum major’s earpieces. From the Reigment’s start point at Great Scotland Yard, they headed for Trafalgar and left wheeled through Admiralty Arch for the first challenge where the contingent split to fit though the arches. Once safely through, the procession had to undertake a new drill move to reduce the frontage from twelve to six as it was too wide for the gates at Buckingham Palace. Having barely completed a rehearsal without someone mis-stepping, it was some relief when the contingent surged forward seamlessly in sixes.
Once inside the gardens, His Majesty’s Armed Forces formed up facing the palace’s west terrace. Whilst waiting for HM The King to move into position, the silence in the gardens was palpable and a total contrast to the cacophony of noises coming over all the garden walls. Being there for the National Anthem and three cheers was the greatest, spine-tingling honour and a memory that will endure for some time.
After HM The King had moved back into the Palace, the procession filtered out onto Birdcage Walk for the final time. As the Regiment stepped off, the bands struck up playing Colchester Castle or as HQ Sqn Ldr called it ‘the tune from the voddy advert’ with a feeling of immense pride and relief knowing that it was a job well done.
Marching Contingent
Lt Col B Parkyn
Maj W O’Connor Capt RD Houstoun WO1 (RSM) S Brown WO2 (RQMS) D Harley
SSgt R Barr
SSgt C Christie
SSgt F Tamani
Sgt K Dornan
Sgt J Stoddart
Sgt A Warren
Cpl J Keith
Cpl J Mather
Cpl C Stevenson LCpl N Bell
LCpl E Ferguson LCpl S Gray
LCpl H McGregor
Tpr N Atkinson Tpr O Aurus
Tpr D Cairns
Tpr L Coles
Tpr E Hodgkinson Tpr R Imrie
Tpr S Inglis
Tpr R Jones
Tpr T Nowicki-Price Tpr S Rice
Tpr J Reid Tpr J Woods
Pipes and Drums
P/Maj A Maximus-Badass D/Maj G Prescott Cpl E Jardine
LCpl C Stewart LCpl C MacDonnell
Cpl D Holbrough Cpl B Hannan Cpl E Clarke
Cpl D Hall
Cpl J Smyth
Cpl R Gray
Tpr O Brotherton Tpr W Richmond Tpr G McKay