Page 21 - RADC Bulletin 2019

OVERSEAS ASSIGNMENTS
Fahnenband Parade
– Dusseldorf 14 May 2019
LCpl Georgina Crook RADC
It was another busy day at work when I received a phone call from the Bielefeld Station RSM, who asked me to go and see him in his office. Anxiously, I walked down with all sorts of thoughts going through
my mind. He called me into his office and said that he would like me to represent HQ BFG in a parade which will be taking place in Dusseldorf on 14 May 19. With a sigh of relief I was delighted to have been asked to go.
The RSM explained that HQ BFG were being awarded a Fahnenband. I was unsure on what he was talking about so I went away and did some of my own research. The Fahnenband is a decorated ribbon
with writing, which is attached to a military Guidon or colour and it usually represents an accolade for the owner of the flag (ie. a military association or club). Fahnenbands are awarded as a special honour in many armies, but in Germany they are the highest honour which a government can award a military federation.
On the morning of 13 May 19, we had
a quick run through on the parade square
to have an idea of how the parade would run. That afternoon the bus departed from Catterick barracks, Bielefeld, to the Intercity hotel in Dusseldorf. There was a mixture
of both military personnel and civil servants taking part in the parade. When we arrived, we had some down time so we took the opportunity to explore the city of Dusseldorf followed by a quiet evening in the hotel ready to prepare for the parade the next day.
On the morning of the parade we went to the Landtag. The Landtag is the state
parliament of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This is where the parade took place and it was good to see the area before the parade that afternoon. After the run through was complete, we headed back to the hotel to have a last check of our Number 2s before more down time (I’ve never had so much down time through the working week!). So off we went for a walk down to the River Rhine, it was lovely and hot so we took advantage of
this and sat outside and had some lunch enjoying the views that surrounded us.
It was now time to get ready for the parade, so we got ourselves all suited and booted. With the band playing and the RSM calling out the commands, off we went marching onto the grounds of the Landtag. It was an awesome experience to be a part of and to see HQ BFG being awarded the Fahnenband by the president of North Rhine Westphalia in recognition of its achievements whilst in Germany. This was the last parade that to take place in Germany by HQ BFG.
I felt very honoured to have been given the opportunity to be a part of it.
The British Army have been stationed
in Germany for the last 74 years and have had a formative role in helping to develop, encourage and grow military, economic and cultural links between our two nation states. I have been based in Germany for the last
4 years and feel very privileged to have
had the opportunity to live in Germany and experience the German way of life.
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