Page 136 - RSDG Year of 2023

134 EAGLE AND CARBINE
THE STATE FUNERAL OF HER LATE MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
The death of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II marked a profound moment in modern British history; the end of an era in which the United Kingdom and those Commonwealth realms of which she was sovereign had gone through remarkable change. What had not changed in all those years was the loyalty, steadfastness, and commitment of all of those who served her on the sea, on land and in the air throughout her reign – not least of all those men and women who served under the standard of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
In having been presented our first standard by Her late Majesty on the formation parade held at Holyrood on 2 July 1971, we were fortunate to enjoy, from that first day, the special relationship that exists between a regiment and its Colonel-in-Chief. This was a relationship that endured through more than half a century of service to the nation at home and abroad, spanning operations in Northern Ireland, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Cyprus, and Mali, and finally ending with our contribution to her state funeral: Operation LONDON BRIDGE
The Marching Detachment forms up in Pirbright to take the helibus to the overnight rehearsal in London
SSgt (SQMS) Grieve keeps close watch over the troops in the underground holding pen
It was a great privilege to command the detachment of two officers and 24 other ranks which formed our contribution to the ceremonial element of Op LONDON BRIDGE, and I hope in this article to give you a glimpse ‘behind the curtains’ of the preparation that led up to that momentous
SSgt (SQMS) Grieve gives in to the warm embrace of the gonk monster
Major GKR Macfarlane