Page 139 - RSDG Year of 2023

the better! Secondly, it became apparent just how much more confused everything would become once all moving parts were introduced. A certain amount of ‘going with the flow’ would be required, especially on the march back to Wellington Barracks! To the untrained observer, that section of the parade might seemed like a fairly orderly withdrawal. In the ranks, it felt more like a bit of a rout.
Following a day and a half back at Pirbright, affording time for rest and recuperation and one final rehearsal, the moment we had all been training for was upon us. Once final kit checks had been conducted, we once again boarded the buses at c.0400 to start the journey to Wellington Barracks. Arriving in Central London at c.0530, it started to become apparent just how big the crowds were going to be later in the day. Already, at the fenced off areas near Wellington Arch, queues of hundreds and thousands were beginning to form to gain access to those areas around Green Park and the Mall where the best views could be had. Arriving at Wellington Barracks, we were once again shepherded to the salubrious accom- modation they had marked out for us in the underground carpark and shown to the queue for our bacon rolls. Once they had been scoffed, it was time to start conducting final bits of kit prep and check one another over, before heading above ground to get ready to march out on to the square. With luck, our time to move upstairs coincided with a quick rehearsal of the massed pipes and drums in the central square of Wellington Barracks, as there’s nothing quite like the skirl of the pipes to swell the chest with pride. Shortly after that, we were off!
Not too proud to own up to my own mistakes, I must confess at this stage that – as we marched out onto the square that faces Birdcage Walk, with our first taster of the size of the crowds and media attention we were going to face – almost the first word of command I gave was entirely the wrong one. However, reminded by a friendly Irish Guardsman that I first had to take a body of troops out of the ‘slope arms’ before giving the command for them to stand at ease, a quick correction was made, and we were set. I would later be told by the troops behind me that they had been concerned that, having immediately made a dog’s dinner of my first job of the day, that I was going to be flustered and throw the whole parade. Ye of little faith! By God’s grace, I was able to get over the embarrassment quite quickly and am pleased to report that – I think – the rest of the words of command came out in the order they were supposed to!
I needn’t dwell for too long on the conduct of the actual parade, as I’m sure that readers will have watched proceedings live (and have been frustrated by the distinct lack of coverage afforded to the vandyked hats of Scotland’s Cavalry!), but I would like to share with you a memory that will last with me forever. Most readers will be familiar with the hustle and bustle of Horse Guards and the surrounding area, so you should be able to imagine the feeling of turning on to Horse Guards Parade, surrounded by thousands of people, and still being able to hear the sound of a pin drop. The solemnity of the occasion was underscored by the sense of being able to hear my own voice echo around that famous square while giving the command to ‘change arms’, while a great huddled mass of people looked on.
EAGLE AND CARBINE 137
The Marching Detachment returns towards Wellington Arch with ‘arms reversed’