Page 54 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

BAND & BUGLES
After returning to work from a well-earned Christmas leave The Band and Bugles of The Rifles were once again poised and ready to go for what seemed like the endless amount of ceremonial taskings that had accumulated over the duration of the COVID lockdown. This would start with the first engagement of the year which took place at RMAS for the reservist Officers’ Commissioning Pass Off Parade and although it was quite a stream- lined and intimate parade, it went off without a hitch and with a flawless performance from all involved. This would become the norm, and saw the band back on the road several times a week up until their Easter leave in April.
A NEW HOME
After an exhausting week of Op Bridge it was time for the Bugle Platoon to switch focus onto their next tasking and prepare to hand over the lines back to the RQ of Sir John Moore Barracks in anticipa- tion of joining the band over in Worthy Down.
Although this seemed like an un-ceremonious end to the last of the Light Division remnants leaving Sir John Moore Barracks since it
was built in the mid 80’s, The Bugle platoon and a select few members of the camp were given the honour of attending what was to be the last Church service for their final farewell.
With the Commanding Officer and Padre of ATR Winchester saying a few kind words it was then time for the Buglers, led by Snr BMaj Lewis,
Sadly, Operation Bridge was called on the 9th of April after HRH Prince Philip passed away and saw the Band and Bugles being deployed to Brunswick camp along with around 700 other military personnel.
Upon arrival it soon became apparent that
Bugle Major Lewis greets
The Colonel Commandant at Worthy Down Barracks
personal drill and turnout along with other non-traditional drill movements, down to the most minute detail. After a week of what seemed like endless rehearsals, H-hour was soon upon us. With the sun scorching down and the world’s eyes fixed to every televised
It was finally time to show the world why The Rifles had been given this most coveted honour
54 RIFLES The Bugle
to sound Retreat in front of the statue of Sir John Moore and his accompa- nying Riflemen. This was followed
by Bugle Major Jones playing the call ‘No More Parades’ before the Snr BMaj asked to fall out his platoon for the final time.
the magnitude of the funeral was going to
be no mean feat for the Senior Bugle Major, as he was tasked with ‘flying the flag’ for the regiment by leading The Rifles band ahead of The Rifles Honour Guard, which consisted of around six Riflemen from each of the battalions along with several SNCO’s, officers and Assistant Bugle Major Jones for some added panache. With no time to lose the band, accompanied by the Honour Guard, set their sights on refining every aspect of their
moment of the funeral, it was finally time to show the world why The Rifles had been given this most coveted honour. With Major Tom Brown from the 5th Battalion finally giving
the words of command, “Move to the right, QUICK......March!!!!!” and in doing so, he would signify to the Band to sound up with the first of four regimental marches; Le Reve Passe and step off at the regimental pace of 140 paces per minute.
THE BAND AND BUGLES OF THE RIFLES
OP BRIDGE