Page 77 - Bugle Issue 18 Auntumn 2021

HRH FUNERAL
RIFLES The Bugle 77
My short- lived suffering was nothing compared to what the Queen is going through
What role did you play at the Duke of Edinburgh’s
funeral? I was part of the Rifles Guard of
Honour.
Were you proud to play an integral part of the event? I was very proud. I have
always been a very patriotic person and proud to have such a dedicated Royal Family, so to be able to play a role in the Duke’s funeral meant a great deal to me and was a huge honour.
How significant was The Rifles’ contribution on the day? The Rifles played a key part in the funeral. We were stood right next to the coffin, presenting arms as it was unloaded from the Land Rover and taken up the stairs.
Did you meet the Duke of Edinburgh and if so what are your recollections of him? Unfortu- nately I never had the chance to meet him.
Did the Duke of Edinburgh’s military career resonate? He touched a number of areas across the military, with a big involvement in the Rifles and Royal Marines. To be able to give thanks
in some small way for the big sacrifice that the Duke made for the military and the country was humbling and rewarding.
How much did the covid precautions influence and impede your role? We had to keep 2 metre spacings during the parade and kept separate from all the other regiments throughout rehearsals. This meant eating in different cook houses throughout the week in Pirbright. On the day we had been due to be wearing face masks, but fortunately weren’t required to in the end.
Did you take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award? No, I never did.
How much planning and practice went into the participation? A lot – at Pirbright, there were definitely a lot of moving parts. The whole of Pirbright was converted into a mock Windsor Castle with
mine tape, and archways replicated with tents.
We spent hours on the drill square making sure all the moments were completely correct. Holding the present arms
for long periods of time was extremely tough, but I made sure to remember throughout that the day was for and about the Royal Family, and my short-lived suffering was nothing compared to what the Queen is going through.
Considering the Duke was a patronage of The Rifles, did that have an impact? It undoubtedly made me prouder to take part in such a big event. Despite my initial displeasure at missing out on my Easter leave, I was really thankful by the end to have been part of the event.
Were you nervous to take part in such a historically significant event? I was hugely nervous. It was a massive day, and you know that there are hundreds of TV cameras and eyes on you. I wanted to make sure I looked smart, performed the drills correctly, and ultimately do the Royal Family proud.
What role did you play at the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral? I was part of the Guard of honour that formed up outside St George’s Chapel in Horseshoe Cloister.
Were you proud to play an integral part of the event? I was immensely proud, and it was a huge honour to have been selected as one of the few Rifleman that had the opportunity to pay tribute as the Guard of honour.
How significant was The Rifles’ contri- bution on the day? The Rifles which was handpicked by Prince Philip DoE himself to carry out the Guard of honour, as well as the Rifles band and a number of Rifleman also up at the quadrangle had a massively key part on the day as we was formed up presenting arms as he was taken up the stairs to his final resting place.
Did you meet the Duke of Edinburgh and if so what are your recollections of him? Unfortunately, I never had the pleasure to meet the DoE personally.
Did the Duke of Edinburgh’s military career resonate? He was involved so heavily in the military all over the course of his lifetime and he has given so much dedication not only to the military but also to the country this underpinning the core values we hold with such high regards in the forces.
How much did the covid precautions influence and impede your role? The week was well organised and I feel there was little impact as to what we face back in Bn on a day to day basics as per the government guidelines, we was put in Bn bubbles, getting regularly COVID tested and having separate cookhouses to eat in this made sure the impact was minimal and we was able to concentrate on the task in hand.
Did you take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award? No.
How much
planning and
practice went
into the participation? It was a tough week, long days on the drill square into long evenings ironing and preparing our kit. Drill is not something that is done on a daily basis in the Rifles so it would have been challenging for many but as like with any task the Rifles is given, we go into in full hearted and strive to deliver for the occasions.
Considering the Duke was a patronage of The Rifles, did that have an impact? As the week went on it started to sink in the real humbling honour and passion of what we was being asked to do, I for one was very taken by the whole week especially on the day itself paying the tribute he deserved and as his Guard of honour made me very proud and to be able to give back a small proportion and pay my tribute to him cannot easily be described the true feeling inside and it’s something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Were you nervous to take part in such a historically significant event? Absolutely I have been faced with many difficult situ- ations in my Army career, but this was on a different level what with the media cover on the day and the sheer importance of the event. The pressure and nervous I was feeling was just making sure I strived to deliver for the Royal Family on what would have been an almost impossible day to say goodbye, this far outweighed the media in attendance and I just wonted to pass on my gratitude for everything Prince Phillip DoE had done in his life time as part of the military family we are all part off.
What role did you play
at the Duke of Edin-
burgh’s funeral?
Representing the Col
Comdt as The Rifles pallbearer escorting the coffin.
Were you proud to play an integral part of the event? It was a huge privilege to represent The Rifles to mark the life of an extraordinary man.
How significant was The Rifles’ contribution on the day? The Rifles played a pivotal role reflected in the Guard of Honour receiving the funeral procession at the steps of the chapel.
Did you meet the Duke of Edinburgh and if so what are your recollec- tions of him? I met him a few times and recall his stature and presence – straight talking, honest and engaged.
Did the Duke of Edinburgh’s military career resonate? His military career was humbling. His status was built on the enormous credibility from his war record. He understood the Armed Forces because he was one of us.
How much did the covid precautions influence and impede your role?
COVID restrictions, of course, coloured the tone of the day, but in many ways added to the poignancy of the occasion. It felt intimate, with his family and the Armed Forces saying farewell to him on behalf of the nation and Commonwealth that he had served for so many years.
Did you take part in the Duke of Edinburgh award? No – I did the Ten Tors twice instead! All 3 of my children did – 2 Golds and a Bronze. The award offered them fantastic opportunities to develop their skills and resilience.
Were you nervous to take part in such a historically significant event?
Of course, it is a little nerve-wracking to participate in an event such as
this because you want to ensure that the occasion is faultless and there
is plenty of scope for things to go wrong despite all the planning and rehearsal. However, just like a sporting event, once things start you can just take in the whole experience and reflect on the occasion.
Rfn HUDSON
3rd BATTALION THE RIFLES
Maj Gen JONES
3rd BATTALION THE RIFLES
WO2 FIELD
5th BATTALION THE RIFLES