Page 37 - Bugle Spring 2023

6 RIFLES
Op LONDON BRIDGE
The Salamanca Band of The Rifles
Within 48 hours of the announcement of the passing of HM Queen Elizabeth II, four members of the Salamanca Band from 6 RIFLES, had answered the call to backfill The Band and Bugles of The Rifles in support of Op LONDON BRIDGE.
Alongside The Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas, we joined forces to form an impressive team of 80 musicians who shared the immense honour of being the band that would lead the funeral procession from Horse Guards, down The Mall and on to Wellington Arch. We were acutely aware of the significance and scale of the event in hand, understanding that only the utmost professionalism and highest of standards would be acceptable. As Maj Sean O’Neill (DOM - RIFLES Band) pointed out on day one, ‘Simply trying our best was not going to be good enough on this occasion!’
It was these values that guided and permeated the preceding week of intense rehearsals that started with a deliberate focus on all aspects of the funeral music; this included sectional and full marching band rehearsals at 70 beats per minute.
Several days of such training culminated in an early morning rehearsal that started at 0300hrs in Wellington Barracks and allowed the entire funeral procession to unfold exactly as it would the following week.
The morning of the funeral began with an 0100hrs coach into London. We knew that every note we played, step we took, and movement made would be watched in every corner of the world. Needless to say, it was the honour of our life and career to give the nation’s longest serving Monarch the funeral she deserved.
Finally, our participation not only demonstrates the agility
of the Army Reserve in responding to national events but highlights the important role reservists play in supporting the Regular Army; not to mention the excellent working relationship The Salamanca Band has with our colleagues in The Band and Bugles of The Rifles.
LCpl T Ross, 6 RIFLES
Although there were some demanding shifts, and little in the way of down-time during the busiest parts of the Games, there were also some excellent opportunities for our Riflemen to make the most of being involved in such
a high-profile event for Birmingham and the wider UK. In addition to watching international sports played at the highest level, TG North staff secured the movement corridor for Royal Visitors to watch the opening ceremony, were invited to the closing party for the London velodrome and even won the ‘celebrity selfie’ competition!
It was a privilege to work in such a wide team helping deliver an event that supported the UK Government’s objectives, with civilian security, police, CT specialists and military both Regular and Reserve closing the games with no terrorist incidents, no major protest activity and all security breaches investigated and resolved. In particular, for 6 RIFLES, UNITY
demonstrated that the Reserves are capable of responding and adapting to a range of tasks, such as UK resilience and homeland security, as well as war fighting.
Lt Fenton-O’Creevy, 6 RIFLES
RIFLES The Bugle 37