ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Busterdog** · 22-05-2012, 00:59

Well the only members of Line Regiments to be awarded the Coronation Medal back in 1953 were those who participated in the various Coronation Parades - why not establish the same criteria for those too junior in service to qualify for the award?
Unlike you, apparently, Dead Equine, the regular personnel and not a few of the TA on parade have or will experience operational service. The QDJM is bling DH, they've been given to all kinds of people, some whose only idea of service is to themselves and are already flogging them on e-bay! What's the problem giving young service personnel a visible memento of a historic occasion?

**CAARPS** · 22-05-2012, 06:33

Originally Posted by DeadHorse

I too feel that attendance on parades should be visibly rewarded, after all, any damn fool can get shot at or abused by hostile Johnny Foreigners, whereas it takes guts of steel to endure the shoutings of an RSM in full flight and to have flags waived in your general direction. Some of those flags are attached to nasty pointy sticks you know.......
I myself am a veteran of many a VIP (Very Important Parade) and was often to be seen appearing at the NAAFI in Aldershot, the NAAFI in Dortmund, the NAAFI in Osnatraz and at many a public house both home and abroad representing my country/Troop/Regiment/Cap Badge so have accumulated much service and sustained untold damage to my liver.
A nice shiny gong would be nice - along with beer privileges, perhaps?

So that will be a no from you then

**ugly** · 22-05-2012, 08:08

Caarps wrote "One of the funniest moments was Bde Maj shouting at the Rifles during the rehersals to swing their arms shoulder high (yet again) only to be told by the guards drill bloke next to him that they are rifles and they don't "
Did the wooden tops make them march slowly and do everything with the others?
In 1LI Light Div drill was sacrosanct and we always had our own words of command from our own grown up. Usually had a briefing from the RSM before going on an all arms course about not doing heavy drill and given his office mil phone number for any difficulties. The downside was we were told to be on our best behaviour and if there were enough of us we were to drill on our own!

**Busterdog** · 22-05-2012, 12:42

As a former 'red' infantryman I thought swinging arms shoulder high, stamping feet and bending the knee rather ridiculous.
Looking at old film of British soldiers drilling in the Edwardian era it seems there was no stamping of feet and arms were swung waistbelt high, when did it all change?
I rather liked Gurkha foot drill - it differed slightly from LI/Rifle drill in as much as they slid the foot in rather like US Army foot drill.
And, yes, it's a slow morning - in the middle of spreading topsoil over a quarter acre and it commenced to p*ss down so here I am discussing foot drill!

**Pob02** · 22-05-2012, 13:14

[QUOTE=ugly;4413710]Caarps wrote "One of the funniest moments was Bde Maj shouting at the Rifles during the rehersals to swing their arms shoulder high (yet again) only to be told by the guards drill bloke next to him that they are rifles and they don't "
Did the wooden tops make them march slowly and do everything with the others?
QUOTE]
Sadly yes. Even went right back to basics and had us practising coming to attention, and standing at ease on Friday. However the line was drawn at swinging arms shoulder high, much to the annoyance of the Brigade Major who seemed to think that saying " This is the last time I am telling you" would have some sort of special affect. Instead the muttering of " Just as well as you are wasting your breath" was heard as we riverdanced out of the Castle quadrangle courtesy of hearing 2 bands with different beats, and then some random Drill Pig screaming out a third set of timings with a little "jop Jip Jopping".

The solidarity between the Rifles detachment, and the Gurkha detachment was a pleasure to behold regarding this particular topic, and a great big 2 fingers up to the Bde Major who at one point sounded as if he was about to shit a baby in annoyance.

**ugly** · 22-05-2012, 13:27

Glad am I to hear it, although a little dissapointed re the drill but its Brendas Party and if she wants she gets!
Re the shoulder high arm swinging I raised this a while ago and it seems it came about during a 1950's update to the drill manual. I only asked because when viewing footage of the escort to the late Kings (Brenda's Dad) coffin on its way from the station to the cathedral they were looking like the Rifles only shabbier!

**DeadHorse** · 22-05-2012, 13:42

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Well the only members of Line Regiments to be awarded the Coronation Medal back in 1953 were those who participated in the various Coronation Parades - why not establish the same criteria for those too junior in service to qualify for the award?
Unlike you, apparently, Dead Equine, the regular personnel and not a few of the TA on parade have or will experience operational service. The QDJM is bling DH, they've been given to all kinds of people, some whose only idea of service is to themselves and are already flogging them on e-bay! What's the problem giving young service personnel a visible memento of a historic occasion?

A visible memento of an historic occasion is a group photograph.
I wear the GSM with clasp Northern Ireland which was for Operational Service and the only time I earned my wages as a soldier. Marching about and being shouted at can be done by girl guides (who also get badges for the ability to tie knots).
Blazing Saddles - We dont need no stinking badges.. - YouTube