trooping the colour

[guest311]

I will admit to being baffled by the difference between sgts with white tapes  in the guards, and other sgts with gold tapes.

make an old fur box mechanic's day and explain

[acko22]

Ok then this is one of the historical oddities we have in the British Army and these days only the Guards, Honorable Artillery Company  have this the House hold Cavalry have something similar and just as annoying with their rank structure.

The history behind it comes from Queen Victoria she didn't like Lance Corporals (1 tape) taking drill outside the royal household, she felt that it undermined the significance of the royal house hold and therefore it should be the minimum of a Corporal (2 tapes). So to work round this the army introduced Lance Sergeants who were corporals but wore 3 White tapes as to appear to the unknowing observer as Sergeants and the Lance Corporals would wear 2 strips and hey presto it was always a minimum of a corporal that took drill. A full sergeant wears the gold stripes and the red sash.

The military also played this shrewdly as a Lance Sergeant (corporal) could be demoted without Court Marshall, where as a full Sergeant (gold tapes) has to go to court Marshall to be demoted, with Lance Sergeant effectively been used as a trial at times to see if that soldier was ready for promotion to a SNCO.

Army wide this rank was abolished in 1946 with the exception of the Guards and Honorable Artillery Company who carry the tradition through to today in addition to some other ranks which are unique to ceremonial duties.

So a quick snap shot:

Lance Corporal - Line Infantry is 1 tape - Guards 2 Tapes
Corporal - Line Infantry 2 tapes - Guards 3 tapes but white
Sgt - Line Infantry 3 tapes gold - Guards the same.

It does make the guard with the Household Cav very unusual as their Warrant officers and Sergeants messes are the only ones which allow Junior NCOs to be in the mess as a matter of daily life.

On any parade also (times have changed so no so true anymore) there should only ever be 1 person unshaven!! The Pioneer Sergeant back in the old days (Zulu wars) 1890s not the 1980s their first duty was to go an gather wood before the Commanding Officer was woke so the Commanding Officer could have a hot shave and as such they were the only man to start their duty without having a shave as they had no hot water to shave in!

[Newportnobby]

Going off on a tangerine a little, I always remember watching these guys at the Edinburgh Tattoo and thinking they were the dogs doo-dahs when it came to precision marching. Have to make do with this though............

[acko22]

@Newportnobby

It's ok I guess for err how can I put this nicely - fake infantry! Explains why some of it was a little slack and not as crisp!

Although using the James Bond theme I am certain he was a Royal Navy Commander, shouldn't they have used the theme to Biggles 

[Newportnobby]

Which one? Biggles Flies Undone?

[guest311]

now now,  children, rock apes will be fuming all over at those comments ...

fake infantry indeed ...........

some even had little tanks [ shades of lt. gruber from ello ello]

in my day they also included the 'water babies'

acko22, many thanks for the explanation of the tapes, I guess you noted that rock apes are the only branch of the RAF to have lance corporals.

[acko22]

Which one? Biggles Flies Undone?

@37025 ok i will be nice to them, although they are the most dislike group in the entire military even the RAF don't and that isn't just me saying that I take that from other trades in the RAF!! 

[guest311]

know what you mean, didn't mind then doing the range, but all the NBC etc used to bring tears to my eyes  :'(

[Train Waiting]

Going off on a tangerine a little, I always remember watching these guys at the Edinburgh Tattoo and thinking they were the dogs doo-dahs when it came to precision marching. Have to make do with this though............

Agree completely, NPN.  I have always found the Queen's Colour Squadron (63 Squadron RAF Regiment) to be very impressive.  Many thanks for the link.

John

[guest311]

imagine a whole regiment of guards with drill to that standard ...

just imagine 

[woodbury22uk]

I always enjoy the Trooping and have been a few times to experience it. My late father-in-law was a senior officer in the Met mounted branch and used to escort HMQ during the rehearsals when she used to ride on horseback to the event. At about 4.30am on rehearsal day HMQ would arrive in her full every day riding gear with a copy of the "Sporting Life" in her back pocket, and a large selection of good racing tips for the day. It was the event of the year for him, because he always came out on top at the bookies! :-)

[Bealman]

Now that is cool. Thanks for sharing! 

[The Q]

Which one? Biggles Flies Undone?

@37025 ok i will be nice to them, although they are the most dislike group in the entire military even the RAF don't and that isn't just me saying that I take that from other trades in the RAF!! 

Not quite, snowdrops have that honour.

[guest311]

"Not quite, snowdrops have that honour."

note, snowdrops, fur box mechanics and their cuddly friends are not included