Trooping of the colour 2009 - March-past in quick time

[irishhistoryman]

Excellent!

[Jerseybornjerseybred]

this is why we are the best in the world

[thepiolt]

America could neva do anything like this because the british have been doing it for hundred years.

[jss1886]

Every year i say im going to go to London to see this, and never get round to sending off for tickets. Definitely next year!

[Myles0Harcourt]

@jss1886

Sadly it's done by ballot. The chances of acutally being drawn for the real thing is quite small. More likely you get chosen for the Colonal's review or Major General's review which are the dress rehearsals.

[comenowmrbond]

(part 4)

"When at the start of WWII the Republic of Ireland announced it would remain neutral, thousands and thousands of Irishmen went to Northern Ireland and England to enlist and fight the Nazi terror of Hitler.

The Royal Irish Fusiliers and the Irish Guards were the most Irish and most famous of regiments. Even today the Irish Guards and the Royal Irish Regiment have large numbers of soldiers from the Irish Republic in their ranks."

(thought it was interesting enough to paste...!)

[thatsedrich]

@comenowmrbond Very interesting. Would you mind putting the full URL for us to read?

[comenowmrbond]

@thatsedrich: aitch ttp colon (//) st d o t louis d o t irish d o t tripod d o t com (/) irishwarpipe (/) id30

[comenowmrbond]

(part 3)

During WWII when the Irish Brigade landed in Europe one rather posh british officer was heard to proclaim, "The Irish are here,by God now we'll get cracking !!!".

Its no wonder that as each Irish regiment was formed Irishmen quickly filled their ranks. Where there were Irish Soldiers, saffron kilts and Warpipes were always close close by.

[comenowmrbond]

(part 2)

Some of the Irish people thought of these Irish soldiers as traitors. Only in recent years has the British government given proper credit to those Irish soldiers. The fact is that England could not have built its old empire without the Irish fighting its wars.

[flygweilo]

@comenowmrbond Certainly, the irish regiments of the British Army have fought with great distinction and bravery in battle, but I don't know that the Empire could not have been built without them ... it would have been harder, but it probably would still have been done.

Let's not forget the millions, of Welsh, Scots and English soldiers who also served over the centuries.

But enormous respect from this Englishmen for the quality and courage of Irish soldiers.

[hibernia91]

Do soldiers from the republic of Ireland enlist in the Irish Guards ?

[comenowmrbond]

@hibernia91 From a website on t'interweb (part 1)

"Since the earliest times Ireland has had an odd and curious relationship with England, its closest neighbor. Even while suffering great oppression Irishmen were quick to join the British army and fight Englands wars around the world. This would also include fighting against fellow Irishmen."

[flygweilo]

@hibernia91 yes - and in other Irish regiments of the British Army (the Inniskillings, Royal irish Regiment, Connaught Rangers etc).. Although technically raised in N. Ireland (and many now merged with others), many, many Irishmen from the Republic have served in these and other regiments of the British Army, even throughout the 'Troubles'.In deference to their country of origin, however, no Irish soldier (from either north or south) in the British Army was required to serve in Ulster.

[SnickleFritz79]

The marching by these soldiers looks absolutely sloppy. They don't march in perfectly straight lines. Likewise, the military bands are cheating by using sheet music attached to their instruments. They should put the music to memory.

[Someloke8895]

@SnickleFritz79 Well I'm sorry that the most prestigious troops in the British army aren't up to your obviously high standards...

At least 50% of these troops have NEVER done a trooping before, and only get several weeks practise beforehand.

[1992airborne]

@SnickleFritz79 Guys, pay no attention to this ignorant countryman of mine. He's the type of imbecile that ends up tarring us all with the same brush.

Just wish our armed forces had as rich a history steeped with just as much tradition, as you guys across there in the UK.

These Guardsmen are impressive!

[alski695]

@SnickleFritz79 and you should have been put down at birth

[SnickleFritz79]

@alski695 And you should do the world a favor and commit suicide.

[alski695]

@SnickleFritz79 That would only be doing you a favour, and I've done enough favours for the mentaly handicapped for the time being. Even a guy from your own country is slating you. Fail

[emptyangel]

@SnickleFritz79

Reading sheet music isn't 'cheating', it is standard protocol to have sheet music, as a guide, at the ready. Unless you think the Vienna Philharmonic are also 'cheating'.

Learning how to read music on the fly is far more professional than memorising it, considering the amount of different music they play on an average week.

Also, I hope you realise your American high school marching band isn't the best in the world.

[uyd]

I wonder if, after 50 + years of attending such ceremonies, is the Queen bored with it all?

[Solarian2495]

cant wait to move out of the US to GB!!

Any suggestions from people where in Britain I should go?

*ignores the fact he is asking total strangers where to spend the rest of his life....*

[Someloke8895]

@Solarian2495 Depends on budget.

I'd recommend the South West or Yorkshire if you're after peaceful life.

[psweep]

So fare thee well, my own true love

When I return united we will be

It's not the leaving of Liverpool that's grieving me

But my darling when I think of thee !!!!! Great tune!!!

[parkesey1701]

their dressings are pretty good, unlike this years, granted though this year they only had little time to rehearse

[pierremimi]

my god ! why i'm french ??? it's an error ! make me brit !

[Insperato62]

ATPL74 plenty of people in this country would be familiar with the Mick's music (as well Leaving of Liverpool) - whilst I love the tradition of the Coldstreamers, Paddy has the best music:)

[railbottle]

This is SUPERB!! I have the greatest respect for freinds and allies of Great Britian.  Captain (Ret) USMC

[ATPL74]

Longer version available , look up Trooping The Colour 2009 by naranja481

[boric48]

We dont have anything like this in the US Army, our bands are dull and bland and only perform, rather poorly, Souza..

[MrDanmeyers]

@boric48 Obviously you never had the privilege to witness the Splendor of Pershings' Own , or the Materials Band from Fort Meade. Why not drag your arse down to Ft Detrick and watch the performances. Better yet--come to the Gettysburg Festival in June 2010 and watch the U.S Marines from Quantico and the U.S Navy.

I bet you never attended the Army Freedom Festival..

[boric48]

@MrDanmeyers

you said it the marine band or navy, but besides the army pershing's own, 99% of army bands are uncoordinated and sloppy, just mentioning 2 army bands out of many makes my point. and yeah i have seen them, and i have served for 30 years as an infantryman an 2 combat tours, i have been around, but that does not change the fact that the only thing they play is souza same ol' same'o in their sloppy acu's. hummmmmm, the materials band, are you a loggie? end of transmission....

[MrDanmeyers]

@MrDanmeyers Maybe the bands you witnessed were tired of the whining by superiors and the inability to practice. Did you know that O-Bozzo has deployed the Presidents Own U.S. Marine Band, as well as a majority of the bandsman of the 552ND Pa Air National Guard Band of Fort Indian Town Gap...The U.S Coast Guard Band ,Jacksonville and GOD only knows who else into Afghanistan and Iraq. I sure as hell would not be too energetic to performance with that looming overhead.

[flygweilo]

@MrDanmeyers Please understand that all the Guards Regiments (including bandsmen) are on active service, and are rostered through Afghanistan (and, earlier, Iraq) and see regular military action, too.

HM Armed Services do not have units that perform only ceremonial duties. All active servicemen will see ceremonial duties at some stage (and vice versa), but it is not the larger part of their duty.

Even the world-renowned HM Colour Squadron RAF protects air bases, both at home and overseas.

[boric48]

thanks ATPL74. I was looking everywhere for the name of that tune.

[ATPL74]

The first march is called the 'Leaving of Liverpool"

So fare thee well, my own true love

For when I return, united we will be

It's not the leaving of Liverpool that grieves me

But my darling when I think of thee

[flygweilo]

@ATPL74 Spot on, mate ... thanks very much.

[flygweilo]

Well .. I've checked and that first march is NOT "The Star Of The County Down", and i have been unable to find any other references to a tune called '"The Mick's March".

Does anyone else know what it might be?

[tralens]

@flygweilo The March is called"Mick's March".

[ATPL74]

@tralens If your refering to the march starting at 1:05 then please give it's proper name , St Patrick's Day.

flygweilo was refering to the march at the start which is called The Leaving of Liverpool.

[tralens]

@ATPL74 The first march is called "Mick's March" and is a composition of Irish tunes including as you say "The Leaving Of Liverpool". The Massed Bands Of The Guards Division played it on leaving Horse Guards Parade after the Queen's Birthday Parade of 2005 when the colour of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards was trooped. I was answering flygweilo's query as I do know the march past of the Irish Guards is "St.Patrick's Day".

[ATPL74]

@tralens as the "Leaving of Liverpool" is the only part of 'mick's march you hear,apart from 'The Star of the County Down' briefly ,then i think flygweilo was looking for the name of the actual tune at the start. Not too many would be familiar with mick's march and would probably know the "Leaving of Liverpool" better.

[tralens]

@ATPL74 That's a fair point you make there.

[balthasarEF]

I think I'm not alone when I say that I believe the British army has the finest marching and uniforms in the world.

[flygweilo]

@balthasarEF Kind words, sir, and very generous - thank you.

[jessie86alphafox]

great video

my favorite

[gamemule]

makes u proud to be british best soldiers in the world and a great tradition !

[Schmidt1942]

I love the tradition in The UK. - wish the US would do something like this.

[Gonnakillyou]

@Schmidt1942 I'm pretty sure they have a few military parades here and there.

[Schmidt1942]

@Gonnakillyou Naturally, but Trooping of the colour is such an impressive event. An event not matched by any other military. While the US holds a very powerful military entity, we do not have any parade(s) like this...

[flygweilo]

@Schmidt1942 I think the US holds different types of parades (Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and that for the Rose Bowl spring immediately to mind), and have a lot of high school and university marching bands - which we don't do as much in the UK. Perhaps the need for military parades in the US is not seen?

If you enjoy the Trooping ceremony, you should also try the excellent Edinburgh Military Tattoo, which takes place for three weeks each summer in August as part of the Edinburgh Festival.

[alex471996]

@flygweilo Yes how ever most schools have army training corps ATC and universities have the OTC officer training corps for people who enjoy military activities. You could join your local cadet divisions marching band. They are highly involved in things such as Remembrance Sunday.

[flygweilo]

@alex471996 Yep - I was in the CCF at school (lo, these many decades ago now!), but we had no marching band - and we were a well-funded school. My university had a marching band, but it was closely associated with the OTC. Thus, unlike at US colleges, the OTC band did not perform at sports events (although the Edinburgh University Pipe Band is a perennial performer at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo).

[flygweilo]

@alex471996 And this, I think, is one of the signal differences between the US and the UK.

Whilst the US does have its military bands, the American public is saturated by bands at high school and college, and has innumerable parades such as the Rose Bowl Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades, the Independence Day Parades etc etc etc. - the sort of thing we do less of in the UK.

As a result, I think the US sees less demand for parades specifically to watch US military bands perform.

[sdcow]

@Schmidt1942 pay a visit to the USMA at West Point on saturdays during football season. 3 hours before game time the corps of cadets marches in review on the parade grounds in full dress uniforms. it is visually quite impressive. and just before the game starts the cadets march onto the field (or the pitch as you uk footballers call it).

[Myles0Harcourt]

@Schmidt1942

It's such a pity that there are those here who would get rid of it.

[WeShallFightOn]

@Myles0Harcourt They're called scum and should be throne into black holes

[Myles0Harcourt]

@WeShallFightOn

Quite. They used to deport them to Australia, now we have to keep them here. What annoys me most is how they say we should ban beautiful ceremonies like this. It's through people like them that countries lose their heirtage and pride. If they don't like it they should ignore it. I don't like rugby or boxing, but that doesn't mean I want to ban it.

[Schmidt1942]

I love the tradition in The UK. - wish the US would do something like this.

[whitesoxfan5]

To bad there isn't a way I can download that St Pattys Day march its classic.

[4tlas91]

where is that?

[rmorecook]

duh. London - queen's birthday parade

[walaxski]

Family, Service, Duty - GSTQ!!!

[Azhope57]

great thing about the British Army is we welcome many of our friends from the commonwealth of nations to join, black white purple who cares ,

[boric48]

does anyone knows the name of the tune at the beginning, before st patricks

[B21983]

I believe its "Star of the County Down"

[Vorrink]

I think its the "Micks March".

[kevinpnp]

GREAT Britian.