It seems to be about 1930 or so. In those days, arms were swung shoulder high ONLY for recruits, waist belt high was trained regular forces. These days, its all shoulder high.Also, some officers are wearing black armbands... some death of importance. Perhaps King George V ( 1936) remember Wallis Simpson thing.
One might also point out that in addition to height requirements there were no females in the band like today. i know this sounds unfair, but there was a certain standard and martial appearence which i think is in danger of being lost today. Also, blacks under a guards bearskin hat would have been unthinkable!
Not really "Unfair" as purely from an entry requirement where the female sex was not a consideration for military work in this manner. The year is probably the year of the death of King Edward 7 (1910) as may be seen by the Black Arm bands worn by the officers and the black wreaths atop the Colours.
Well, the standards were different then, and one can argue that society views change over time, but you still can't compare how these bands and guards looked then as opposed to today. Putting women in military bands is a social experiment that should not be done. No doubt I shall catch fire for this, but that is just my opinion. I don't doubt they are good musicians, they just don't belong in bands with long military traditions. Why not form a new WRAC band to put all the women in again.
Sorry, don't get me wrong - I agree with all you say - the Victorian and Edward ages were having very effectual changes from Georgian times - why not re-form a Women's service entirely - after all, they were very influential in WW2 and their Band was pretty good too. I wonder what would have been said if a man had applied to join a women's service and accepted.
True, but if things keep going as they are in the States he may not hold that position long unfortunately. I assume you are bothered by what I said about women in bands. It just does not look right to see a woman in there with a bearskin and the guys uniform. She looks smaller, and the curvy hips always gives her away in the band line. Perhaps dikes may find this look appealing, but such issues should not be concerned with a band that has over a 200 year history!
Wow, already you come off as a pretty racist and sexist American, why am I not surprised?
There are already women in the Vienna Philharmonic, the first ever female Beefeater, the Women's Royal Army Corps etc.
Without women in WW2, the war effort would have gone to shit and instead of a band with over 200 years of history, you get Germans marching up and down the Mall.
Vienna Philharmonic is different than the Grenadier or Coldstream Guards. The orchestra is a civvy operation and women have every right to be in it. But military bands like the Guards have traditions and also an appearence that makes them what they are after over 200 years. Unfortunately women don't fit into that role as well and some things should be left as they are and not turned into politiclly correct social experiments.
yes, time can change but some things should keep their traditions otherwise very little has meaning anymore. Social experiments in Todays army is a very PC thing these days. But that does not make it appropriate. Womn in the bands just don't look right, sorry mate!
You can see and hear the difference of the band in those days. At 66 pieces Guards bands truly were regal in their sight and sound. Even with the bad sound quality here the richness of the bands resources can still be discerned. Today with roughly 45 pieces the Guards are still great, but a deal removed from the standard of seen here. The Guards drill looks elegant with the older Enfield Rifles as opposed to the snouty SMG automatics that are used for parades today.
Yes, but you can't compore how elegant the old Lee Enfield looks compared to the tiny SMGs of today. It does not look right. True, the modern weapons shows that the Guards are not toy soldiers on public display in London.
I have seen evidence of fluctuations in the minimum height requirement. I empathise with the desire to see a return to tall Guards but (as is the view of the Police at least) it discriminates, not against women but those of, hrm, oriental (? - I'm not sure how offensive this term is outside of the UK, Asian here denotes those from the Indian sub-continent, so apologies in advance) heritage. Saying that though I haven't actually seen any such peoples in the Guards.
They allow women in as well. What next eh, cows and chickens? Those silly Canucks!
In all serious though it is a rather contentious issue and one where I could imagine a traditional purist being branded a racial purist. Discrimination is a very testy subject here. I myself was uneasy over nomenclature.
The Guards are great today. Its a different time and look. Back in the 1930s they had more time for elegant drill and look. Today these battalions barely have time to switch gear from active postings to ceremonial. I think its amazing what they do and most US outfits would have a hard time matching it. Still, would like to see the women not in the historic bands!
Yes. There's also less stamping and when dressing they seem to glide rather than shuffle. Plus in these days they had the luxury of being able to impose a height limit - stumpy Guardsmen just don't look right!
not sure if its the same tradition or the correct time or place but they (the officers) had to march around to prove they were not sleeping while waiting for the parade to start. I think it started with the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. not 100pct sure if thats true but sounds good enough to be true.
They are the Ensigns, who are the junior officers, who carry the Regimental Colours. Much like standard bearers except technically speaking only cavalry have standards, infantry, colours.
awesome film! men were men ,guards bands had the numbers and the rope tensioned drums sounded like thunder..there must be more film like this hidden away in some dusty archieve.great film. cheers and beers..MARTY
I too thought late 20's to mid 30's, the quality of the film and recording made it seem less likely to be late 30's. Question is, when did the Guards adopt the "high right" knee when coming to attention? These Guards seem to use a different drill and hardly lift a foot when coming to the halt.
It has the effect of making the Guards looking more nimble and elegant as well, coupled with their thinner stature at the time. Not that this actually answers the question.
Good spot - great to watch too! I was thinking 1930ish before reading the comments; just on civvy dress - hats mostly, cars, titles and the fact that there's sound...
Terrific footage! Most interesting to see in the band a valve trombone, as well as two bandboys carrying a rope tension bass drum. Does anyone recognize the selection (possibly an overture?) played by the band? Cheers!
First march was the Austrian March "Wien bleibt Wien" (Vienna is Vienna), followed by Mariage of Figaro (Slow March of the Coldstream Guards), the third I also don´t know - maybe you are right - could be an overture...
this must be the late 20's I guess
Fenixx117 7 months ago
aahhh!! the good old days, sadly gone for ever, due to the influf of ponces we have to endue....
cooking23 1 year ago
wonderful............ whats the first tune called does anyone know?
YouKnowIAmRight 1 year ago
@YouKnowIAmRight
The first tune is "Wien bleibt Wien," an Austrian march.
isbitsuper 1 year ago
It seems to be about 1930 or so. In those days, arms were swung shoulder high ONLY for recruits, waist belt high was trained regular forces. These days, its all shoulder high.Also, some officers are wearing black armbands... some death of importance. Perhaps King George V ( 1936) remember Wallis Simpson thing.
Gramson28 1 year ago
The slow march tune playd in 1:17 is "Figaro"- regimental slow march of The Coldstream Guards.
TurboRatownik 2 years ago
One might also point out that in addition to height requirements there were no females in the band like today. i know this sounds unfair, but there was a certain standard and martial appearence which i think is in danger of being lost today. Also, blacks under a guards bearskin hat would have been unthinkable!
waterloo3 2 years ago
Not really "Unfair" as purely from an entry requirement where the female sex was not a consideration for military work in this manner. The year is probably the year of the death of King Edward 7 (1910) as may be seen by the Black Arm bands worn by the officers and the black wreaths atop the Colours.
Researcher75 2 years ago
Well, the standards were different then, and one can argue that society views change over time, but you still can't compare how these bands and guards looked then as opposed to today. Putting women in military bands is a social experiment that should not be done. No doubt I shall catch fire for this, but that is just my opinion. I don't doubt they are good musicians, they just don't belong in bands with long military traditions. Why not form a new WRAC band to put all the women in again.
waterloo3 2 years ago
Sorry, don't get me wrong - I agree with all you say - the Victorian and Edward ages were having very effectual changes from Georgian times - why not re-form a Women's service entirely - after all, they were very influential in WW2 and their Band was pretty good too. I wonder what would have been said if a man had applied to join a women's service and accepted.
Researcher75 2 years ago
sound in 1910 ????? don't think so ...
woodenz 2 years ago
Why Not? _ Never heard of Pathe News Reels?? -
Researcher75 2 years ago
yes i have heard and seen them , but no sound on film in 1910 !!!!
woodenz 2 years ago
Yes and people thought there would never be a black President of the United States either.
Times are changing.
emptyangel 2 years ago
True, but if things keep going as they are in the States he may not hold that position long unfortunately. I assume you are bothered by what I said about women in bands. It just does not look right to see a woman in there with a bearskin and the guys uniform. She looks smaller, and the curvy hips always gives her away in the band line. Perhaps dikes may find this look appealing, but such issues should not be concerned with a band that has over a 200 year history!
waterloo3 2 years ago
Wow, already you come off as a pretty racist and sexist American, why am I not surprised?
There are already women in the Vienna Philharmonic, the first ever female Beefeater, the Women's Royal Army Corps etc.
Without women in WW2, the war effort would have gone to shit and instead of a band with over 200 years of history, you get Germans marching up and down the Mall.
emptyangel 2 years ago
Vienna Philharmonic is different than the Grenadier or Coldstream Guards. The orchestra is a civvy operation and women have every right to be in it. But military bands like the Guards have traditions and also an appearence that makes them what they are after over 200 years. Unfortunately women don't fit into that role as well and some things should be left as they are and not turned into politiclly correct social experiments.
waterloo3 2 years ago
You missed the point, times really are changing and that it doesn't exclude anything.
emptyangel 2 years ago
yes, time can change but some things should keep their traditions otherwise very little has meaning anymore. Social experiments in Todays army is a very PC thing these days. But that does not make it appropriate. Womn in the bands just don't look right, sorry mate!
waterloo3 2 years ago
when you say snouty smg automatics do you mean the sa80
laytonatctoward 2 years ago
You can see and hear the difference of the band in those days. At 66 pieces Guards bands truly were regal in their sight and sound. Even with the bad sound quality here the richness of the bands resources can still be discerned. Today with roughly 45 pieces the Guards are still great, but a deal removed from the standard of seen here. The Guards drill looks elegant with the older Enfield Rifles as opposed to the snouty SMG automatics that are used for parades today.
waterloo3 2 years ago
You're a purist, sir. Best wishes.
SR61 2 years ago
Clearly he isn't if he can't distinguish an assault rifle from a sub machine gun.
emptyangel 2 years ago
Assault rifles mate , should have kept the SLR for drill .
woodenz 2 years ago
The British Army have always paraded with the weapons they fight with, in other words; they don't have a parade rifle.
Doing otherwise will just make them look like 'show pieces' for tourists and the like.
emptyangel 2 years ago
Yes, but you can't compore how elegant the old Lee Enfield looks compared to the tiny SMGs of today. It does not look right. True, the modern weapons shows that the Guards are not toy soldiers on public display in London.
waterloo3 2 years ago
Many countries have kept old weapons for ceremonial duties , and the Public duties in London are for the tourists , that i can asure you .
woodenz 2 years ago
The SA80 is not an SMG, what the hell are you saying!
Besides, the drill with the SA80 is far more similar to the Lee-Enfield than the L1A1 SLR ever was.
I find, the only reason you think today's guardsmen are 'less elegant' is because they've been letting short fellows into the Guards.
I reckon they should impose the height requirement again, maybe even for the police as well! But, we all know that'll never happen.
emptyangel 2 years ago
I have seen evidence of fluctuations in the minimum height requirement. I empathise with the desire to see a return to tall Guards but (as is the view of the Police at least) it discriminates, not against women but those of, hrm, oriental (? - I'm not sure how offensive this term is outside of the UK, Asian here denotes those from the Indian sub-continent, so apologies in advance) heritage. Saying that though I haven't actually seen any such peoples in the Guards.
01MarchHare 2 years ago
@01MarchHare
The only oriental I've seen in red tunic and bearskin is in Canada, those silly Canadians.
emptyangel 2 years ago
They allow women in as well. What next eh, cows and chickens? Those silly Canucks!
In all serious though it is a rather contentious issue and one where I could imagine a traditional purist being branded a racial purist. Discrimination is a very testy subject here. I myself was uneasy over nomenclature.
01MarchHare 2 years ago
The Guards are great today. Its a different time and look. Back in the 1930s they had more time for elegant drill and look. Today these battalions barely have time to switch gear from active postings to ceremonial. I think its amazing what they do and most US outfits would have a hard time matching it. Still, would like to see the women not in the historic bands!
waterloo3 2 years ago
Thanks guys its a great tune, Vienna Remains Vienna
bcu567obzx 2 years ago
"Wien bleibt Wien".
Philobiblion 2 years ago
このような歴史的かつ貴重な映像が残っていたことに感動です。
It is impression on the remainder of such a historical, valuable movie.
BECSTEIN6217 2 years ago
The name of the first march has not been mentioned yet, does anybody know the name of it.
3773hc 2 years ago
Vienna remains Vienna
Melikethecake 2 years ago
Doesn't seem to be quite the same today. Shame.
Melikethecake 2 years ago
Excellent. Much more of a swagger in the marching then than now, it seems.
Streatham1966 2 years ago 2
Yes. There's also less stamping and when dressing they seem to glide rather than shuffle. Plus in these days they had the luxury of being able to impose a height limit - stumpy Guardsmen just don't look right!
01MarchHare 2 years ago
I'd like to see more of these posted.
Saulg21 3 years ago
"vienna remains vienna" great german march
sgoudie 3 years ago
Sorry, but
"vienna remains vienna" is not a German - it is an AUSTRIAN Military March composed by Johann Schrammel / Vienna.
169733 3 years ago 2
The drill in this video looks so much nicer than today's drill.
emptyangel 3 years ago 2
Who are the guys who appear to walking to and fro followed by two soldiers carrying flags over their shoulder? Thanks.
Eddie123xyz 3 years ago
not sure if its the same tradition or the correct time or place but they (the officers) had to march around to prove they were not sleeping while waiting for the parade to start. I think it started with the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. not 100pct sure if thats true but sounds good enough to be true.
thebookbinder 3 years ago
Isn't this known as 'the officers' amble'?
Streatham1966 2 years ago
They are the Ensigns, who are the junior officers, who carry the Regimental Colours. Much like standard bearers except technically speaking only cavalry have standards, infantry, colours.
01MarchHare 3 years ago
awesome film! men were men ,guards bands had the numbers and the rope tensioned drums sounded like thunder..there must be more film like this hidden away in some dusty archieve.great film. cheers and beers..MARTY
louislungbubble 3 years ago 2
Great piece of film full of pomp and grandeur
rmorecook 4 years ago
I too thought late 20's to mid 30's, the quality of the film and recording made it seem less likely to be late 30's. Question is, when did the Guards adopt the "high right" knee when coming to attention? These Guards seem to use a different drill and hardly lift a foot when coming to the halt.
gavsky23 4 years ago
It has the effect of making the Guards looking more nimble and elegant as well, coupled with their thinner stature at the time. Not that this actually answers the question.
01MarchHare 3 years ago
But a good point none the less! ;-)
gavsky23 3 years ago
Actually it's 1931 according to the British Pathe website
pbegley99 4 years ago
Good spot - great to watch too! I was thinking 1930ish before reading the comments; just on civvy dress - hats mostly, cars, titles and the fact that there's sound...
phoebewilkinson 4 years ago
The officers seem to be wearing black armbands. Might this date it to late January 1936, death of George V?
pbegley99 4 years ago
Terrific footage! Most interesting to see in the band a valve trombone, as well as two bandboys carrying a rope tension bass drum. Does anyone recognize the selection (possibly an overture?) played by the band? Cheers!
collegiateguy 4 years ago
First march was the Austrian March "Wien bleibt Wien" (Vienna is Vienna), followed by Mariage of Figaro (Slow March of the Coldstream Guards), the third I also don´t know - maybe you are right - could be an overture...
169733 4 years ago
You are right - the piece of music is the overture "Rienzi" written by Richard Wagner (German Composer). All is live music - excellent sound!!!!!
169733 4 years ago
sorry indeed but this is not RIENZI at all. I do not know what piece of music it is but for sure this is not Rienzi nor Wagner, as far as I know.
PUCCINIMUSICK 3 years ago