The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd., 1939 TROOPING THE COLOUR

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 12826, 22 August 1939, Page 4

The Bay of Plenty Times TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd., 1939 TROOPING THE COLOUR

Trooping the King’s Colour is one of the most impressive ceremonies in Great Britain. There is no more brilliant spectacle than the marching and counter-marching of 2000 Guards on the Horse Guards Parade. The ceremony dates unaltered in essentials from the eighteenth century. Military historians have traced references to trooping or lodging the colours as far back as 1662, but not until about .1750 did the ceremony assume its present significance. Modern Trooping the Colour is a combination of the two old military ceremonies of guard-mounting, and “lodgment of colours.” The colours were lodged in a certain spot, so that in cases of emergency they might serve as a rallying point for the soldiery. “Trooping” means saluting by beat of drum and two centuries ago a' “troop” was always beater .for guard-mounting. The two ceremonies are said to have been joined by the Duke of Cumberland in the middle of the eighteenth century. Trooping the colour was originally performed daily, and the change to the present System of performing it once annually was made in the reign of William IV. The connection of trooping with the sovereign’s birthday, was. made in Queen Victoria’s reign, and not® it is invariably performed to mark the official celebration of the King’s birthday. The colour honoured is that of the battalion providing the guard for the day, and it is interesting, to note that only one colour is trooped ; every regiment except the Rifles has two colours, the King’s colour and the regimental colour, but it is the King’s colour alone, which salutes the King;, and is saluted by everybody else. The initial stages of the ceremony are carried out by the Adjutant, who forms up the guards companies in line on the side of the parade ground facing the saluting base, the guards for the moment being under the command of the warrant or non-com-missioned officers. In front of the left of the line is the colour to be trooped in charge of a sergeant and a double sentry. In front of the Colour are the drums, and on the opposite flank facing the drums is the band. To a quick march played by drums the warrant and non-commissioned officers commanding the guaVds march straight to their front across to the saluting base, halt, and turn towards their guards. The drums now march across the front of the guards beating the “Assembly,” and the officers then fall-in in front of the warrant and non-commissioned officers. The Adjutant reports that all is ready to the Battalion Commander, who assumes command of the parade. The band strikes up a slow march and the officers, warrant and non-commissioned officers move across to their guards in slow time. When they are in position the solemn ceremonial begins. An escort from the right-hand guard, preceded by band and drums, playing “The British Grenadiers” moves across the face of the line of guards to the Colour. The regimental sergeant-major receives the Colour and hands it to the second-Lieutenant detailed to carry it. Then comes the most impressive part of the spectacle. The- Colour, held aloft, with its escort, threads its way slowly through the line of guards. After this stately procession, the guards march past the saluting base. The steadiness learned from the discipline of the parade ground has made the guards the finest shock troops in the world. THOUGHT FOE THE DAY THE gentle mind by gentle deeds is known, For a man by nothing is so well betrayed, As by his manners. ,* . •• Spenser.