Mark from the States and Beating Retreat: Royal Marines 2018 Reaction 

I went to The Beating Retreat Ceremony at Horse Guards Parade when I was in my mid twenties. It was wonderful, quite wonderful. This, I believe, is their march to the ceremony. Watching this my heart is filled with pride. Thank you Mark.

Beating Retreat is a military ceremony that dates to an order given to the army of James II of England in 1690 in the early days of organised warfare. The troops beat drums and paraded the streets to mark the end of a day of combat, as well as lowering the flags and closing the gates.

It's always Special to see the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines, all 5 of the Bands together is a Spectacular Sight & Sound experience. I was at the Beating Retreat they did for HRH Philip The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday & I'll never forget that one, he was their Honorary Royal Colonel, until he retired from Public Service. The Drum Majors always knows the Route & his Commands tell them where to stop & go & ofcourse they have a briefing before they go. They don't always have a chance to practise, especially from Wellington Barracks to Horse Guards, it passes through a Residential Area & for some reason the Residents don't like a few hundred Marines marching through late at night or the early hours, playing Military Marches. All the Bands know the Route, they all March it a lot, so they're prepared anyway. This isn't the Beating Retreat by the way, that's done on Horse Guards Parade, where the trooping of the Colour happens. This is just the march down there to do the Beating Retreat from Wellington Barracks.

It's usually an annual event, and is basically the musical Trooping the Colour. It normally rotates between the Army and Navy (The RAF are usually still in bed) - you should try and find the 2015 March from Barracks, where because it was the 200th Anniversary of Waterloo, the Germans got involved with the Guards. Rumour has it the French embassy were on high alert that evening - All the white bed sheets were hung out.

I love the way that if you pause the video all the batons and legs are in exactly the same position. Take a moment to admire the beautiful buildings around that part of London. Thank you for posting, Mark.

The route from where the bands step off ( Wellington Barracks, on Birdcage Walk) to the Beating Retreat ceremony on Horse Guards Parade is well known to the Guards and the Royal Marines bands who both, separately, have their Beating Retreat ceremonies annually in July. The bands usually have a frontage of 10 musicians and each musician knows exactly where they should be, especially on the Left Wheel coming off Birdcage Walk onto Horse Guards Road and thence to Horse Guards Parade where the ceremony takes place.

Pure precision and smartness. Love His Majesty’s Royal Marines !

I'm not sure Violet appreciated the finer points of the video - but it was lovely to see her! It's amazing to see all those legs moving in unison - especially those carrying the large brasses at the back! And as you say- turning the corners and navigating through the street furniture takes great skill!

The turning of a corner is called a 'Wheel'. The inside troops 'step short' and the outside troops 'step out' with the troops in between varying their stride accordingly. Works every time 😊 Beating Retreat happens every 2 years and the Royal Navy 2022 one is on RU-vid - and it is excellent!!

a good left wheel !!

Horseguards parade in the evening sun on a fine day watching this live is an amazing experience. Been there, done that, got the T shirt etc. Nothing can match the musical sound and precision marching display of the massed bands of HM Royal Marines. The smartest and the very best. This vid shows the march from Wellington Barracks, along Birdcage walk next to St James's Park and on towards Horseguards parade.

The Beating The Retreat take place in July and is on the Horse Quards Parade, the same place where Trooping the Colour takes place, this video is the bands marching from the Barracks to House Guards Parade.

I was with 3Cdo Brig in the early eighties and now my son is a Commando. The Beating of the Retreat is a call to barracks kind off here is from a well known source: An order from the army of James II (England), otherwise James VII of Scotland dated to 18 June 1690 had his drums beating an order for his troops to retreat and a later order, from William III in 1694 read "The Drum Major and Drummers of the Regiment which gives a Captain of the Main Guard are to beat the Retreat through the large street, or as may be ordered. Please for the Americans The Brits have no order to retreat. If in the unfortunate event that may happen the order is to retire. Our boys have gone now to get the civilians of the Sudan out of harms way. Bless them all. The Aldershot Garrison is missing many.

The coordination skills amaze me, they must be the best in the world

Another interesting video Mark.The Royal Marines show how it's done. I notice up to 6.99k subscribers. You've nearly made the 7K mark.Next target 10k Ted Weaver

Basically an old-time military machine. Best marching in the world.

What can I add other than "Spanjetter" as one of my Grandfathers used to say about anything that outshone normal daily events. 🤩

They do practice first on base on a mock up of the area and then later there will be full rehearsals on location in the evenings for least disruption to normal traffic.

The Royal Marines have the finest military band in the British armed forces, for me the best march is called HM Jollies.👍

Usually held for one week in the summer on Horseguards Parade (same place at Trooping the Colour, one time a year) Tickets are sold for this ....I think different military each years. Beating Retreat origins is in the early dusk of evening I think.

The Royal Marines bands are famous worldwide and visit many countries. When Queen had Royal Yacht Britannia they always played on the dockside.

Lovely chubby cat i miss having one

Thanks Mark for your so kind look at the the Brit stirring pomp. I would be really interested in what happens in the USA, pro quo. Violet looks beautiful, if not a little grumpy, as is their delightful right.

You should see them when they are advancing!

hi mark,hope your well mate.the way you turn the corner,the inside men shorten there step,outer men lengthen theres

100% perfect stick drill and playing. They rehearse and rehearse and rehearse until they achieve that level of perfection & discipline which is unsurpassed.

12 people across always, they are very used to London and London street closures for this briefly is fine too!

Royal Marines marching band always stand out in a procession, they look cool and they know they do.. and so they should. It never springs to mind that they are all commandos. each and every one of these guys have alll passed the longest and hardest marine and non special forces training there is.

Please do more of Her Majesty's Royal Marines Bands hell even some combat footage if that interests you.

Here's an old one, but a good one from the Royal Marines. As you can tell from the credits, it actually ran at the end of the film. Enjoy! 🤗 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-M6LeDxlaig0.html

You now I'm ex Army but I think the bootnecks out class the Army with their bands.

There is a Beating the Retreat ceremony that includes US band

Knowing the route... There is a senior Warrant Officer Class 1 who is appointed as Garrison Sergeant Major, London District who is in charge of all ceremonial proceedings in the London area. He knows, to the second, at what pace of march, ie paces per minute, it takes to get from one point in the Wellington Barracks/Buckingham Palace/Horse Guards/Westminster area. Knowing which columns need to go which side of the traffic lights and other details will be matters of routine for him and his staff. In 2014 the Royal Marines were joined by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the USMC, 2nd Marine Division Band "The Division's Own". ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cvYAz1yr2NU.html

Trooping the Colour is only Army,no Navy involved.

Thanks for reviewing my video

He’s not in uniform but seems he’s in charge.

I've watched a few of these reaction videos and am struck by how no one talks about *the music*, which is what they are doing while making their turns and all the rest. It's seriously impressive the sounds they are making, the harmonies and the propulsion of the rhythm. But I guess that's something we're uncomfortable talking about, or don't even notice.

These guys still go through six months training for their green beret, before going on to the music side of things. Tough boys,

All the military do. those that are on ceremonial duties

No one does this shit like us ,no one is even close, pomp and history

Beating the retreat is exactly what the title suggests, A military ceremony that dates back to the 17th century, where troops beat drums and paraded the streets to mark the end of a day of combat, as well as lowering the flags and closing the gates ! originally only drums where used. 6:30 is the beating of the retreat the rest are Royal Marine standards and I never get tired of watching these mazing musicians so many thanks for this excellent video as for the route they dont train it is second nature to them and the guy in front the drum Major is signalling with his staff when to turn etc, This will explain it better ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ZTLAaTivCJM.html

Mark maybe you can answer me. Who is the blond headed guy that is always up front looking mad.ok, not asking this question anymore. No one seems to want to answer

its a good thing the lamp posts move or they get flattend