#troopingthecolour #military #british The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Horse Guards Parade in 1956. The Colour of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards was Trooped.
That's not what this is. This is a trooping of the colour not a presentation of colours. Different ceremonies but every presentation includes a trooping.
Drill and bearing so much sharper back then. Guards taller and slimmer, and marched like Guards. National Service helped of course, big pool of guys from which to select.
Stop it... Nothing like an old soldier to profess that back in the day nonsense...for one you had more Battalions.. more man power.. less expectations in terms of operations.. Give the current batch a break, less Battalions, significantly less man power.. more operational requirements than before.. Ive been out of the Scots Guards for 30yrs & I'm still proud of my regiment & what they were & are now.. I also enjoy watching the standards of work, drill & history from the mighty 7 Septem Juncta In Uno
It also helps that most of the closeups are spliced in from other footage, not the 'live' parade. Compare the background at 8:50 to 8:57 for one example.
When I hear this beautiful accent spoken by the BBC commentators, I deeply regret that this was changed in favor for the more "common" accent they use today.
I cannot agree more! As a foreigner; I find the likes of Sir Dirk Bogarde, Jeremy Brett, Sir Christopher Lee, Daniel Massey, Sir Ian McKellen, Jon Pertwee (3rd Doctor) and/or Michael York to be the best model English accent coaches us foreigners could find.
If I was the Garrison Sergeant Major today I would make this film MANDATORY viewing for all Subalterns and NCO/Soldiers so as to set the standard to meet. That is probably one of the finest drill performances I've seen. All the Troopings of the past 30 years pale with that display. Well done to those fine men of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards.
In my country, being part of the Commonwealth, the story of drill discipline is just as sad. At the time, the days of Empire, our soldiers were glass-cut sharp. Today, one may observe such heresies as a solider, on parade, swaying to the wind. It's hope-less.
In those days full of guys who had no choice to be there or not. At least today we have a volunteer military who have chosen to serve. Most of those men present hated every minute of National Service.
@Plutarch Are you actually for real? Did you have to leave your work and family for two years of crap, or just another rose tinted fool looking back on the past.
@Plutarch I cannot find your reply saying you were a National Serviceman, just one question how many of those men, who had no choice, came back from Malaya, Korea, Kenya, Suez or Cyprus? Wonderful character building that was, Eh?
I personally think that the mk no.4 Lee Enfield is a far more fitting weapon for drill purpose then the current SA80. You get alot more weight against the shoulder and a firmer bearing and straighter walk with a large rifle.
Our school had a strongroom full of 303s which as cadets we could bang away with (live ammo) on the army range, aged 12! In the 1980s, definitely a different time
@@MrGoneTroppo Same here! The 303 was the first rifle I ever fired, I hadn’t even fired an air rifle before. It was not a gentle introduction to the art of shooting!
I do agree but unfortunately it’s never been British Army policy to use obsolescent rifles for ceremonial use, the current service rifle is always used, the only exception to this are the Atholl Highlanders, who, because they are Britains only “private” regiment, still parade with old Lee-Metford rifles.
I am thankful that I was At Sea at this time.....althought, I did carry out this procedure later on a couple of times. Note that we Rpyal Marines had a different physical version of marching and drill.....
This has to be one of the best trooping the colours recorded. As an aspiring officer and drill connoisseur, I love the sharpness of the commands and the high standard of drill. Probably my most watched video on RU-vid.
I thought it was my advancing age that made me think that Guards were no longer as smart and impressive as they were when I was young. Looking at this, which is quite superb, I realise it's not me. They WERE much more impressive. I think this is more depressing actually.
We were ALL slim in the 1950s and 1960s. Set meal times, simple diet, walk to school, cycle to work, no snacking. My children (born 1994) had a 1950s/60s routine and were always the healthiest and fittest in the class - even got a prize for only having 1 day sick between the two of them in 4 years of junior school!
1956 was the year of the Suez affair which really marked the end of Britain as an imperial power. They certainly knew how to put on a good show though.
Love this particular Trooping as we get to see the Lee-Enfield in colour, Her Majesty on horseback and the impeccable drill!! I must account for about a quarters of the views on this video by repeat watches at this point xD Hope YT algorithm allow this channel to show those extra views!! Happy Birthday Ma’am!
@@jamescpalmer The title says it all, I don't think any of the guards regiments has a 3rd Battalion today. To think that at one time an infantry Battalion would have around a thousand officers and men, its nowhere near that now, and they still have problems making up the numbers.
Possibly, but today’s guardsmen also have a chest full of medals after numerous tours. Of course, the army was much larger back then, so it was likely easier to rehearse as it would be easier to fit it in around their other duties.
@Leslie Dodds the early years of Op Herrick saw the fiercest fighting since the Korean War. And judging by the lack of medals, it would seem that many of the men in this video have yet to experience any operational deployments.
@@patriot4786 if you are refereeing to the size of the Army, back then the Grenadier Guards had 3 Bns, now we have 1 and an incremental company. I think it was the troop in 2012 the 1st Bn didn’t get back from Afghanistan until March/April, so they only had a few months to rehearse etc.
This was indeed impressive. All the more so because of the rigidly adhered to height and weight standards. These guardsmen were noticeably taller and thinner. As for the precision of the drill, well, today's Guards divisions could benefit from more practice. Now that they're no longer deployed to Afghanistan, perhaps more emphasis will be paid to the basics.
It is ironic that today they no longer have the minimum height requirement, even though people are getting taller. I didn't realise that they had weight requirements as well. 👍
To the following Guardsmen that have helped me and shaped my life and made me the man I am to day, I say thank you gentlemen . Guardsman Preece, Auty, Humphries, and Holmes. Properly at ease. Shun!! To your duties fall out and Thank you.
That was slick & sharp as Drill & commands go. . Even The Rifles drill and pace has been Tamed compared to the 80s and before in the RGJs & LI. Enjoyed this clip,. smle no.4 was perfect for drill. That SA80 with all its bits sticking out, shredded our shirts, wooly pully and smocks.. Stuff I've seen would have been Awarded a Beasting & a Show Parade. and we all loved an Award dished out by The Rass Man or PTI Beast Master.
Some talk of Alexander, and some of Hercules Of Hector and Lysander, and such great names as these But of all the world’s great heroes There’s none that can compare With a tow, row row row , row row row To the British Grenadiers None of these ancient heroes ne’er saw a cannon ball Nor knew the force of powder to slay their foes withal But our brave boys do know it and banish all their fears Sing tow, row row row , row row row For the British Grenadiers When e’er we are commanded To storm the palisades Our leaders march with fuses, and we with hand grenades; We throw them from the glacis about the enemies’ ears Sing tow, row row row , row row row For the British Grenadiers And when the siege is over, We to the town repair The townsmen cry ‘Hurrah, boys, Here comes a Grenadier’ Here come the Grenadiers, my boys, Who know no doubts or fears Sing tow, row row row , row row row For the British Grenadiers So let us fill a bumper, And drink a health to those Who carry caps and pouches, And wear the louped clouthes May they and their commanders Live happy all their years Sing tow, row row row , row row row For the British Grenadiers
@@patriot4786 well since I gwas in basic training 1985 we used to run in boots straight away, a year after that they brought training shoes in, the training was as long and recruits had more time off. Move forward to today and they have done away with the height restrictions, 5,10 when I was in and today's generation isn't as tough with no discipline at home or school. Look at the old trooping the colours and you will see the difference. It used to be hard to get in the guards, always was with a 75% failure rate but with lower numbers in the army in general they are lowering the standard and letting anybody in but that's the same throughout the army with the possible exception of the paras.
@@kevinadamson5768 yes agree with u sir.. trooping the colour was best before the 90s era.. we could see the degrading standards from the trooping the colour ceremonies ever since the 90s onwards. Sad seeing this happening.. now they are leting women in the trooping the colour ceremony.. can u believe that
I did not serve in the army (very shortsighted!) but I have watched LOTS of parades and I have an eye for detail. I would say that, up to the late 1970s the Guards were a magnificent spectacle to behold. Nowadays, the whole thing is a disgrace.
Loads of Guardsmen on parade in those days. They used to stand shoulder to shoulder lining the Mall, now there are several paces apart. Also, like Policemen, there was a minimum height requirement to join. Whilst equality is a good thing, when you see marching forces on display whether it’s a Foot Guards or Royal Marines band, it always makes me cringe inside to see smaller and shorter members of the forces within their ranks. It looks very odd. There is obviously a place for all sizes and genders in the armed forces, but nothing was more impressive than a company of six foot plus tall Guardsmen in their bearskins on parade. Interesting to remember that the Queen always rode sidesaddle on state occasions.
There still is a minimum height requirement - 5'10. Also, there are far less battalions in existence or available to due operations and cutbacks, so they can't line the mall shoulder to shoulder anymore.
@@jimbo-nr3jq no there isn't any height restrictions. .. I'm 6ft 4 and served with guys of all different heights some around 5ft 6 or 7. Still exellent Guardsmen, Soldiers, colleges and most importantly friends.
@@jimbo-nr3jq They have . I have a mate who was an Irish Guardsman in 1955 to 58, there was a height requirement then as you say of 5ft 10 ( he just about scraped in lol) . But now as long as you can pass the fitness and barb test and medical you're eligible to join the Blue Red Blue family. 💂 Quis Separabit
I like those old videos except for the endless moaning about how it used to better. Imagine being a young lad thinking about an army career, and reading this comment section.
I noticed they don’t have them guns anymore they have smaller black ones now. The black horse Burmese that she used after the one she is riding now was given to her by the Canadians after he died in 2001 she didn’t train another. She rode in a carriage.
Riding side saddle On that Huge Horse What a Women. And her forever Wing Man Her Husband.. HRH The Duke Of Edinburgh ... Prince Philip And Era gone bye But for me NEVER Fogotten
People have been banging on about how much better/harder things were since the Romans. I tell you the Legions gone right down since Caesar was murdered, gibber gibber my old mans a 🍄
It is a major tourist attraction, I think it will stay where it is. Tradition will prevail. The Duke of Wellington's office looks out on the parade area. The place is steeped in it's military history.
Yes and they all had to be the same height then and there they have bayonets on the end of their rifles, they were very sharp looking then. Today all different sizes and some even have turbans on, which I don’t like they should all be wearing Bear skins, as is the tradition, which should never be changed. I’m not racist, but their uniforms should all be the same. Many moustaches then, full regalia. Very smart. 😊
I saw a navy parade a few years ago through our town. I wish i could dis-remember the ill fitting shabby and dirty dress uniforms and the unfit looking participants. Of course we should be proud of our service members but the parade demonstrated a decline in standards that I'm surprised they wanted to put on show.
I like the rifles that they used in the past better then the machine gun short rifles they have now which looks so ugly and untraditional for the British Army in my opinion!!!!😔😒
