Trooping of the Colour, Platinum Jubilee - By Fiona Thompson

 

Thursday 2nd June 2022

Two of us, retired QAs, applied for tickets through the ballot being run by the Royal British Legion, for the Trooping of the Colour. We were successful and each took a guest. We knew we would be in for such a treat and I was so excited.

The week before our trip, my neighbour knocked and said her mother (ex WRAC), had told her to come and check I was alright? Slightly bemused, I said “Yes?”. She had heard about the partial collapse of one of the stands and worried that I may have fallen through the floor. Reassuringly I replied that I was going the next week so thankfully I had not ended up being treated by any co-workers.

We joined the queue in Green Park with so many ex-service compatriots. Medals were in abundance and it was such a welcome feeling to be with the military humour and warmth again, having left the Corps in 1992. I wore my first Gulf war medal with pride, along with my metal RBL poppy pin with QA Corps badge attached. We were determined to ensure that we could be recognised by our fellows for the QAs we were. The weather was great and we moved quickly to our seats in the North stand in front of Buckingham Palace.

We watched the troops, bands, vehicles, Royal family, coaches, 200 horses, Irish Wolfhound-Seamus, artillery, 400 musicians, police et al pass in front of us. The colours, sounds, excitement, precision, grandeur, were iconic. The flow of the spectacle moved before us and all around were clapping, cheering and happy comments. The sea of scarlet tunics, shining metal breastplates, bearskins, head dresses, very shiny boots, meticulous marching, shouted commands made me so proud to be part of the British Army. 

The sound of the horses’ hooves seemed reminiscent of a night time podcast you might listen to, to be lulled to sleep. Once the parade arrived in Horse Guards, the large screens set up around the Queen Victoria Memorial gave us front seat pictures (sound followed after 10 minutes!) Truly exciting was the fact that we knew we should see the pageant again on their return to the Palace. The horses were beautiful and fantastic and both of us had ridden Army horses in Germany and Sandhurst, so remembered stories of mounting 19 hand high horses and praying not to fall off. I never did, but had a few hairy moments, including a billy goat at one of the BAOR stables..............

I remembered the bands men and women who had supported us in 33 General Hospital as stretcher bearers while I watched the talented and colourful musicians march past. I was reminded how we had to take on unfamiliar roles in a new environment with new threats during Op Granby.

The Queen came onto the balcony to receive the salute, followed by others of the Royal family to join her in watching the Fly-Past. The aerial display was second to none and lived up to the anticipation of everyone around us. The sense of camaraderie was lovely, and I realised how much I miss Army banter and the dry sense of humour to be heard on all levels.

The British Legion looked after everyone terrifically. Water, tea, coffee, lunch boxes, nothing was too much trouble. I am so glad I had this opportunity to be a special part of the Queen’s Jubilee. A day never to be forgotten, and a privilege to stand amongst so many of the Armed Forces Community.

Memories of HM The Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 by Judy Evans

2002 wasn’t just an important year for Her Majesty, it was also the Centenary of the QAIMNS/QARANC.

The national celebrations for the Golden Jubilee were to culminate in a parade down The Mall after the Royal Family had attended the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and lunch at The Guildhall. The procession was to include a march past of military veterans and their standards, as well as decorated floats illustrating British life over the years.

I was a trustee of the QA Association and we had purchased a standard to commemorate our centenary and the Golden Jubilee was the ideal occasion to show it off. I was asked if I would carry it. It was incredibly heavy and marching it down The Mall would be impossible and so it was decided to parade the Aldershot Branch standard instead.

On the day itself, I had arrived in London early to see the parade to St Paul’s Cathedral, and it was the first time I’d seen the Gold State Coach which carried the Queen and Prince Phillip. It was a magnificent sight and was followed by other members of the Royal Family, some on horseback if I recall correctly.

The day was dull but fortunately dry and the plan was that Association standards would march off together, followed by the veterans. There were four QA Association members marching – Lt Cols (Ret’d) Nesbitt, Glover and Jones with Maj (Ret’d) Diana Wilson, Regimental Secretary.







The Queen and Prince Phillip were to be driven down The Mall towards Buckingham Palace in an open topped vehicle and we were to follow. As the parade marched off, I realised how long The Mall is and how heavy even the smaller standard I was carrying was but it was over in a blur. The crowds cheered and what a sense of pride I had in taking part in such a momentous event.

As we approached Queen Victoria’s Statue, I could see The Queen, wearing a bright orange outfit sitting on a dais at the front of the statue with other members of the Royal Family and VIPs.

We turned into Birdcage Walk and came to a halt and fell out. We QAs met up and dashed to see the Queen on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and the RAF fly-past. We managed to push our way through to a reasonable position to the left of the Palace.

It’s very hard to believe that this happened twenty years ago and now we’re celebrating the Platinum Jubilee.


Judy Evans 
Maj (Ret’d)

HM The Queen's Silver Jubilee 1977 Memories by Marjorie Bandy, Dot Ritchie & Jan Westbury

In 1977 I, like so many QA’s was serving in Germany with, to use its correct title the British Army of the Rhine or BAOR. At that time there were 5 military hospitals in BAOR and I was working as a midwife in BMH Munster. The Armed Forces had considerably more personnel than today and each of the three services was to have a separate Jubilee Event. For the Army this was to be in Germany at the enormous training area at Sennalager on 7 July.

Logistically it was to a huge event and each Garrison had its own set of Mess tents to host personnel. I was lucky enough to be selected as one of the BMH reps along with my friend Maggie O’Sullivan [now Stephenson]. Not wanting to let the side down we had pressed our No 2s [the old grey job]and polished the shoes and lastly set the alarm for our very early start the next morning. The admin order was detailed and left us in no doubt that if we weren’t through the check point at Sennalager by 0900 hrs we wouldn’t be let in.

At that time, it was expected that any future conflict would be an armoured battle on the plains of Germany so most of the BAOR battalions were armoured or artillery. Seeing everyone in No2 dress, where many of these battalions were “vulgar fraction regiments,” [ for the uninitiated this means cavalry 15/19th 9/12th etc – you get the picture] some very fancy uniforms were on display. On this vast training area it was dry and dusty and our careful attention to uniforms was somewhat wasted. 

 With so many troops and armoured regiments the “parade ground” stretched back for a mile, and what an amazing sight it was. The parade RSM brought everyone both on and off the square to attention for the arrival of Her Majesty. It was an experience I will never forget. We took lots of photographs although at times it was difficult as officers needed to salute HM when she passed,  plus for artillery regiments the guns are their colours which also must be saluted along with the colours of the marching Regiments.

We were told that at the rehearsal it was realised that with such a deep parade, orders reached the troops at the back noticeably later than those at the front. Messy when it was for Her Majesty. The solution was a simple one, behind the centre stand for spectators was a windmill which everyone could see. A large black bin was hoisted to the top of its flagpole and the bin dropped every time the command salute was given, result everyone saluted at the same time.

That parade is something I will never forget, so many on parade, tanks dipping their gun barrel to salute The Queen, writing this I can still picture it in my mind.

By Lt Col (Rtd) Marjorie Bandy RRC

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I was stationed in BMH Dhekalia and was a Guide Guider. We had a camp in Episkopi for all the Armed Forces Guides in Cyprus over the Silver Jubilee period. In the top photo is Heather Dunscombe, who was the last Association secretary. Her mother was a Guider with me, she is far left, Heather is 3rd in on the left and I am far right. 

                 Major (Rtd) Dot Ritchie

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Not everyone in the Armed Forces was awarded a Silver Jubilee Medal, as this was allocated on a quota basis and not on eligibility criteria.  Only 9,000 medals were allocated to the Armed Forces, thought to be due to the economic crisis at the time.  Units of over 500 personnel received 6 medals and under 500 received only 2.  This meant that neither Marjorie or Dot received the award.  

When it came to the Golden Jubilee that changed and eligibility criteria were used.  All regular serving personnel with five years calendar service (1,826) and reserve service personnel who had completed five annual bounty earning training years (135 days) received the medal.  Dot very proudly had her photograph taken for her Father, wearing her Golden Jubilee medal.

By Capt (Rtd) Jan Westbury 

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