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She who must be obeyed asked questions I could not answer.
Are servicemen placed on charge if they faint during formal formations? What would be the charge and its punishment?
What actions are accepted in dealing with tourists who interfere with a sentry?
Nope. I know for a fact. The exception is if they happen to be suffering from ill effects of alcohol, the may be charged with "Was drunk on duty"...was a 129, Prejudice of good order and discipline but may have stepped up a number already. Just fainting...no. Usually a trained man won't go down though.Quote:
Originally Posted by breakeyp
Interfering with a sentry is usually cured when the sentry moves one sharp pace forwards and accidentally either a) knees the male antagoniser in the nuts or b) stamps on the female antoginisers foot with his shiny size 9's
Yes I must admit watching clips of tourists and general folk taking the pi$$ out of the Grenadier Guardsmen at the Palace I think they show remarkable restraint at times but a few would be antagonists have been given the right royal shift when pushing the buttons to much, rightly so I say to mock such an important task guarding HM the Queen.
I recall that if you did faint on parade and it was found you hadn't had breakfast, then you were guilty of self inflicting a wound.
This is very much the preserve of wooden top regiments, not for us more portly drop shorts!
when I was in the RAF in 1957 you were charged with self inflicted injury for fainting on parade and not having breakfast
Many, many things were different then too...Quote:
Originally Posted by drosymor
As Garrison Regimental Sergeant Major WO1 Mott would have made very plain to ALL on parade.
It is a compulsory 5 mile run before breakfast and a hearty breakfast therafter, WILL be taken by ALL on parade. No different to any other Regiment but they found that the run kept men on their feet longer............. advice from the medical boffins.
Anybody fainting in our Regiment was automatically charged because most were out on the lash the night before.
Here is a good example of a similar incident in 1950:
Fainting on Parade (Hansard, 27 June 1950)
Sadly, the Household Regiments do have to stand in one position for ridiculous lengths of time, a fact they are made fully aware of when they join the Foot Guards. However, a GOOD RSM will always throw in Change arms/Slope Arms even Right Dress from time to time to keep them from falling over on an overly hot day.
The photo shows a guardsman listening to the Underground trains on Horseguards :lol:
As pointed out, usually half gunned on parade which in itself was a charge...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Nothing like waking up to an empty parade ground and your company has marched off...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Note that the guardsman in the pic has fainted to "attention" or a reasonable facsimile thereof.
Several old Senior NCOs advised troops that if they dropped their rifle on parade, they were to immediately assume a similar "prone, unsupported" position beside it and NOT move until the "medics" came to help. Hot, bitumen-covered parade grounds are not ideal for this; grassy playing fields are better but lack the proper surface that provides the "snap and crump" of a thousand good boots 'shunning and un-'shunning in perfect synchronisation.
Standard training was to do little isometric exercised (muscle against muscle) to maintain blood-flow and alertness (and perpendicularity).
And not lock your bl**dy knees!Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz
Well,i’ll admit it.
After a godawful night until sparrows drinking port-after everything else ran out & playing cards,I apparently went down like an iron bark post.
No recollection of the event whatsoever,no charges,not even a hint,though I did hear later it was the fact I went down in the attention position & stayed in it that swayed the normally curmudgeon like RSM.
It does have a great deal to do with the mental pressure and the archaic uniforms worn for long periods with over tight belts/braces and boots on in hot temperatures.
Always told my guys to wiggle their toes to keep circulation going.
If you watch any footage of the Guards Division on parade waiting for Royalty, they will always get the attention/stand at ease/change arms thrown in on a regular basis.
Perhaps sometimes its not enough after 10 pints of Guinness :bow:
I cannot, for the life of me, see what on earth the Guards and others are still wearing high stiff collars for. It simply beggars belief. Mind you, I see no point in bright red uniforms and bear skins for ceremonial. Or even a ceremonial uniform. What's the matter with the standard REME types in a BEST uniform for parades. Anyway, rainy afternoon here in overcast Oxfordshire
Some of the old RSMs are holding onto the old ways just because...
Oops.....thats me then Jim............tradition my son, tradition:lol:!!
Peter, Better than having a white cross across the red tunic to give them Colonial types a better aiming patch :thup:
I was there too, and to think the old RSMs are younger than we are now...Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
Ha Ha............could still show them a thing or two hey Jim?
Some days I'm not too sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them ;)