Peter OT question

[breakeyp]

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?

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[browningautorifle]

Are servicemen placed on charge if they faint during formal formations

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.

[Peter Laidler]

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

[CINDERS]

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.

[Strangely Brown]

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!

[drosymor]

when I was in the RAF in 1957 you were charged with self inflicted injury for fainting on parade and not having breakfast

[browningautorifle]

in 1957

Many, many things were different then too...

[Gil Boyd]

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

[browningautorifle]

most were out on the lash the night before.

As pointed out, usually half gunned on parade which in itself was a charge...

a guardsman listening to the Underground trains

Nothing like waking up to an empty parade ground and your company has marched off...

[Bruce_in_Oz]

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).