Guards Division or Monty Python? A 1989 video

Guards Division or Monty Python? A 1989 video

[@jonny2954]

Daily reminder that at this moment the British Armed Forces have more brigadiers and generals than main battle tanks.

[@justinmorgan2126]

..and they're all useless.

[@silverjohn6037]

You think that's bad the Canadian Forces has more generals now that we had during WW 2 when we had ten times as many troops.

[@nigelsheppard625]

Hamstrung by politicians who believed the lies in End of History and Options for Change.

[@phyllisfager6689]

Yes but they can do a lot of intimidating by stomping and heel clicking

[@laurencefox5884]

No they don't

[@SR-ol6xm]

Some say even today in the sold off ruins of those barracks.. the door still opens..

[@harryflashman6828]

Sgt Jones hit me over the head with an SMG whilst I was wearing my tin pot on my head. I saw stars. Bright white lights in my eyes. Guards Depot Pirbright. 9 platoon Feb. 83. I had left the working parts to the rear. A silly mistake to have made. Apart from that a very pleasant fellow.That’s soldiering for you.

[@darrenberry2037]

I joined from Canada and saw stars for calling a Rover a Jeep one too many times, SLR to helmet. Pirbright 1980

[@ibana8449]

@@DM-ur8vc Haha - Many have missed your reply.

[@Stanly-Stud]

SMG was known for NDs 😂 Was my personal weapon but luckily never happened to me.

[@francishubertovasquez2139]

I wonder what's the positional acceleration of the Guardian Angels of individuals on Earth and the Guardians of the Galaxy of their Opposites, was it functional, or was it from stable base Earth to outside Earth Environments, or do the Angel Guardians Multi- task and the Guardians of the Galaxy Superpositioned or within their Control Room Areas only facing Modular Systems. Because there's another version of thought that what if God the Creator from His Very High place in Heaven have been or having been mixing with people since time immemorial the way the Song what if God was one of us lyrics message because of His High and Low Capability wherein scripturally written Heaven is His Throne and Earth is His footstool, and if that's so then Lucifer Satan and Abaddon are no exceptions though powerful beings anchored deep in the ground and have his other being parallel mix with people while his demons co- creations doing something underground and some have tasks on the surface while his Fallen Angels manipulates from space for Lucifer Satan the Devil and Abaddon in the first layer underground of souls encampment not necessarily damned, but some are resting while some have polarized angular L of lying down then rising up tasks Abaddon could also have capability to have parallel being on the surface in the parallelism of things with his Law makers and Lawyers groups loyal to him and the Professionals Officers working with him.

[@dylanandmolly3739]

​@@francishubertovasquez2139chatGPT at its finest

[@gilesfarmer5953]

The door opens magically, using a similar mechanism to that of the hidden trapdoor in front of the officer's desk, the trapdoor used for disposing of undesirable guardsmen. It's a military tradition, in place since 1422.

[@Richard500]

Excellent! Just like being on CO's "Orders" or "warm-up drill" back in the day. Interesting how the Officer still managed to find a fault with one of the sergeants "words of command" especially when Officers are notoriously bad at giving them in the first place!

[@Hipgluthabidydabidy]

What was wrong with his words of command though?

[@MrCardinal1965]

@@Hipgluthabidydabidy Pronunciation, e.g. Yeft turn (instead of left turn)

[@petermgruhn]

I couldn't understand a thing.

[@geordiewishart1683]

If you watch the full episode (In the Highest Tradition), the drill sergeant outside the room is heard to remind the sergeants to salute the MAJOR. But the officer is actually the Lt Colonel

[@akiyl7479]

Hi, where would i be able to find info on orderly room procedures?

[@Blue-Red-Blue]

The officer seated is the Commanding Officer Grenadier Guards - Oxford Barracks In Munster. Lt Col Webb-Carter? Back in the early 1980's they needed NCO's from the other Guards regiments to assist with the Warrior Armoured vehicles.

[@Stanly-Stud]

He looks like he's got a butt plug in

[@neilk943]

Late 80s 1988 to be exact

[@TooEssgee]

Of course it's real. The Guards Brigade is made up of five separate Foot Guards Regiments, Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh Guards. Each Regiment has it's own customs and traditions which they proudly adhere to. This video simply demonstrates the slight differences in the way that NCO's from each of the Regiments march in to Commanding Officers Orders parade. It only looks odd because they all react slightly differently, but they are all demonstrating their correct Regimental response. Naturally each individual Guardsman thinks that his Regiment is the best, and unless you are a Scots Guardsman, then you'll be wrong. But, collectively as a fighting formation, they are indivisible. BRB.

[@madmeerkat1158]

Well said sir! Traditions should be maintained not lost!

[@kevinadamson7571]

@Angry _ its carried out every day for such things as disciplinary purposes or ordered to attend for those going out on postings or courses . Its all a bit intimidating at first but you get used to it . To the outside world it looks odd but in fact it serves a purpose .

[@petermgruhn]

"It only looks odd because they all react slightly differently." Only because of that.

[@lawrencew3703]

The whole point of a military is uniformity this is just pathetic I’m ex infantry and I never new this and I’m quite surprised imagine if it were everywhere what a mess we would be in ( not that we are not in a mess now though )

[@Mk1Male]

@@lawrencew3703 What isn't uniformity about this? Do you even have the intelligence to understand that this is a shortened clip to try and parody the British Army? I'm guessing you don't.

[@kenUK762]

Is Commanding Officer's Memorandum still done at that pace, and do the Scots Guards still have that unusual tradition of saluting on the way in and out of the CO's office? It's really quite unique. I think I've seen the Scots Guards combine their halt and salute into one movement at Wellington Barracks during form up for Guard Mounting.

[@lewfrazer6734]

Yes

[@kevinadamson5768]

Yes it's unique to the Scots guards. Every regiment have different customs which might seem strange to other regiments. For instance Scots guards form up 3 minutes before the other regiments, that goes back to queen Victorias reign, they were once three minutes late on parade so she decreed they would form up 3 minutes earlier, also Scots guards don't accept a commendation from anyone. I was in for 5 years and I don't know if it still goes on today.

[@AthelstanKing]

all that stuff was fine in the context of the day, now it looks utterly retarded@@kevinadamson5768

[@Al-iv3mb]

The title captures this perfectly, truly laugh out loud funny!

[@Mk1Male]

Why?

[@AthelstanKing]

that double quick speed is so utterly ridiculous. Humiliation ritual for a perverted CO

[@yonmusak]

Tell that to the Light Infantry

[@Mk1Male]

It's a tradition you clueless moron.

[@bidy142]

What is CO?

[@Mk1Male]

@@bidy142 Commanding Officer.

[@cherylnorrad673]

oh my god. this is fantastic. the sergeant major on form.

[@floriangeyer3454]

Maaarching upand doooown the squaaaare?

[@briangatt2956]

Monty Python 🤣

[@richardl772]

‘And I suppose you want to go to the pictures? Right off you go then…!’

[@PatrickElbaz-uo9uh]

🤣😂

[@BeckiMuttley]

Always reminds me of my pal Daz when I see all this complex drill, he was a badge in the grenadiers. Lost to a green on blue murder at the hands of a coward in Afghan. We never had much use for drill in the para reg but I used to enjoy watching the guards do it during trooping and state visits etc. I couldn't have done that I was f*cking hopeless at any kind of drill on the rare occasion we did it. 🍻

[@Wettonbunker]

Bizarre and magic in equal measure!

[@Desmo900SS]

Michael Palin in there somewhere ?

[@darrenberry2037]

Hahahahahahah me too!! And I was in the fucking Guards! Hilarious, and I would never do it again

[@brianlion9494]

How the hell did we lose the empire?

[@gch8810]

It was FDR

[@TEGRULZ]

Simple, you slashed the Defense Budget so far back that now Phillip Hammond puts a pound note on a fishing lure and taunts the MoD with it.

[@rethguals]

Nothing to do with generational differences or defence budgets. - The Atlantic Charter during WW2 made it all but inevitable - Prevailing attitudes against colonialism - Unlike the other European powers, the British were pragmatic enough to realise that fighting prolonged and unpopular wars to keep them in the Empire wouldn't have stopped their inevitable independence. The highly-disciplined Guardsman never did get an opportunity to fight in anything remotely like the Algerian or Indochinese Wars of independence, and they were all the better for it

[@freedomatlast8756]

You lost it when the Irish Volunteers started the Easter Rising of 1916 at the General Post Office and afterwards executed the leaders in a military kangaroo court. Then you added insult to injury when the executed were dumped naked into a lime pit without benefit of clergy. This savagery was the final straw for the citizens of Ireland so started the Irish War of Independence. Other nations in your " empire" watched and waited for their time to seek independence. Today the British are not hated in Ireland but we remember the 800 years of crime commited while they were here. So now you know why your " empire" is no more. You should be glad.

[@freedomatlast8756]

@Din Djarin Yeah, so now you know, boy. 😀

[@neilk943]

Everything worked like clockwork! A lot of organisations could learn a lot from these chaps…..

[@neilcunningham8938]

The CO was a great chap, sound officer with a great sense of humour

[@harryflashman6828]

He certainly was. He left the battalion after our Ireland (XMG) tour and went to MOD. I bumped into him on the train from Paddington to Bath in 1985. He said sit down and get us a beer. Off he went and returned later armed with two cans and he asked about the personnel in QCoy. A bloody good leader, kind and supportive.

[@PaulWilliams-gf7co]

I did my training at pirbright way back in 1987, back then it was the 2nd battalion Grenadier guards- Alexander barracks. fond memories to say the least :-)

[@keijomattinen5447]

Can't really tell! That's brilliant about it.

[@SpadgerMcTeagle1]

It's adherence to tradition, attention to detail and utter discipline - the example on which every modern army has based itself. The Grenadier and Coldstream regiments are the oldest serving regiments in the world; their methods and standards haven't changed since 1660 because they work. They've been an example to every modern army in the world since.

[@user-lp8ys9fb8u]

They're not the oldest in the World lol, even the Scots Guards outrank both. 16th march 1642.

[@johndoeanon445]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalarna_Regiment Dalregementet of Sweden. 1625. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_Guards_(Sweden) Royal Swedish Life Guards. 1520.

[@user-lp8ys9fb8u]

Oldest is in a sense British, which is the Jersey militia I think.

[@arthurjarrett1604]

The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) would like a word...

[@headcase2636]

It's an excess of peacetime garrison wankery without the slightest smidge of actual military relevance

[@mediocreman6323]

Was it not John Cleese who said, I do not make jokes, I point them out?

[@spitefulvulture8340]

We found this spoon sir

[@vmax42dave]

Lol Classic :)

[@jamesbyersmusic]

Right stop that, it's silly!

[@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266]

Oh you’re no fun anymore

[@JackSmith-kx6sz]

I was not tall enough for the Guards. Thank Christ for that.

[@patriot4786]

how tall are you?

[@papaeiche8322]

But too tall for the Gurkhas😊

[@jacobprice2579]

Little of column A, little of column B. That’s what makes this Great Britain

[@MaxSluiman]

I love the Brits knack for the absurd.

[@TruthSeeker-rz3mg]

Well, they've been thru hell. (In response to your statement)

[@NB-xq4qt]

thats why we win....

[@peterfeeney721]

Absurd? How? THIS is tradition and there is a story behind each of the Regiment's customs. It is what sets Grenadier and Coldstreamer, Welsh, Scots and Irish Guards apart from each other. No amorphous gaggle in Marpat here.

[@b.elzebub9252]

@@peterfeeney721 You really don't see how absurd this is? What the hell does any of this loopy shit have to do with being an effective fighting force? This isn't martial tradition. This is a dog and pony show for bored officers that want to show how much control they have over their troops by making them do clown shit like this.

[@Stanly-Stud]

​@@DM-ur8vc Oh be quite will ya... It was just bollox in the 80s & Probably still is. Ridiculous discipline

[@hackdaniels7253]

The first guy in/last guy out (of the main pack - not the W/O at the end) seems to be marching to a different step to the others.

[@upstart3782]

Darling ? I just saw 7 Darlings Darling ?

[@Spartacus45]

"NULLI SECUNDUS " 💂‍♂️🇬🇧

[@nihilmiror6312]

Good to see Basil Faulty in the last part if the charade. 👍😂😂😂

[@jacobkeppler1984]

I want more about the guards 💂🇬🇧🍀🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@matthewpowell6516]

now the n.c.os and the c.o will have beards, and nobody too tell to go get a haircut and a shave.

[@paralogregt]

From the outside looking in this looks totally stupid but having served. Its normal at the time you are in. Thank god i was’nt in the guards but did share a camp with the Irish Guards and they were ok.

[@Rudeljaeger]

The visor on the caps looks ridiculous. Its not even a proper visor anymore

[@marekryszard]

Yeah, I noticed that also.

[@markwilliams961]

The 'peak' is slashed to an angle in order that it forces the soldier to look up and result in a military stance.

[@PotatoSalad614]

its slashed because it looks more ally

[@Exercise_as_Medicine]

Fantastic…

[@andrewberry9356]

Getting told as a newly attached 5mins before going in front of the CO how to do Scots Guards drill, then getting destroyed after the ensuing carnage!!😂

[@ianlaccohee7180]

I did 3 years attached to 1 SG in Hohne. C.O’s orders was something else. Are you an ex R.E.M.E. VE by any chance? Otherwise known as “Shaky Berry?

[@andrewberry9356]

No, sorry Ian i’m not that Berry.

[@JammyDodger45]

As a Bootneck SNCO I was attached to Pirbright in '00 as part of a pre-KFOR Training Team (a bit like NITAT) and, the Army being the Army, I was put into the Duty SNCO roster. I caused outrage and fury by completely refusing to play their stupid games. We do Royal Naval drill (so no foot stamping and no sprint marching) nor did I have my dress Blues with me which they wanted me to wear for the daily 'Defaulters' inspection. They were just as happy to see the back of me as I was them. It was not a fun 6 weeks 🙄

[@visorcover]

And today, 'women' in the army can have a beard...

[@laurencefox5884]

And yet you still can't grow one yourself....

[@Buconoir]

Well, we know you've got a beard. Her name is Nancy?

[@bigdaddy1400]

My old instructor on the right :)

[@andypandywalters]

Tradition......perfect.

[@teambridgebsc691]

So this is what granddad had to do. Might explain my crisp well-made bed.

[@bellerophon1218]

Fantastic! Proud Army.

[@trondog8503]

Always had the upmost respect for the Guards, the fierce discipline was second to none,. Have to say I'm saddened by the collapse in standards now though, to see Guardsmen loosing their step during rehearsals for trooping the colour was shocking.

[@harryflashman6828]

If you haven't been there you won't know about the effect of the echo of the drum beats from all the surrounding buildings. Sometimes you can hear about 3 beats so not difficult to lose the step.

[@user-eg2pc8wh9q]

Yes, I agree. That sort of military BS existed when I served with the British Army in the sixties - which included time with the Brigade of Guards. Yes, that type of BS if ridiculous. It doesn't make for any type of military efficiency.

[@user-eg2pc8wh9q]

No "theatre of war'. I served in Kanya located close to the 2nd Bn Coldstream Guards. Later in Cyprus and Libya.@@DM-ur8vc \

[@Stanly-Stud]

@@DM-ur8vc It's all just ludicrous

[@user-eg2pc8wh9q]

This type of pretentious, class orientated garbage went down well enough in the sixties (I was raised in the West Country and went on to serve in RMP) but that upper class poofspeak was as pathetic then as I'm sure it would be now.

[@jmcallion2071]

Nothing better, nothing finer than the BofG!

[@patriot4786]

0:05 LOL the middle man saluting 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@patriot4786]

@Dave The Brahman what regiment is he from?? looks so awkward while saluting walking like that

[@johngemmell41]

Scots Guards

[@Richard500]

That's because it's their tradition to do so for this particular event.

[@kneeslider47]

“Doff-dight-doff-dight-doff-dight-myeh!” Nice.

[@tommyhall6695]

Always sounded like dog shite dog shite when I was at pirbright. (left right left right)

[@effhorst]

Would be quite painful when goose stepping...

[@jurrianvanParreeren]

I bet they're off to marching up and down the square

[@wollywotsit]

I’d love to run in there as mr blobby

[@martincolclough4387]

When will the public learn that the household division are not special? During operation Desert Storm even the grenadiers were split up to bolster the 1st battalion the Staffordshire Regiment. It makes me shudder when I hear presenters say they won a battle honour as a regiment, they did not. They made up our numbers and we won their honours. However, they remain tick-tock soldiers and our fine battalion is confined to history.

[@JammyDodger45]

I've suffered working with the various Guards units on a number of occasions. They're dross and their Officers are utter 💩. The few who have anything about them get onto Guards Para Platoon ASAP and only go back to their parent unit when forced. The Staffs were sound but your Officers lacked the required accent to save you from amalgamation.

[@lastswordfighter]

I can see where the Pythons got some of their ideas.

[@A.Mardle]

Don't buy a video, don't buy a car, save your money and PVR...

[@jpduhjpd]

Why do they call them "Sir"and not" Sergeant"? Why the Scot salute while marching....very unusual ! But such a great army !!

[@sergeipetrov_rzn]

it's Monty Python of course, one can't seriously be doing that

[@HarryPotter-pw9xw]

Nice moustache, lads.

[@PaulDonaldRoy]

monty python would have been hard pressed to look sillier

[@johnlangdon7576]

Shame the Guards don't seem to have that standard anymore

[@cycleSCUBA]

0:29 get your shaggin' hair cut then parade behind the guard!

[@carlseddon2392]

Proper discipline

[@MC14may]

Officer trying to slate SNCOs whilst wearing his hat on the back of his head

[@geoffreylee5199]

Monty Python ended in 1973.

[@councilhousechris77]

Anything but actual soldiering

[@wolflupus788]

Where's the flying nun,john cleese at the final sequence.

[@kevwalsh-rs7to]

The Sergeant Major was a complete arse. No one had a good word for him.

[@mstewie9718]

To think that that nonsense goes on to this day.

[@P8290970]

nice relaxed meeting then ?

[@jamesbradley7227]

The grenadier Commanding officer saying yes is a big no no in the grenadiers???

[@markdennis930]

Correct

[@DonWan47]

No. That only applies to OR’s when being given instructions.

[@ramsey50]

Hats at their best

[@Stanly-Stud]

You look like you wear Diapers

[@notmenotme614]

What is the point? How does this have any benefit to operational effectiveness? The enemy doesn’t care about this pantomime.

[@licec1234]

Guards drill now worst than most Infantry of the line My first RSM Dusty Smith DCM of the Coldstream Guards would laugh at them and go berserk in equel measures now

[@harryflashman6828]

A bit like your spelling!

[@Wotsitorlabart]

1989 - longer hair and 'taches.

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Birgade of guards 🇬🇧💂

[@colinmelhuish1254]

Tell me it is Monty Python ... isn't it.

[@patriot4786]

if I was the officer i would be like "pfffftt"

[@davekent2088]

thought monty python had finished?

[@jamesbyersmusic]

They're not finshed, they're just resting!

[@fredo1070]

Blackadder more like.

[@Stanly-Stud]

Absolut ludicrous 😂

[@Stopitpls]

Of course there are 0 dislikes, how could anyone hate this

[@marekryszard]

@stopitpls Only the video creator sees the "dislikes". We viewers can't see them any more like we used to . . .

[@feynthefallen]

So I'm not the only one who thinks this is a bit... overly melodramatic? Especially for senior NCOs?

[@juchetony1910]

I'm sure they all take it very seriously, but it's a f'ing joke.

[@jameshorth2722]

i need to know is this true

[@stefanol7814]

totally true

[@jameshorth2722]

@@stefanol7814 I can’t tell if your being sarcastic or not

[@stefanol7814]

@@jameshorth2722 absolutely not sarcastic, sorry if I gave that impression. Found this video via a twitter thread: someone (including me) thought it was a Monty Phyton video, but no, several UK servicemen and veterans wrote that this *is* the real thing i.e. Commanding Officer Memorandum in the Guards Division. And those slight differences in saluting etc. are actually ingrained (and cherished) regimental traditions. Most likely still jealously preserved to this day.

[@stefanol7814]

@@jameshorth2722 absolutely not sarcastic. Sorry if I gave that impression. Found this video via a twitter thread: someone thought it was a Monty Phyton video, but no, several UK servicemen and veterans wrote that this *is* the real thing i.e. Commanding Officer Memorandum in the Guards Division. And those slight differences in saluting etc. are ingrained regimental traditions.

[@l.b.7543]

What the deal with dumb visor on the hats

[@berttrombetta4953]

It forces the wearer to keep their head up

[@PotatoSalad614]

Sergeants slash their peak hats because its more ally

[@user-yl1xy5eg7b]

Some of those haircuts are a tad long.

[@pparker768]

Monty Python

[@Putnamsmif]

It's got to be Monty Python. I've never seen anything so stupid.

[@tomwotton9]

I think I’ve asked this before but if there are 5 regiments of foot guards why are there 6 Sargent’s?

[@inthebleakmidwinter9338]

Two are Grenadiers.

[@tomwotton9]

@@inthebleakmidwinter9338 Oh, I see, thank You.

[@alan-sk7ky]

If you put a hand over one eye, you'll see there are in fact 5 sergeants for the Kilimanjaro expedition...

[@tomandsamuel]

Was it the RSM’s words of command or something else that caught the CO’s attention?

[@kevinadamson7571]

Tom Williamson the officer was picking something up about the drill sergeant who marched in with them I think . Most officers are knobs who can't march or give word of command but never miss an opportunity to pick up on the enlisted men.

[@tomandsamuel]

@@kevinadamson7571 and no doubt a bit for the cameras as well! Thanks for the reply mate

[@TIMG128]

1989? No.

[@peterfeeney721]

Sergeant Jones in the Report, Long Hair. Sir, Sergeant Jones in the Report, Long Hair Sir! (Sorry,mate, but it IS in bad order!)

[@paulhargreaves1680]

Where are the English guards?! 😅

[@JammyDodger45]

Coldstream and Grenadiers are 'English' ... but still just as 💩 as the rest.

[@vestibulate]

Completely off their rockers. I half expected to see Ann Widdecombe sail in.

[@mikeyoung7660]

BRB

[@JammyDodger45]

Basically Retarded Boys.

[@chrissheppard5068]

What a load of bolloxs.

[@FeckArseIndustries]

Fucking ludicrous 😂

[@PottersVideos2]

I don't think that this is Monty Python but I guess that this is a spoof.

[@jimmyjohnson7027]

No, its real. I vaguely remember seeing it on telly. Might have been from Frederick Forsyth's series for the BBC 'Soldiers'.

[@MrCardinal1965]

@@jimmyjohnson7027 This is from ‘ In The Highest Tradition’, available on BBC Iplayer.

[@petermgruhn]

But IF it were a spoof... 1) It would be done less well than the original because most spoofers think they're hot stuff but don't have it 2) ... just what is it spoofing?

[@PureZOOKS]

I truly wish to know where this is from, and I am sure it is real, but the part that makes me think otherwise is that at 0:41 the NCO fucking twats his cap like it's his first time wearing it.

[@simon3314]

I was there, That's real alright. Oxford Barracks Munster 1987. That NCO (The Regimental Sergeant Major) was one intimidating character and yes his saluting is over enthusiastic. Anything you watch that is not real (including London ceremonial) you can usually easily tell as they are not smart enough!

[@simon3314]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZDGh6WMh86crLc

[@Chrisheron78]

This a piss take?

[@user-jq2rz1tz5t]

Scots.........

[@pinz105]

Bunch of panto am drams