*NEW* Battle of Britain Parade, Bury St. Edmunds: 17/09/23.

Led by the RAF Honnington Voluntary Band, members of RAF Honnington, the United States Air Force and local Air Training Corps cadets took part in the Battalion of Britain commemoration parade in Bury St. Edmunds on Sunday 17th September 2023.
Here's the list of marches.
00:10 Standard of St. George
02:28 Holyrood
11:24 The Contemptibles
14:28 Scoutmaster
17:00 The RAF March Past
#battleofbritain
#royalairforce
#usaf
#atc
#burystedmunds
#parade
#militarybands
#militarymusic

[@ceciliaflorencenapier4595]

There should be a Battle of Britain Parade in every town and city more often to remind us how lucky we are to be alive and remember the youth who gave everything so that can be so.

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

I don't know about more often, September 15th is the Official Battle of Britain Day, but I agree, there should be more Parades, even if they are around that time. I personally feel, that many of the Significant Battles, should also have Parades, such as The Battle of the Atlantic (Navy) & D Day (Army). There should be a main Battle of Britain Parade, which would include a Fly Past of the BB Memorial Flight as well as a March Past of all Veterans or Families of Veterans, as time goes by there will be less & less Veterans, as well as current Air Force Personnel, especially by the remaining Squadrons who took part in the Battle & there needs to be some recognition for the Navy personnel who retrieved Air Crews from the English Channel & the Medical People who took care of the injured & Burnt Pilots who were able to Bail out.

[@ladela7348]

I know Farnborough has one. The three local Squadrons - Farnborough, Aldershot and Yateley & Eversley - all take part. First parade I did with the ATC.

[@TraceyBlaine-sw5cd]

Such a great video and such a lovely town another outstanding video from Mr Baton 74 👏

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

As the daughter of a Battle of Britain Pilot, the Battle of Britain Parades hold a very special place in my Heart. However, the opinion I'm about to voice, will probably make me highly unpopular but I make no apologies for it, it is after all only my opinion. The RAF Standard should lead any Battle of Britain Parade, followed by the Union Jack & then the Flag of any other Country. In this particular case, the Stars & Stripes of the USA should not have led at any point, it should've been behind the others. Although I know there were American Pilots who flew in the RAF Squadrons who defended Britain during the Battle of Britain, the USA did not Officially join with the Armed Forces of the UK until after December 1941. The Battle of Britain took place during the Summer of 1940, with September 15th being the Official Battle of Britain Day. Although many Nationalities flew during the Battle, all of them flew under Control of the RAF & as private citizens of their own Country, not as part of their Countries Military. Those who flew in addition to British Pilots included such Diverse Nations such as; Israel, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Norway & Denmark, together with the Dominions (Later to form the Commonwealth) of Britain, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India & South Africa. It is right & proper that in remembering the Battle of Britain, those who left their homes, families & Country, to stand with the RAF & Britain, should be remembered too, but it was "the Few" (Winston Churchill) Fighter Pilots of the RAF, regardless of Nationality, who fought & triumphed in the Battle of Britain. This Parade was good, nice to see Veterans, Serving RAF, & Cadets all represented. The Drill of the RAF is just about always Excellent & this was no exception. The Band started of excellent, unfortunately though 1 of either the Horn Section (Trumpet, Flugle, Cornet etc) or perhaps a Trombone became quite discordant, which spoilt the overall Musical Support. I have to admit I was highly surprised we didn't hear The Battle of Britain March, perhaps it was played but not in the footage we saw, it should have been played in the March Past, at least. As always Mr B, an excellent Job, Great Camera Work & Sound. The Beautiful Bury St Edmonds made a great Backdrop. Thank you for covering the Parade!

[@johncone9516]

Thank you for posting.

[@leegrijalva264]

Appreciate you getting this video on behalf of the US air force, it was a great turnout.

[@NancyCampbell-rk9rm]

Now if only they could learn to march. 😂 I spent 4 years at MacDill AFB in JCSE and we always teased the Air Force and Navy because they could never stay in step. We loved them anyway.

[@RAMON-mm1io]

🎩

[@v.britton4445]

Love it !! And such a beautiful town.

[@paulshorney3465]

👏👏👏

[@RAMON-mm1io]

Mrr

[@RAMON-mm1io]

MR

[@c8136132]

Looks like Honington was raided for trainee Rocks?

[@mistermann7579]

TGs from Juno flight

[@jamesfriery]

The skirts don't flatter. Give the girls something decent to wear.

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

They aren't supposed to flatter. These are Servicemen & Women. Their Uniforms are designed to make their primary role, that of providing Armed Service in the Defence of their Country or other Countries, in accordance with the Government's wishes, easier. Their clothing is not a Fashion Statement. It is also designed to be one hell of a leveller. Like School Uniforms, the Uniform is designed to a) Instil Pride in the place they belong & education in behaviour & actions & b) to breakdown any Social or Class Distinction. Someone from a low Socio-Economic Group, is no different to someone from an Upper or Aristocratic, with the exception perhaps of those who go onto be Commissioned Officers. There maybe more from the Latter Group, especially those who attend Sandhurst, but those from the first Group, can also become Officers & both groups wear the same Uniforms & become visually indistinguishable.

[@adeleozanne3427]

Why can't they wear what thd m r n are wearing? Then they can all look the same.

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

@@adeleozanne3427 If you notice, in the Ranks of Serving RAF Personnel, including the Cadets, Women are in fact wearing Trousers, just as the Men do. The RAF, just as for the Army & Navy, have different Uniforms for any occasion, ranked as Number 1's, Number 2's, Mess Uniforms, then daily wear etc. The Band wear a Ceremonial Uniform, the same as the Guardsmen of the Household Division, who wear the Red Tunics & Bearskin Head-dress or The Band of the Household Cavalry who wear the Red or White Plumed Ornate Helmets & Red or Blue Tunics or Gold State Uniforms. It all depends what Parade they are Mounting as to which Uniforms the Bands wear. You won't see Skirts on Active Service Women.

[@TraceyBlaine-sw5cd]

Wow you are a charmer!

[@ladela7348]

Women in both the RAF and ATC can wear either skirts or trousers. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference. Back when I was in the ATC there were girls in my squadron who preferred skirts and girls who preferred trousers.

[@ElizabethII-1952]

Wokey Wigston ruined the RAF by allowing beards. Slippery slope

[@davidcorbett62]

Is it mandatory for all RAF officers to look scruffy wearing beards?

[@TraceyBlaine-sw5cd]

They are allowed to have beards does not mean they are scruffy really unfair/unnecessary comment

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

"Scruffy" is a subjective observation. I don't find a man with a Beard, particularly Scruffy, you obviously do. My subjective observation, is that people who post negative Comments, do so only because they wish to push their negativity on to others. It is far more difficult to say nothing & accept that in this case, others won't necessarily agree with you. I am proving the point right here, how does that make you feel? Then imagine how you would feel if some Random Stranger labelled you "Scruffy", despite the fact that you were impeccably dressed in your spotless Work Uniform & were even Inspected by your Superior prior to appearing in Public. Totally uncalled for Negative Comment & total disrespect towards Servicemen, who maybe called upon to put their Lives on the Line for you. I wonder whether a Beard would be so important then.

[@davidcorbett62]

@@vickyRoyalHistory Having worn uniform for most of my life from military to prison to airline I have always taken pride in my uniform as most ex servicemen do. I joined the Jnr Parachute Regiment as a 15 year old most of us didn’t need to shave but some had what was known as bum fluff. Go on a parade with that on your face and each hair was pulled out individually.. painful yes but you went straight and bought a razor. On exercises in West Germany it’s minus 10 with no hot water, you still saved. Op Banner tours in (NI) with very little sleep you still shaved before going out on patrol. Not shaving was a chargeable offence and still should be!! Those appearing on parade are just lazy using woke rules to back up their tender little skin! It’s scruffy simple as that

[@noskcajluap]

​@@davidcorbett62- Hello. Scruffy RAF Officer with a beard here. My skin is just fine and I do make time every morning to shave around the edges so I look smart. I'd say the main bonus of having a beard is that it winds up the sort of people who don't have anything better to do than spend their time online calling people scruffy . . .

[@vickyRoyalHistory]

@@davidcorbett62 I've asked some ex-servicemen I know & a couple of relatives who are Currently serving, they were/are spread across the 3 main Service Branches. We can definitely forget the Navy, the Senior Service of British armed Services. The inception of an organised permanent Marine Service, happened in the 16th Century. Henry Vlll is credited with beginning the tradition of a Standing Marine Force, during a time when longish hair & facial hair was the norm for men. Understandingly, there were no real rules regarding Personal Grooming for Sailors, but there was for Officer Class. Over the Centuries that has changed. However, while Sailors need to get permission "to grow", they are also inspected on a regular basis to ensure Facial Hair conforms to regulations. So we can forget that. I have a relative in the Household Cavalry Regiment, something I have only recently discovered. There are very few Beards & those who do have them, generally are for Religious reasons. However, the are permitted to have Moustaches, again, permission must be sought from their Commanding Officers & their growth is inspected daily, they are also governed by Regulations. Anyone guilty of not shaving & without the Requisite permission are put on a Charge. Anyone with permission are expected to keep the growth, tidy & clean. There are indeed Troopers who are in the Public Arenas, such as the Horse Guards in Whitehall, who do have facial hair & in no way at all, can they be considered Scruffy. The RAF, the most Junior of the Services in terms of when they were formed, has a long History of Facial Hair Acceptance. Who hasn't seen pictures of WW1 Pilots with Luxuriant, well waxed Handle Bar Moustaches. My father flew Fighters in the Battle of Britain, in his Diaries of the time, he noted one of his flight was allowed to grow a Moustache, but that as he was in his late Teens, his Moustache was thin & scraggly, after 1 week, permission was removed & he had to shave it off. My father had a small Moustache, it was normal at the time for Men to have 1. He shaved it off, not because he was made to, but because it was uncomfortable in his Face Mask. He was a Pilot Officer, so perhaps the Rules were different for him. I would assume that all those with any sort of Facial Hair, must be allowed to do so, if not then surely they would have been told to remove it. Your accusation of, "Those appearing on parade are just lazy using woke rules to back up their tender little skin!" is total nonsense, this is not a New Phenomenon, which it would have to be to be classed as "Woke", a term that only came into being for the last decade or so. I invite you to look at photographs of Air Force Personnel, - as this Parade is Air Force & ATC Cadets - of the last 150 years, you will see many examples of Facial Hair. I also dispute your "Lazy" title, every serving man in the Air Force with Facial Hair, must carry out their Duties in a timely & efficient Manner, failure to do this, facial Hair or not, carries Consequences, the Ultimate one of which is to be expelled from the Service. I stand by my original comment that states Facial Hair & the Perceived notion of Scruffiness, is a Subjective view. Not everyone agrees with that Subjective View, I for one don't, but everyone who has a subjective view is entitled to it. It doesn't make either side wrong, it just makes it a Personal view, that's what Subjective Means, a particular opinion held by a single person. Where it does become wrong, is in expecting 'Others' to agree with your own opinion & forcefully denigrating those that don't. As an example, I don't agree with restrictions relating to Safety, being removed from the Armed Services, solely so Women can fight on the Front Line, especially if the are unable to perform some of the Duties they are required to. That's my Subjective View & I can make a good argument in Support of it. I know there are a lot of people who agree with me, but there are probably the same number who don't, including some special Interest Groups. I won't even bother to get into a discussion over it, I don't agree with them & never will, just as they'll probably never agree with me. The point being that each of us have a View, I might not agree with theirs, but I have to acknowledge their right to have a view, even if it's different from mine. If you can make a good argument for your view, you may sway some to your view. In this case, in my opinion, you haven't, all you have done is to make a Statement based on Personal Prejudices.

[@RAMON-mm1io]

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