The Guards Depot, Pirbright 1985 - Passing Out Parade 14/06/1985 (Marne and Loos Intakes)

[@AndyMcloone]

I feature in this video at 2:09 , 22:55 and 30:07. .... I was 17 in 1985. I finally retired from the Army in 2007

[@christineandtonyhowland3476]

Andy I to was fortunate enough to pass through the depot and proud to have learnt drill on that haloed square. Do you know the name of the Blues & Royals COH Instructor at 4.51?

[@dannyholmes5156]

I was Alma platoon , I never thought at the time I'd say this , but I'd give anything to go back to that time, the era and to be that young man again. If this teaches anything, it's never whine about things that are there for a reason, always appreciate the method behind the madness

[@kevinadamson5768]

Danny Holmes I was the year after and its hard to believe its over 30 years ago when it seems like yesterday. Found my pass-out on you tube by pure chance.

[@dannyholmes5156]

@@kevinadamson5768 fantastic, I looked for my one but I'm glad you found yours and I bet that brought back some memories

[@kevinadamson5768]

@@dannyholmes5156 I can't even remember it being filmed I was that nervous, it was quite poignant because at the beginning it showed the families walking up and my mam dad and brother and sister can clearly been seen and my mam passed a few years ago but was in her forties there .

[@dannyholmes5156]

@@kevinadamson5768 firstly please accept my sincere condolences about your mum's passing and my father died earlier this year and the same as your folks were there , so were mine and nobody can take that way. That last week was quite exciting and the memories are flooding back for myself too , however what an omen for you , and I'm actually really pleased that you found yours . It's probably like you were transported back in time

[@kevinadamson5768]

@@dannyholmes5156 it really is like being transported back in time mate, where have all the years gone?

[@pebble2409]

What memories this brings back. Alex Dumont was my CSM. What a man. We were a band of brothers. Best part of my life

[@KevinLearAdventures]

I was at Pirbright Jan to March 1985 on my senior drill instructors course - was bloody brilliant ...........STAND STILL !

[@daveg7039]

A guardsman is never smarter than on the passing out parade. Filmed one year after I was at the depot. This has stirred up some memories. Thanks Andy.

[@Jeffybonbon]

The Guards were never the same when they left Pirbright

[@tachotam]

All changed niw mate

[@brianfearn4246]

I've got to say the SLR rifle had a lot more panash and smartness when used on the parade ground.

[@patriot4786]

This was the Golden era of the guardsmen when they looked like proper "Guardsmen" with the fierce discipline still imposed to them during those times

[@torquersmalls2680]

I'm sure Mac won't mind me referring you to Trooping The Colour, Scots Guards 1986. Benchmark performance and still fierce enough to stop Russian Cavalry. Those were the days eh?

[@peterwebb1963]

Fantastic. I was there, loos platoon. Thanks for posting this. Hope young Guardsmen watching can keep the standards going.

[@emstirling-is4nu]

Thank you all who served...much appreciated.

[@leemorris6996]

Passed out 1985 scary place then brings back memories both good and bad, first posting 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards 💂‍♂️ just wish I could turn back time and do it all again!

[@torquersmalls2680]

Fighting Order, Respirator, SANDHILL , Bunny Hop. You go first🥵

[@Buckrogers8746]

I was in the Flanders intake The Life Guards 1979 J/Dsgt, Loved it, Good old SLR drill as a cavalry man never needed that again but proud to say "done that"

[@peterbrown1012]

I passed out at Pirbright in 1971 in The Lifeguards, the days when all the Guards trained together. We went to Catterick for our armoured training as trained soldiers while the other cavalry regiments did their very basic training in between tank training.

[@jeffwood126]

Andy, as a Passing Out Parade that was superb, I fancy very nearly Trooping the Colour quality. I think I heard the Saluting Officer comment on it particularly. Very decent of him, and well deserved.

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Seven senior regiments of the household division 💂🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿☘️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Band of the the Irish guards with the pipes and drums of the scots guards and Irish guards 💂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🍀

[@jamesmather2839]

Greatly enjoyed. Thanks for posting this. Our Army Cadet District Instructors Team featured a couple of Coldstream Sgts -John Lebentz and Graeme Purvis- so we got lots of Pirbright Tales ☺️

[@nick7602]

Sgt Purvis was in my company, 1 Company 2CG

[@ken-u3n]

These were the Guards Depot Pirbright days. And it shows. In everybody there on parade. 100% Guards. The modern Catterick product is a pale imitation.

[@kevinadamson5768]

Have to agree Ken.

[@goldbloke]

@@kevinadamson5768 and being an old sod,CATERHAM was the place and the 303 lee enfields

[@monsieurboks]

@@goldbloke Ok grandpa, would you like me to empty your catheter for you?

[@kevinadamson5768]

@@goldbloke bit before my time mate. 😂

[@nick7602]

I passed out in 1976, and in June , I agree the guards were never the same when they left Pirbright, the height regulation should have been set in stone…5’8” upwards…….look how smart we were……god I miss those days……

[@KevinBirch-gp3js]

September 5th 1977 who forgets the first day they went to Pirbright Eypes intake ( Inkermon company rings a bell) 4902 Grenadier Guards same Platoon and squad as Glen Ling he was a nice quite boy said his dad was in the army in the RCT, who would have thought that 14 months later he would die on the 21st Dec 1978 with 2 other guardsman in an IRA ambush, RIP Glen and the other 2 guardsman. Platoon commander was Lt Shaking Stan used to be the RSM, one of our platoon L/Sgt was Les Scholes he was a good apple read the other day he served 42yrs looks like he may have became an officer after all which, is what he wanted to be when he joined up. Our platoon Sgt was Ogee ( could have been Stan) Hall an other was a L/Sgt Farr. After being in about 4 weeks we where on the Parade ground with the Kremlin top left had an officers inspection got a merit for getting the black crap of my bayonet and scabbard with a lot of elbow grease and 1000 grit emery cloth, shone like a mirror, (2 more get a weekend off) every thing was going good until he came to Frankie M.... the officer asked why his knuckles where bright red had he been fighting. No he replied the L/Sgt hits my hand with his pace stick when I don't keep the step. Then the shit hit the fan big time the officer shouted to two Sgt's to fall in on him, Farr was then put under close order arrest and double timed to the guardroom, that was an eye opener seeing that, later we heard he was busted back to the ranks and sent back to his Battalion. So that night who come's in pissed On Bacardi and coke, Sgt Hall, had us all stand to attention, his mate Farr busted etc, Hall was not in a good mood decided to take it out on some of the guys in my room and punched as hard as he could in the guts, the first boy went down as he didn't expect that the last to be hit was Dave J...... he was tough, Hall hit him and Dave just smiled at him, Hall left then. next couple of days we got beasted every where . Beastings where run of the mill back then you just took it in your stride. Got my L/Cpl strip, I was having good time, got into the boxing team with all that extra Pt I became very fit and weighed 10 1/2 st when joining came down to 9 1/2 st fittest I had ever been , loved sand hill LOL 3 paces up 2 back, was a killer when you had to carry someone on you shoulder 1 step up slide 3 back. Really liked the old assault course in the woods the Queen Mary had to get that right or you got a good soaking, and the monkey bars got good at them could grab every 4th rung with a pack. one of our squad Peter (I think his name was) broke his leg on the cargo net just before Christmas, Only trouble was when you where cold and wet and muddy our block had no hot water for about a month. Burrrr . Remember one night on a firing range shooting targets luminated by a flare in the butts and suddenly someone had a run away SLR just went full auto, something had broke in the firing mechanism. Over 5 months Sgt Hall came twice more doing his old trick pissed made to stood to attention and punching in the guts. After the 3rd time with that shit I went to the CSM and told him I wanted to leave and so I did. Done my bit pan diving and was out. Suppose with Hind sight we should have gone seen an Officer and said what was going on because it was wrong, but At 16 as a junior soldier you didn't know all the rules.

[@kevinadamson5768]

At least you give it a go mate 😊

[@cycleSCUBA]

Royal Engineers, 85-92. The Guards in a totally different foot drill league! Every Guardsman here has bearing.

[@torquersmalls2680]

As you're the Engineer, you won't mind replacing the wheel ones♿ where my heels used to be? The Bearwear thanks you💂

[@kevinadamson5768]

This makes me so proud to have served in the household division.

[@kevinadamson5768]

When the guards were guards and proud.

[@markriley2733]

Fond memories I definitely recognise a few Coldstreamers there. I got to depot a year later

[@nacholibre1962]

Hilarious that the sound isn;t synchronized with the actions. \they are anticipating every word of command. :-)

[@andreinarangel6227]

.....I made Sergeant in May 1985, and 5 years later I was commissioned. :P

[@glenmiller272]

RIP Guardsman wallwork,1965-1987 Grenadier Guards forever in my thoughts...

[@thijshagenbeek8853]

Thats a very steady march. The old days, national service allowed the household troops to draft the best and brightest for their needs. Both ceremonial and operational. Some say the 20th century guards arent as smart. But they sure added a few battle honours to the collours. I feel that makes up for anny disparancy in drill.

[@kevinadamson5768]

Think the big jock guard lance sergeant was tadger hood, heard he passed away recently, top bloke.

[@tommyhall6695]

Passed away a couple of years ago, think he was doing security work in Africa somewhere. I was with him at the guards depot and met him again when he became an instructor at Sandhurst.

[@kevinadamson5768]

​@@tommyhall6695he was from my battalion a well respected man with no frills. A big hard bugger someone you wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of.😢

[@tommyhall6695]

@@kevinadamson5768 I always kept on his good side. He used to come in my stores for a brew at Sandhurst.

[@garyconnerty9664]

No. 3 pltn Caterham Company, Passed out September 1978.

[@stevelewis7038]

Exactly 1 year after 9 platoon passing out parade. Sgt Downie, Lt.CST Page ..

[@bloggs692413]

I passed out same day POW div Crickhowell

[@paulclark9968]

Happy Memory's, 1979, 7 Platoon D Lines , God,s Golden Arce, LSGT Goldie Scot,s Guard,s , running up Heartbreak Hill, and the massive Assault Course.

[@BellogsTheChicken]

The scaffold seating is exactly the same at my passing out parade at King's division Strencil York 1986 wonder if it was the same contractor . So much more better trained than the guards of 2021 its tragic.

[@kevinadamson5768]

Really

[@gary3561]

I went to Pirbright. I was a fuzzy

[@user-vu9bq2jv7x]

Anyone know the name of the parade song at 23:55? Thx!

[@brianfearn4246]

The days when the metal shoulder badges we're worn, before the cheaper shoulder flashers were introduced.

[@bernardquatermass4418]

They were changed because when the SA80 was introduced, the “slope arms” drill movement was reinstated. The rifle muzzles damaged the shoulder badges so the flashes were reintroduced.

[@kevinadamson5768]

We didn't have shoulder flashes on when I first joined the battalion but they came in later, 1987.i think.

[@brianfearn4246]

@@bernardquatermass4418 many thanks Bernard.

[@kevinadamson7571]

Year before I joined.

[@Fergus-Collington]

Best pipers in the world

[@JAY61ish]

Passed out in 77... Memories... Interesting that you all had SLR's .. I thought the SA80 had entered service by then . or did you just use SLR for Drill.. ??💂 GGG

[@AndyMcloone]

SA80 Roll Out started mid 1986

[@JAY61ish]

@@AndyMcloone ahh I see. I remember it being trialed just before I left. In Hounslow.

[@mikemcghee4461]

@JAY61ish the Sa 80 wasn't introduced for official active service till1987 the 2SG was the first to use it in NI.that same year

[@johnlangdon7576]

The days when if the dressing wasnt straight it was a problem with your TV, very smart

[@jacobkeppler1984]

Drum major Irish guards 💂🇬🇧🍀

[@mikemcghee4461]

Marne 3 Plt. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧💯✔️

[@josephdion2770]

31:34 i saw the guard smiling hahahaha

[@peterwebb1963]

Dead right, end of a year training, out of 65 in my platoon I joined with 22 passed out on this day. Plus home with family & 3 week leave.

[@kevinadamson5768]

​@@peterwebb1963I passed out a year late in the Scots guards, out of about 70 we ended up with 16. We had some particularly harsh instructors mainly jock guards some Falklands veterans so they weren't going to make it easy for us.

[@pauldickinson3809]

And not a woman or 5ft overweigh person in sight .i

[@andyparsons7715]

OMG - endless pfaffing around with officers walking up and down, no wonder the military’s so expensive to run back then