THE SOVEREIGN'S PARADE AT SANDHURST - SOUND - COLOUR

[@markforster4398]

I was on that parade, as a member of the new Sovereign's Company (Rhine Company). We really had to work for that award. One of the proudest moments of my life.

[@laurenceoconnor6499]

Well done, sir.

[@foghilemuel5448]

Well done Sir and congratulations in 2024.

[@danielw5850]

The foot drill is first-class!

[@thecurlew7403]

Nearly as good ss the B Specials.

[@jongerdes2166]

Pretty impressive drill. As it turns out my dad was a cadet here. He was in Waterloo platoon which became the Sovereign's that year. The day after this film he joined the RAOC and eventually retired with a pair of red tabs on his shirt collar. Good skills.

[@sydstubbs5716]

Red ass

[@markforster4398]

Waterloo Company became Sovereign's Company at the December 62 parade. The parade shown here is the August 62 parade at which Rhine Company (of which I was a member at the time) became Sovereign's Company. I checked the accuracy of this in the Sandhurst records to make sure my memory wasn't at fault.

[@markforster4398]

It was Rhine Company that became Sovereign's in the film. I was there.

[@foghilemuel5448]

​@@markforster4398can you recall the Nigerians in your set of 1962, Sandhurst Royal Military Academy?

[@noelt8895]

The dressing at "Chaos Corner" was superb. And 4 ranks to a division! Well done guys!

[@davidnewton918]

As a graduate of intake ten it was a pleasure to see how little RSM Lord had changed over ten years. David Newton

[@fire5736]

The drill and music is some of the best I've ever seen!

[@rkelsey3341]

Yes, it is! Unfortunately, the film editor did an extremely sloppy job of matching up the recorded music to the recorded video. The left foot steps off with the first beat of the music, but the editor has them stepping off with the right foot most of the time. The marching and music are excellent, but the editing is not.

[@fire5736]

@@rkelsey3341 wish I could see the full thing

[@peterwatson3326]

The date is wrong. This parade taken by Bill Slim was in August 1963, not 1962. I was a senior cadet commissioned that day.

[@bbsrawat5414]

A REPLY real good Sir

[@markforster4398]

No, you are wrong. I was on that parade as a Junior in the new Sovereign's company. I recognise the SUO and others, so there's no possibility of a mistake on my part. I joined Sandhurst in January 1962. I am looking at my Statement of Army Service as I write.

[@billchinook3292]

RSM J.C. Lord. What a legend he was. Utrinque Paratus !!!

[@peterwhent66]

You could show footage of the Sovereign's Parade from 1962, 1972, 1982 and 2019 and nothing will have changed except the rifle they carry and the fact that today there are women on parade. Everything else; the format, the order, the uniform, the music and importantly, the exceptionally high standards are exactly the same. Sandhurst is an oasis of unbending excellence in a changing world. Long may it be so.

[@foghilemuel5448]

Long may it be so

[@Assim99]

14:18 The late Sultan Qaboos of Oman 🇴🇲

[@barryrosenfeld1617]

The drill and turnout here could never be matched by today's much lowered standards. The Army today has really slid down in standards and deportment compared to the 1962 parade.

[@tayspuddy]

Agree! I attended The Colonel's Review of Trooping the Colour last year 2019. The Grenadier Guards were trooping, Queen's Company formed the escort to the colour. I said to a GG Lance Sergeant that I thought the Queen's Company were all over 6 feet tall, have they shrunk. He said that they didn't bother with that anymore. So I said well why are they still aloud the privileges of the Sovereigns Company like forming the bearer party for the Sovereign's funeral, when they're now just like any other rifle company? If you let that standard slip which other ones do you ignore. He didn't like what I said. The standard of drill was poor, don't see the point in holding a slap dash parade like that. If that's the best they can do, then either stop it or let regiments parade, who do care and are proud to do so.

[@tayspuddy]

@Al Sorry! Who are you replying to, me or B Rosenfeld?

[@tayspuddy]

@Al The personal weapons systems used in 1962 to today, have changed. In this video the Officer Cadets are on parade with the FN SLR 7.62mm rifle, which i used during my service. Todays recruits are equipped with the SA80 5.56mm rifle which is much shorter in length. So the drill has changed from the transition between weapon systems. Drill movements such as 'order arms' are not used today and 'slope arms' has returned. Other drill movements such as 'rest on your arms reversed' have been changed to 'lower on your arms reversed' etc.... So to compare drill in its entirety between two radically different weapon systems, is tricky. I have been to the Colonel's Review of the 'Queen's Birthday Parade' for the past 20 years. Last years parade 2019 was the poorest review i'd seen in that time. Some of the best, have been when the Army was running at its hottest with Afghanistan/Iraq concurrent. The dressing, covering off, forming up and execution of drill movements, and general military bearing was sloppy and slap dash, surprisingly so. Todays generation, are as good as any that's gone before. Any slip in standards whatever that be, is the fault of the senior NCO's up to the RSM, Officers especially Adjutants, Company Commanders right up to the Colonel, it's a failure of command. As for your comment regarding the height standard for the Queen's Company 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. I couldn't disagree with you more. Height IS a standard. The right flank company of the 1st Battalion First Guard of Foot has traditionally been 6' and at one stage it was 6'2". When a recruit from the depot was posted to the 1st Battalion, they were measured against a stick. The stick had markings of 6' and went up in 1" increments. Below the mark of 6' was the word 'sorry' you would then be posted to one of the other rifle companies. The Sovereign's Queen's/King's Company (depending whose on the throne) were famed world wide as the tallest company of soldiers in the world. Their privileges include, Forming the bearer party for the Sovereign and having their Colour buried with the Sovereign, to name but two. Keeping up standards and traditions is very difficult, and requires a lot of hard work from all contingencies involved. If the height standard is relaxed as it has been, then its all too easy turning a blind eye to other standards. I'm afraid that showed up in the sloppy and slapdash performance as they formed the 'Escort to the Colour' in 2019. I for one don't believe the unique privileges and traditions bestowed upon this world famous company of men. Should now be conferred on a fish and chip outfit. Good morning to you.

[@yahyahussein425]

tayspuddy Well said. Excellent.

[@monsieurboks]

The modern British Army is the most disciplined and well-trained fighting force in human history. However, the emphasis has long shifted from drill to actual operational effectiveness. Standards may have slipped a tad on parade, but it means that less of our boys are being killed out in the field. Besides, standards have slipped far more in the rest of the world than in the UK, so despite the slight degeneration our drill is even more so the envy of the world than it ever was before. Nothing to worry about.

[@조금성-c8n]

고맙습니다.

[@jennylast3149]

Lovely stuff.

[@mohammadashraf6414]

do you have sovereign parade of the year 1979?

[@rorymac7714]

Are any of those cadet still alive today and if so what rank did they achieve?

[@markforster4398]

Yes, I'm still alive. i made it to Major.

[@peterwatson3326]

That was Academy RSM Jackie Lord's retirement parade.

[@markforster4398]

No, it wasn't. I was there and he didn't retire until about a year later.

[@patrickcrowson8639]

Did all the cadets go on to have a long service career in the Army. Did you have to do the log race and that race with the stretcher. Does anyone know if the commandant then is still around. I expect the white horse might not be around now. Were they still very hot on inspections and turnout then. Thanks.

[@patrickcrowson8639]

Does any one know what happened to the Commandants horse.

[@markforster4398]

@@patrickcrowson8639 The Commandant wasn't riding a horse. I think you are referring to the Adjutant's horse. Horses don't have a long lifespan so I would imagine it is long dead.

[@ollie9518]

Does anyone know the name of the march playing at 15:00?

[@delvinrodriguez3341]

Ollie it's called "Standard of St George".

[@lawdennis3801]

What is the music starting at 1:46

[@delvinrodriguez3341]

Law Dennis it's called "Soldiers of the Queen".

[@colinchamberlain93]

Back when our military was was good

[@mwnciboo]

+Colin Chamberlain ;) still is...Our military is good, not because of kit, but because of our people. The British temperament makes for fine soldiers.

[@fire5736]

+Colin Chamberlain Back when the drill was good!

[@emptyangel]

+Alex Crane Definitely... every branch of the armed forces has horrendous drill when you compare to back then.

[@fire5736]

emptyangel Exactly, I honestly think the last decent trooping the colour was '09... Maybe if the Micks do it again it'll be good.

[@barryrosenfeld1617]

Its really bad now.

[@camofrog44]

Damn 55 years ago, weird seeing this parade without the SA80. I hope to be a part of this parade soon

[@noelt8895]

SA80??? When I did it, it was the SLR

[@barryrosenfeld1617]

Jake Hebblethwaite SA80 came in 1988

[@조금성-c8n]

고맙습니다.

[@thecurlew7403]

@@조금성-c8n Theres a joke the IRA captured one and threw it back at the Brits they hung unto there m16s .

[@thecurlew7403]

@@조금성-c8n sa 80 thats is.

[@monsieurboks]

Does anyone know what that first march is called?

[@midnightteapot5633]

The march right at the start is called " The Rising of the Lark"

[@aalaarkwazee4494]

تدريب وتنظيم عملاق

[@king_goose]

6:48 the grenadiers slow march 8:27 scipio

[@kevinadamson7571]

Wonder how many are still alive?

[@randychampion184]

I was wondering the same thing...i figure most of them are dead now

[@mforster1uk]

@@randychampion184 You must be joking! People who were Officer Cadets then would only be in their mid to late 70s now. I was on that parade in the new Sovereign's company and my platoon still meets once a year.

[@randychampion184]

@@mforster1uk lol good to know!!

[@davidnewton918]

@@randychampion184 I graduated 1953 (Blenhein Company) Hope to have a few more years yet. David Newton

[@iwoodbustanut7380]

You know things are messed up when cadets in the 60s have much better drill than active duty royal guards of today. I doubt the guys in red nowadays can perform the chaos corner. They aren't even consistent when presenting arms. They're so out of shape they can't even swing their arms properly.

[@1Jeoo]

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