Duchess of Gloucester to present Regiment with new Colours

The practice of using Colours dates back to the time of Charles II in the 17th Century when the Colours of a Regiment (the brightly-coloured flags of a battalion) were used as position markers or as rallying points in battle.  These would be affixed to a long stake or pike such that they could be visible above the smog and dust of battle.

The Troop

It become customary to carry these Colours down the ranks at the end of the day to ensure that troops were familiar with their Colour and could readily recognize his own.  This is known as the Troop.  This was also done in the morning before the soldiers went off to battle.  On both occasions, the flags would be paraded in a solemn and reverent manner.

During ancient warfare, the position of the Colours was often the sight of fierce battles where many made the supreme sacrifice in their defence.  By extension, the Colours became memorials to the fallen.  This combined, with the pride of the soldiers in their unit, bestowed upon the Colours the spirit of the Regiment and the Colours came to be held in high regard.

Even today, the Regimental Colours are regarded with great reverence.  They are among the most significant items within the Regiment and are highly venerated.

Over 140 officers and men and women, of the Bermuda Regiment are on parade.  More than 100 words of command are given by the officers in command of the parade.

The Bermuda Regiment has only Trooped its Colours a few times in the last 45 years.  As with all Regiments, there are unique nuances to the Bermuda Regiment’s parade format.  The Trooping of the Colours parade which the public will witness on Saturday will differ slightly from the same parade which is held at Whitehall in London.

Sequence

On her arrival at the NSC HRH will receive a 21-Gun Salute and she will inspect the Guard of Honour.  The retiring Colours will be Trooped before the battalion and the assembled visitor and guests.  The new Colours will be consecrated by the Bishop of Bermuda, the Right Rev. Dr. Patrick G. H. White (he will be attended on by Imam Basim Muwwakkil of Masjid Muhammad and the Bishop of Bermuda, the Most Rev. Robert Kurtz) after which HRH will present them to the battalion.

HRH will offer a few words to the battalion and the CO, Lt. Col. Brian Gonsalves will respond.  The Guards will march past in line with their new Colours.  HRH will then depart.

General Format for the Troop

An orderly marches on to take the pace stick from the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) who then draws his sword.  This is the only time an RSM will do so in peace time.  His doing so is a symbolic gesture of his protecting the Colours.

The Escort for the Colour marches off in quick time to the tune The British Grenadiers.  Irrespective of the Regiment which is Trooping its Colours, The British Grenadiers is always played at this point in the parade because the right-flanking company of every battalion used to be a grenadier company.

After the Guard gets to its position, the RSM marches from the rear of the Escort and is followed by the Ensign for the Colours. These Ensigns will carry the Colours through the ranks of the assembled riflemen.

The RSM salutes the Colours, takes a pace forward, and receives the Queen’s Colour in his left hand from the Colour Sergeant of the Colour Party.  In turn, the Ensign salutes the Colours, returns his sword to his scabbard, receives the Colour and places it in his Colours belt.  This process is repeated for the Regimental Colour.

The Ensigns will form about and face the Escort.  The guard presents arms and the Colours receive a general salute; the National Anthem is played.

The RSM and the escorts take up their position to the rear of the Guard and the Guard prepares to Troop the Colours.

The Ensigns take their position in front of the Guard and the Guard now becomes the “Escort to the Colours.”

The Escort marches solemnly through the remaining assembled guards in slow time to the Bermuda Regiment Slow March.

Once back in position at its Number One Guard position at the right of line, the Escort to the Colours presents arms.  The parade is then ordered to shoulder arms.

The Colours are now considered to have been Trooped.