New Yeoman of the Guard

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 18 Sep 2011 22:57
Yeoman of the Guard has an Awesome New Member
 
 
 
 
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There are some things that only England at it’s finest can achieve, one of them is the pomp and splendour of an event at Buckingham Palace. Such an event would not be right or seemly if the Queen's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard where not present.

 

The oldest British military corps is still in existence, it was created by Henry VII in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field. As a token of this venerability, the Yeomen still wear red and gold uniforms of Tudor style.

Recruitment to the Yeomen of The Guard until 1823 was by purchase and the majority of The Guard were civilian. From 1830 candidates must have served in the Army or Royal Marines. In 1955 the first Royal Air Force candidate was accepted and two currently serve. Until 2011 members of the Royal Navy were excluded from becoming Yeomen due to their tradition of not swearing allegiance to The Queen (they swear to the Admiralty); this has now changed and two have been sworn-in. There is a very long list of those seeking entry to this exclusive and venerable “Body Guard”. Successive monarchs have confirmed rules for the selection of suitable candidates, some emphasising that candidates should be 'of tall personage, strong, active and of manlie presence' (in Queen Victoria's reign this included the mandatory wearing of a beard)'.
 
 
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Today candidates must have completed no less than twenty two years in the Army, Royal Marines, Royal Navy or Royal Air Force, with distinction, attained the rank of at least Sergeant or Chief Petty Officer and awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. All Yeomen must retire at the ripe old age of seventy, if only to give others a chance of joining. During Queen Victoria's reign there was a minimum height restriction of five feet ten inches but since Edward VII's reign this restriction has but been disregarded. Edward VII is anecdotally attributed as saying 'if he's tall enough to fight for his country, he's tall enough to be one of my body guard' . Currently, a candidate should be no older than fifty five years on the day of taking the Loyal Oath but this is being reviewed. However, as previously stated, there is a very long list of candidates and limited places. It should be stressed that Servicewomen are not excluded from applying for an appointment to The Body Guard or Yeoman Warders. The role of the Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a political appointment - the Captain is always the government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords.

 

The Yeomen of the Guard have a purely ceremonial role. They accompany the Sovereign at the annual Royal Maundy Service, investitures and summer Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace and other Royal occasions. However, their most famous duty is to 'ceremonially' search the cellars of the Palace of Westminster prior to the State Opening of Parliament, a tradition that dates back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up Parliament. (Today, officers from the Metropolitan Police carry out the actual search.) In the eighteenth century some forty Yeomen were on duty daily and twenty at night. This only ceased in 1813, and thereafter only one division was required daily until about 1837. Today they are only mustered when required – each serve an average of six to eight days a year.

 

All Yeomen are over forty two years of age on appointment and under fifty five years. They retire at seventy and are no longer are called for service. There are an average of four vacancies a year, which are filled by the Lord Chamberlain, who recommends the names to the Sovereign.

 

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The dress worn by the Yeomen of the Guard is in its most striking characteristics the same as it was. It consists of a royal red tunic with purple facings and stripes and gold lace ornaments, together with a red cross-belt, red knee-breeches and red stockings, flat hat, and black shoes with red, white and blue rosettes are worn. The gold-embroidered emblems on the back and front of the coats consist of the crowned Tudor Rose, the shamrock and the thistle, the motto "Dieu et mon droit" (God and My Right), and the "regal" initial of the reigning sovereign (currently ER for "Elizabeth Regina"). It is the red cross-belt that distinguishes the Yeomen of the Guard from the Yeomen Warders. When “suited and booted” the outfit weighs twenty four pounds.

The Senior Messenger Sergeant Major and Wardrobe Keeper lives in a house in St James's Palace, where he is responsible for HQ administration, and correspondence. The Messenger Sergeant Major is his deputy. There are four divisions, First, Second, Third and Fourth. Each has a Divisional Sergeant Major, Yeoman Bed Goer, Yeoman Bed Hanger and thirteen Yeomen.

The Yeomen of the Guard are often confused with the Yeomen Warders of the Tower of London, popularly known as "Beefeaters", a similar but distinct body. Gilbert and Sullivan appeared to share this confusion when they wrote their operetta.

 

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On the 29th of April 2009; more than seventy Yeomen - resplendent in their distinctive red and gold tunics, large white ruffled collars, scarlet stockings and flat brimmed black Tudor hats - gathered in Westminster Abbey in tribute to King Henry VII, to mark the 500th anniversary of his death, the Queen placed a posy at his tomb in the Abbey's Lady Chapel.

The monarch and the Duke of Edinburgh sat for a group photograph with the entire corps of Yeomen in the Nave, and met with them after the service.The Duke took the opportunity to mention their striking red hosiery.

Lieutenant of the Body Guard Major Charles Enderby said: "Prince Philip had lots of jokes about the Yeomen's tights”.

Just what we would expect from the man we know and love.....

"The Queen was very grateful. We've been on the go for a long time. We're the first bodyguard any monarch ever had and we're the oldest military corps."

 

Well as of now they have a RED in their midst (Retired and Extremely Dangerous is the film title or should that be Roger Extremely Dedicated). He was nominated by “Scouse” and, from start of the process to taking the Oath took five years.

Credentials Roger has in spades. Roger served in the Royal Marines for over twenty eight years and “put one or two right” as Corps RSM. He broke “one or two” bones playing rugby for the Corps. He is not just our son-in-laws dad, he is a dear and special friend and no trip to the UK would be complete without a quick nip up to North Devon.

 

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Roger’s MBE then Regimental Sergeant Major bestowed in 1998. 

 

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Roger as Corps RSM seen sitting to the left (our right) of  the Duke of Edinburgh 

 

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Roger and Mark 

 

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Roger and Sue – here seen ‘Palace ready’, for a Garden Party 

 

Let’s not forget the old saying “behind every great man is a great woman”, never more true than with Sue. She has been by his side for more than thirty years, well almost, except for the time Roger got home from a ”do” – with one or two sherbets on board – before he realised he had left Sue behind........... Sue we love you to pieces and you deserve a very, very special medal.

 

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Let’s not forget the mischief this pair get up to..........

 

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Roger’s first duty – looking very resplendent - was on the 7th of November
 

 

 

 

ALL IN ALL WE ARE BOTH VERY PROUD OF YOU ROGER