COMMANDING OFFICER'S BUGLE COMPETITION 2012
As in true Royal Green Jacket style the Bugle platoon of the 7th Battalion the Rifles held the annual competition at Edward Brooks Barracks on the 10th March 2012. 8 Buglers were involved and it was a hard won result. The Bugle platoon had been “beating up” for this since the beginning of December 2011. It started on the Friday night with final admin (and pre-competition drinks) on the 9th.
The competition day started with port (of course) and the inspection by the RSM and the Bugle Major (and boy was he hard on them) followed by ten questions on regimental history. The Buglers were then escorted one at a time to the drill phase where they went through a set sequence of drill movements judged by the adjutant and the RSM and then on to the playing section.
As done in previous Battalion competitions two short daily calls were picked by the judges for each Bugler to play, also one long call picked by the Bugler, and then the set call (last post). Judges for this phase were the CO of 7 Rifles, the Director of Music for the Waterloo Band and Ex-Bugle Major Pat Mannion 3RGJ.
All then retired to the bar for the scores to be added up and all the judges and invited guests to come together before the presentations. Six prizes were awarded on the day.
Commanding Officer’s Bugler (Rfn Aldridge)
Adjutant’s Bugler (Rfn Elford)
Ram’s Bugler (L/cpl Brockman)
The other three prizes awarded on the day by the CO were:
Best at drill won by Rfn Aldridge
Best turnout won by L/cpl Brockman
CO’s award for best overall effort won by Rfn Howard
What's he doing there..? All of a sudden we've gone mechanised…!
The Band and Bugles Branch of the Royal Green Jackets
sponsored new bugle badges to be produced for the top three Buglers; these are
in the process of being made. The Adjutant’s and RSM’s bugler statues were
purchased by the Waterloo Band and “A” company 7Rifles sponsored the CO’s
statue. The London branch of the Royal
Green Jackets Association sponsored engraved pewter tankards for the top three
prizes and Mr Richard Frost and Bill Coombes of the KRRC Association sponsored
engraved glass tankards for the other prizes awarded on the day.
Everybody was then treated to a curry lunch provided by the chefs of 7Rifles and an interesting afternoon and evening was had by all (you know the Bugles!!). It was a great opportunity to carry on a very old tradition that happened within two of the antecedent regiments that now make up the rifles, a great day was had by all with the support of the CO, the battalion, the Waterloo band and the associations.
Thank you for all your support,
Terry McCann
Bugle Major
Waterloo Band and Bugles
