Regimental March

[MikeCarey]

Just watching the Grenadier Guards tonight and it made me think, is the British Grenadier still the Regimental March of the first Battalion?

[benney]

Im not to sure i think it may be Men of Harlec now, as we only used Brit GRENS as it was the Regimental March for all FUSILIER Regts and if you remember on parade Brit Grens was always followed by Men of Harlec, hope that may be of use to you mate

[MikeCarey]

Thanks Benney, but seeing as we still have the Hackle and the Pte's with the 1st Bn are still Fusiliers, does that not still give us Fusilier status?

[Admin]

I'm not sure if this applies to the individual battalions, but the regimental march appears to be:

March Quick - Men of Harlech
Slow - Forth to the Battle

[Antony McCarten]

to all,
as the drum major we still play our normal regi marches, Brittish Grens,Men of harlech and forth to battle(men of glamorgan) I have not been told as of yet to change any of the marches,so they still stand as when we were RWF

thanks,hope it has cleared up some questions!!

[MikeCarey]

Cheers Mac, glad to know they can't change everything, we are loosing to many old traditions as it is, and apart from that it will only confuse the Sgt's mess at a mess dinner lol!

[jungle1810]

Hello Mike,
I have explained the fact that the hackle has absolutely nothing to do with our title of Fusiliers.I quote from a friend of mine after having written about 5 e mails on this subject I quote the following.
"According to Major L L Gordon,in his book Military Origins, Fusiliers were raised to guard the artillery train, marching with a lighter weapon (FUSIL) slung, and therefore the broad brimmed normal hat got in the way and was replaced with a fur-trimmed cap.

Regarding Fusilier as the title of a rank, with the exception of the R.A.(Gunner) R.E.(Sapper) and Rifles (Rifleman), the use of" Fusilier" " Kingsman" "Ranger" etcetera is comparatively modern, as is "Grenadier" "Trooper"etc These have crept in since the Great War. For all the "Lowest of the Low"the rank and pay grade is private, with a modern job title ! However the use of the plural "FUSILIERS" is of great antiquity I quote this reply to the origin of the title FUSILIER is due to FUSILIER REGIMENTS carrying the FUSIL nothing at all to do with the HACKLE.
Regards "Don"
This explanation was given to me by Mr David Langley.After I explained this weird belief that the HACKLE was instumental in our title FUSILIER.

[MikeCarey]

Cheers Don, but it is still hard to let go of the old believes, little things like Regimental Marches, Hackles and the title Fusilier still go a long way in keeping traditions, and long may they stay.

[jungle1810]

Hello Mike,
Glad to see you are a "Diehard" like me. I would have liked things to stay as they were but as Mallory said in "The Death of Arthur" that is to say King Arthur not Major Ellingham, "The old order changeth yielding place to new" Cheers for now.
Regards RBD

[jungle1810]

Hello Mike,
Re bands and customs. The Jamaica Battalion are doing a guard at Buck House tomorrow. If the news pick it up then you will see some old traditions. The Band wear the uniforms of the old Zouave regiment. Now that is some thing to see.Hope I am on the right thread.
Regards to all.
RBD