| For sixty
years Caterham Barracks in Surrey was the home of No.16 Coy., the Guards training
Company. Thousands of Coldstreamers passed through the hallowed portals into
an experience that has stayed with Guardsmen for life. Many have written about
this special place, but to endure and enjoy the twenty weeks of basic Guards training,
is a badge of courage that is worn for life. It is this education that has
ensured our Regiment has survived and prospered for 350 yrs. Construction work
on Caterham Barracks commenced in 1850, built to the new 'Army Living Programe',
with modern sanitation, heating and lighting, each man allocated 60 sq. ft. of
living space. The Barracks were handed over in 1877, the home to four Regiments
of Foot Guards, occupied by over 12,000 men. The standard of discipline and
training established the benchmark for the Guards training Company,
which eventually took the barracks as its HQ. The original twelve weeks basic
was augmented by a further eight weeks period of 'Battle Training' in various
locations, then settled at Pirbright, with its ranges and large area's of
heathland for simulated battle engagements. The last training recruits marched
out of Caterham in 1961 and the Depot finely closed in 1990, taking with it
over a hundred years of Regimental history. By this time the whole of the training
was undertaken at Pirbright in Surrey. In
1994 The Guards Infantry Training Company, No. 14 Coy. was established at Vimy
Barracks, Catterick North Yorks. There has been Army training at Catterick
since before World War One, but this was the first time in the Foot Guards history
that a permanent Company had been active here. The initial move was fraught
with so many integration difficulties, plus accommodation was always a moot point.
It was with great relief when in 2003 the Guards Training Company moved to Helles
Brks, alongside the Parachute Regiment and the Royal Gurka Rifles. This
intense competition was the spur that No. 14 Coy needed to move forward. During
the last two years the standard of young guardsmen has improved along with their
training.
| Sgt
Lee Westerman with his Plt. of young Trainee Guardsmen, during battle training
Passing
Out Parade No 22 Platoon Friday 27th November
2009 |
ON
THE ROAD AGAIN Friday 27th November 2009, a bright
but cold morning and was on my way to the home of the Guards Training Company,
the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion in Helles Barracks once again. But before
I give this report I must apologise to Lance Reah because due to a family problem
I was unable to attend a Passing -out -Parade on the 13th November at which Lance
tells me his youngest son was passing-out into the Coldstream Guards. He informed
that it was a good parade, not only that, but his son was also the winner of the
Best Recruit award, and of course Lance looked for my report on our website. Sorry
mate but I hope this helps. Today it was No 22 Platoon who were Passing -out,
of the 50 trainees who started out on the course only 38 made through of which
six were Coldstream
Trainee Guardsmen. It was a pleasure to have a decent band also on parade
with the Regimental Band of the Welsh Guards, with winter upon us both the band
and trainee guardsmen paraded in Blue greatcoats. To the music of Guards Armoured
the platoon marched
smartly on parade. CSM John Hardy marched to the centre of the square and
as the platoon turned towards him the two stick orderlies dropped off to take
up their position in the top corner of the square to await the Inspection party.
With the platoon in position and given their dressing the CSM walked over
and handed the platoon of to the Platoon Commander Lt Charles-Jones (Welsh Guards)
a man with a powerful voice. This was to be his last parade as he was going to
Iraq to train their potential officer cadets.
The
Inspecting Officer today was Colonel James Stopford, late Irish Guards who was
born in 1961. That was the year I left the army, he was commissioned into
the 1st Battalion Irish Guards in 1980, and he became
Commanding Officer of the Battalion in 2001 in Germany. The Parade itself
was a great display of foot and arms drill matched by the music of the Welsh Guards
band. But unfortunately the platoon had completed the march past in Slow and
Quick time and as they turned at the last corner to mark time before returning
to their starting point, the officer marched away to take up his position in the
centre of the square, the Platoon Sergeant gave to order 'Forward' only for the
right hand side four of the platoon to be out of step and it took the next mark
time to get it right.
Time
for the prize winners to come forward and receive their tankards:
Best Endeavor: T/Gdsn Tancock. Welsh Guards Best Shot:
T/Gdsn Edwards 40. Welsh Guards. Best at Physical Training: T/Gdsn Frost.
Coldstream Guards. Best at Drill and Turnout: T/Gdsn Jones 69. Welsh Guards.
Best Recruit: T/Gdsn Walmsley. Grenadier Guards. Soldiers Medal: T/Gdsn
Freeman. Scots Guards. The winners of the
Major Generals medals as best section were........ L/Sgt
Jones (Welsh Guards) Section, a rather unusual
section, because apart from one Coldstream Trainee all the rest were Welsh Guards!
The Platoon Staff: Platoon Commander. Lt Charles-
Jones.Welsh Guards. Platoon Sergeant. Sgt Davis.
Grenadier Guards. Section commanders:
L/Sgt Dragon. Grenadier Guards. L/Sgt Duncan.
Scots Guards. L/Sgt Palmer. Irish Guards. L/Sgt Jones. Welsh Guards. Barrack
Room Instructor: L/Cpl Armstrong. Irish Guards
.
In his closing speech Colonel Stopford thanked the Company Commander, Major Johnny
Langton for inviting him to the parade. He congratulated the now Guardsmen
for an excellent parade and completing the 28 weeks of arduous training, not always
in good weather especially of late, and the band of the Welsh Guards for providing
the music. He commended the training staff for doing a brilliant job of turning
these young men into trained Guardsmen, he also thanked the families for their
help and assistance. The march off was to the music of Heilan Laddie and St
Patrick's Day they marched past the stands to rapturous applause, followed by
the band who were also warmly applauded and finally the four markers who as always
are first on and last off parade. But this was a special occasion because all
four were Coldstream Guards, but one of them Sergeant
Al Davison who had served at Catterick for
fourteen years and with the Regiment for twenty four years was leaving the Regiment,
another man who over the past few years had become a very good friend, Big Al
I wish you all the best for the future. Your Roving reporter Mannie
Cook |
Passing
out Parade of No 24 Platoon Thursday 29th October
2009 |
THE
GUARDS TRAINING COMPANY 2ND INFANTRY TRAINING BATTALION THE
PASSING OUT PARADE OF No 24 PLATOON
With Thursday 29th October
2009 being a lovely warm day and a promise of it to continue, I decided to travel
to Helles Barracks for the above passing out parade, but was I wrong. The
further I travelled towards Catterick the darker the sky became and I was expecting
a downpour at any moment, luckily the rain kept away, but it turned out to be
arctic conditions, boy was it cold. The Parade should have started at ten
o'clock, but for some reason the new WOII (CSM) John Hardy, Scots Guards did not
arrive on the parade ground until twenty five past. He gave no reason for
the lateness, but blamed the families and friends of the trainee guardsmen, saying
he had been stood outside his office listening to all the chatter from the stands
and waiting for it to subside. After giving the families details of what was
to happen on the parade, what not to do and when to do the right things he strode
away to bring the platoon on parade. Accompanied by the band of The Heavy Cavalry
& Cambrai Band,of which I now know that on 1st June 2006, the four bands of The
Royal Armoured
Corps were reduced to just two. The Royal Tank Regiment Band was amalgamated with
the Royal Dragoon Guards to form the band on parade today and were relocated to
Catterick.
The
Platoon in Great Coat order marched smartly on parade, twenty four trainee guardsmen
of which seven were Coldstreamers. After been giving their dressing the CSM
marched over to the Platoon Commander, Lieutenant Kendall, Coldstream Guards,
an officer I have met before and as I learned later this was his last parade before
returning to battalion duties. The CSM joined the two stick orderlies on the
far corner of the parade ground to await the inspecting officer, Brigadier J I
S Stevenson MBE (late Royal Scots). After inspecting the two orderlies
the group marched onto parade. Lt Kendall marched over to the saluting dais and
presented the platoon for inspection and asked to accompany the Brigadier which
was granted.
The
Brigadier took time to speak to the entire platoon and while this was going on
I was stood with two serving Sergeants
who mentioned how cold it was. The inspection over it was now time for the
trainee Guardsmen to loosen their muscles and march past in slow and quick time,
the band played 'The Royal Standard' and 'King's Guard'. I don't know if this
was because it was a small platoon, but this was the elite of the elite, their
performance was brilliant which the Brigadier reported on in his speech. Next
came the presentation of awards to the prize winners: Best
Endeavour:............................ Trainee Guardsman
Berry. Welsh Guards. Best Shot: .......................Trainee
Guardsman McFarland. Coldstream Guards. Best
At physical Training: ..................Trainee Guardsman
Daudu. Irish Guards. Best at Drill and turn Out:..........
Trainee Guardsman French. Grenadier Guards. Best
Recruit; .....................Trainee Guardsman Massarella.
Coldstream Guards. Soldiers Medal;..............Trainee
Guardsman Swanborough. Coldstream Guards.  This
was followed by the presentation of the Major Generals Medal to the winning Section.
SectionCommander: .....L/Sgt Gill Coldstream Guards:
Trainee Gdsn O'Flaherty, Trainee Gdsn Berry,
Trainee Gdsn Bryden, Trainee Gdsn Daudu, Trainee Gdsn Black, Trainee
Gdsn Williams, Trainee Gdsn Hodgson, Trainee Gdsn Paterson Trainee
Gdsn Rogers. The parade was now concluded with the Platoon marching
off to rapturous applause and well deserved with the band playing a melody of
tunes starting with Milanollo. The Band followed being warmly applauded, and
last but certainly not least the men who are first and last off parade, the markers
to receive a great round of applause. The Platoon Sergeant
was Sgt Owen (Gren Gds), Sect Commdrs, L/Sgt Baines (Scots Guards), L/Sgt
Castell Nuovo (Gren Gds), L/Sgts Gill & Smith (Coldm Gds) Room Insector
L/Cpl Yoxall (IrIsh Gds). I walked over to the company office to see
Company Commander Johnny Langton to let him know that I was not stopping, and
he thanked me for my support. I was frozen to the bone and glad to get in
my car and head for home, I have attended Catterick now for over six years
and have enjoyed every minute. God willing I will continue, but maybe not
quite as often, we will see. I have said farewell over those years to three
WOII's (CSM's) John Donaldson, Ronnie Corbett and Craig Hutton plus two WOII's
(Drill Sgts); Dec Donaghy and Al Aitkin. All very good friends. Mannie
Cook |
Passing
out Parade of No 21 Platoon Friday
the 7th of August |
ON
THE ROAD AGAIN The following day on my return
from Sandhurst I was on the move once again, this time back to Helles Barracks,
Catterick, with my Daughter Suzanne and Grand Daughter Dannielle for company.
It was a lovely warm day and I was thinking of the Trainee Guardsmen in Home Service
order, being a bit warm under the collar. While we were walking down to the
NAAFI there was passing-out-parade taking place on the square and the platoon
were just marching off, from the Parachute Regiment.
We
had just enjoyed a cup of tea and a sandwich when a Guards NCO entered and asked
us to move up to the Parade ground. WOII (CSM) Hutton strode smartly on parade
and after introducing himself to the families and friends welcomed everyone and
then gave details on what was to take place during the parade and instructed them
when and when not to applaud. The band of the Heavy Cavalry & Cambrai Band,
Armoured Corps burst into tune with the music of 'The Liberators' and No 21 Platoon
marched smartly
on parade.  The
two stick orderlies broke away to halt at the far corner of the parade ground
and CSM Hutton halted the Platoon in the centre, advanced them and gave then
their dressing, he stood them at ease. He then marched over to the Platoon
Commander Capt Freeman and handed the Platoon over to him, who took his place
at the centre of the Platoon. Meanwhile CSM Hutton marched over to the two
stick orderlies to await the Inspecting Officer who turned out to be none other
than the Rt Hon William Hague MP, he inspected the stick orderlies before making
his way to the saluting dais. There were Forty One Trainee Guardsmen on parade
of which seven were Coldstreamers. During his inspection the MP took his time
and spoke to virtually every Guardsman, and then went to a few members of the
band.
There
was now some relief for the Guardsmen as they stretched their legs and marched
past in slow and quick time and I must say that for a big platoon they did and
excellent job, mind the band's Base Drummer seemed to have found the beat.  Having
come back into line they then advanced in review order and CSM Hutton called for
the prize winners to ground arms and take one pace left before marching them forward.--------------
The Prize winners were as follows:.. Best
Endeavour: T/Guardsman Horstead. Coldstream Guards. Best Shot: T/Guardsman
Booth 97. Coldstream Guards. Best at Physical Training: T/Guardsman Webb.
Welsh Guards. Best at Drill and Turnout: T/Guardsman Leachman Welsh Guards.
Best Recruit: T/Guardsman Callaghan. Scots Guards. Soldiers Medal: T/Guardsman
Booth 55 Coldstream Guards. -------------------------------------With
the winners back in the place, the CSM then called for a section to ground their
arms and take one pace left and march forward to receive a new
award.The Major General's medal for being the Best Section.  The
Rt Hon Hague in his speech praise the Guardsmen for an excellent parade, he also
praised the instructors for a job well done, and the families and friends for
the help and encouragement given to their sons, boyfriends, and mates. He
also thanked the band for some brilliant music. Iit was time for these young
Guardsmen to march off parade to their respective Battalions/Companies and marching
pass their families and friends to receive rapturous applause and cheers. -----------------------------------------------------The
Platoon Instructors: Platoon Sergeant: Sgt Forat.
Section Commanders: L/Sgt Veuvueika L/Sgt Kashula L/Sgt Hume L/Sgt
Gill. Barrack Room Instructor: L/Cpl Tweed. -----------------------------------------------------------
After
the parade I visited the Company office, because what I thought was the last Parade
for the CSM, proved wrong as he has one more to do. For his friendship
and hospitality I made a presentation from myself to CSM Hutton of a Scots Guards
emblazon. He is moving back to the Battalion as RQMS after the next parade
on the 21st August 2009. It had been a very good parade blessed with excellent
weather, enjoyed not only by me but also my daughter and grand-daughter. Your
Roving Reporter. Mannie Cook
 |
Citation
(Abridged) for award of the Meritorious Service Medal to Captain J.S. Beattie
Coldstream Guards | Presented by the Major General Commanding the Household Division |
Captain
Beatty joined the Army on the 8th Dec.1980 and following his 6 mths training
at the Depot he passed out in April 1981 He quickly
demonstrated outstanding potential, gaining promotion and a posting back
to the Guards Depot, as a recruit instructor in 1987. Following 3 yrs as a
Plt. Sgt.he was posted to the RMAS as Colour Sgt. Instructor in 1992 and then
returned to the 1st Bt. as CQMS. In Nov.1996, he returned to RMAS as a CSM
and then took up the appointment of Drill Sgt. with his Battalion.
He was responsible for the training of the Bt. for
the Queens Birthday Parade twice. Freedom of the City Parades for London and
Berwick, and the Presentation of New Colours to his Regiment. He was responsible
for the Bearer Party for Lt. Gen. Sir William Rous funeral, where he handled
the intricate funeral arrangements with immense tact and diplomacy. He has
twice organised the Annual Inspection of the Scouts Association by Her Majesty
the Queen, gaining high praise from the Association for the immpeccable support. In
April 2001 he was promoted to Warrant Officer Class One. For two yrs. that
followed he was the Regimental Sergeant of Old College RMAS, where he was an inspiration
to all. His ability, dedication and further potential were recognised and
he was selected for Commission in the Coldstream Guards in April 2003.
Captain
Beatty has provided almost 22 yrs of faithful and meritorious service to the Colours.
His Commanding Officer at the Royal Military Academy descibes him as 'one
of the most outstanding soldiers he has commanded in 30 yrs Service'. He has
provided an impressive mix of unwavering support to his family in difficult circumstances.
At the same time, total dedication, loyalty and allegiance to the Colours
that is recognised today by the award of the Meritorious Service Medal. |
|