WIREDGOV

Beating Retreat by the Massed Bands of the Royal Marines 2009

MINISTRY OF DEFENCE News Release (119/2009) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 4 June 2009

The Massed Bands of the Royal Marines will perform their spectacular Beating Retreat ceremony on London's Horse Guards from 9-11 June 2009. All 220 musicians from the 5 Royal Marines Bands will be on Parade in celebration of the birthday of His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. Only performed once every three years, the birthday celebration has particular meaning for the Royal Marines, since the Duke of Edinburgh is their Captain-General. The magnificent pageant of military music, precision drill and colour dates back to the 16th century and is regarded as a piece of living history.

Media are invited to attend any one of the 3 nights and should be aware that the Saluting Officer will change each night as follows:

Tuesday 9th June -Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope KCB OBE, Commander in Chief .

Wednesday 10th Jun - Admiral Sir Jonathon Band GCB ADC, First Sea Lord.

Thursday 11th June - His Royal Highness The Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh KG KT OM GBE AC QSO.

Filming, sound recording and photographic opportunities are available from designated filming platforms and a media area within the stands.

TIMINGS

17.30 Media requested to arrive at Whitehall Entrance of Horse Guards Parade.

18.30 Parade begins.

1920 Parade ends.

Notes for Editors

Media wishing to attend the event should register in advance with Lt Cdr Stuart Antrobus on 02072187508 or mobile 07745570381. It would be helpful if any additional requests could be included.

The proceeds from the Beating Retreat will go to Service Charities including Help for Heroes, Seafarers UK and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity.

Tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster priced at £12 per person, or £40 for a family ticket (2 adults and 3 children). Performances commence at 6.15pm on 9-11 June 2009.

Ticketmaster - 0844 847 2504

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk <http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/>

On arrival at Horse guards, media representatives will be met and issued entry passes by Warrant Officer 2 Ian Davies RM (07881 844632).

The origins of the Royal Marines Band Service go back to the days of Drake and Hawkins when drummers signalled the 'changing watches' or 'beat the men to quarters'. In the six companies of the Duke of York and Albany's Regiment of Foot - the forerunners of the Royal Marines - which were raised in 1664 - the Colour and the Drum provided a rallying point in close battle. This is why even today it is the drums and bugles of the Royal Marines Buglers Branch which lead the band on parade.

Although best known for major ceremonial events - immaculately turned out ranks of white helmets and blue uniforms, playing and marching in perfect time behind the magnificent drummers and the Drum Major - each of the bands which make up the Service has to perform as an orchestra and a dance band as well as a military band. Their repertoire covers every category of music from full orchestra down to jazz, pop and folk groups.

On top of their musical traditions, the Royal Marines have an important medical and military role as part of a fighting force. This year, elements of each Band deployed with 3 Commando Brigade to Afghanistan. The musicians worked with the Commando Logistics Regiment as part of the Medical Squadron; their main duties were as Drivers, driving vehicles such as Battlefield Ambulances, Support Vehicles, Mastiff and Vector.

ANNEX A

The following D-Day veterans will become Knights of the Legion d'Honneur in a ceremony in Paris this afternoon.

NAME
DATE OF BIRTH
FROM
SERVICE

George Robert Batts
21/08/1925
Maidstone, Kent
Joined the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1943. Landed on Gold Beach on D-Day.

Ernest Patrick Brewer
24/02/1925
Hertfordshire
Joined the Royal Horse Artillery (7th Division) in 1943. Landed on Gold Beach on D-Day, liberated Bayeux, went onward though Belgium, Holland to Berlin.

Mrs Vera Hay
14/05/1922
Cumbria
Joined the Queen's Alexandra Nursing Corps in 1943. Landed on Gold Beach and attended to wounded at 'Chateaux Busieux' in Bayeux.

Oliver Fox
June 1919
Derby
Joined the RAF in 1942. Landed on Sword Beach on D-Day+3.

Albert Holmshaw
22/07/1924
Nottinghamshire
Joined the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in 1943. Embarked on a Landing Ship Tank and landed on Sword Beach.

William Gordon Hornsby
27/05/1924
Newcastle
Joined Royal Army Service Corps in 1942. Landed on Gold Beach on D-Day and took part in the liberation of Bayeux.

Joseph Randle Oliver
08/06/1925
Sunderland
Joined RAF in 1943. Landed at Juno Beach with Canadian forces.

Leslie Stocking
02/10/1925
Shrewsbury
Joined the Royal Engineers in 1942. He landed on Gold Beach on D-Day and helped to clear mines in France, Holland and Germany.

The following D-Day veteran will become an Officer of the Legion d'Honneur at a ceremony at Colleville-sur-Mer tomorrow.

Jack Sidney Woods
23/03/1924
Norfolk
Joined the 9th Battalion of the Royal Tank Regiment 1943. Landed on Juno Beach with Canadian forces and immediately engaged in action. Went on to help capture 5 bridges over the River Seine.