CCF Honour Guard performs in presence of Crown Prince at Royal Artillery Barracks

The School’s CCF Honour Guard was invited to perform its continuity drill display at the Presentation of new Colours to the 4th Battalion, Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment (4PWRR), on Saturday 22 April.

The drill display consists of more than 100 rifle and foot drill movements, drawn from the Army Drill Manual and performed entirely from memory.

The parade took place at the Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, in the presence of Crown Prince Frederick of Denmark, deputising for Queen Margrethe, who is Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment.

Other guests included Lieutenant General Doug Chalmers CB DSO OBE, and Sgt Maj Johnson Beharry VC, who is one of only two serving members of the Armed Forces to hold the highest honour for Valour.

The Guard, led by Cadet WO1 Alex Peggie (HS5), is made up of 30 members of the CCF representing all three sections, with students drawn from the Second Year to the Upper Sixth.

The Guard practises three times each week during school term to reach the standard required for the Annual General Inspection each year, overseen by the watchful eye of recently-retired CCF Adjutant and former Irish Guards Regimental Sergeant Major, Martin Brennan. In recent years, the Guard has performed for several high-ranking staff officers, including the Chief of the Air Staff.

Sqn Ldr Stefan Hargreaves, Contingent Commander, said: “I was immensely proud of the cadets for their fabulous display. Our invitation is a great honour for the Contingent and for the School, and offers us the chance to forge ever closer ties with our parent regiment. Several guests even commented that the cadets stole the show!”

The next Honour Guard will begin rehearsing in the Michaelmas Term in preparation for Inspection in March 2024 and will be under the command of new CCF Adjutant Sgt Andrew Davison, formerly of the Household Cavalry.