We are currently watching Trooping the Colour 2010 on the television but last week we were pleased to be there. Yes, I said last week, because Trooping the Colour takes place not once but three times each year. The televised parade is the Queen's Birthday Parade, on which the salute is taken by the Her Majesty The Queen. Last week was the Colonel's Review and, as the Colour being trooped this year is that of the Grenadier Guards the Duke of Edinburgh took the salute as Colonel of the Regiment.  The previous week was the the Major General's Review.

The 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards has not long since returned from their second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

There is no commentary to the parade, so if you want to be aware of the significance of the parade as it happens either do your homework or watch in on the television. If you want to experience a fantastic spectacle and watch military custom in action there is absolutely no substitute for being there.  Tickets for the Major General's Review are free and although payment is required for both the Colonel's Review and the Queen's Birthday Parade the price is very reasonable. Of course if you want to soak up the atmosphere and proudly watch the troops without sitting in the stands erected on Horse Guards there are always great vantage points to be found along The Mall, near the Victoria Memorial or, for a good view of the Life Guards and Blues and Royals in particular, behind the Guards Memorial.

After the parade, our hearts swelled with pride, we walked through St James' Park to Wellington Barracks, as did the Guards stretcher bearers and the route liners. Although we have done this before on Troop day it is still a little odd to have to move aside at the sound of marching soldiers approaching from behind!

Kekewich and the relief of Kimberley - 15th February 1900

The town of Kimberley was founded in 1871 after the discovery of diamonds nearby.  The diamond fields were taken over by Cecil Rhodes in 1888 for the De Beers company. Rhodes was a major player in the political landscape of South Africa and as the Boer War began he moved from Cape Town to Kimberley.

On 14th October 1899 the Boers invaded the northern Cape Colony and so began the siege of Kimberley. Colonel Robert Kekewich had been send with half of his battalion of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment to defend the town, but found that he could do little without Rhodes' involvement since many of the garrison were De Beers employees and De Beers controlled the essential resources of the town.

On 6th November 1899 the Boers started their bombardment of Kimberley. On 21st November 1899 Lord Methuen began marching his troops from Orange River to relieve Kimberley but his progress was checked on 11th December 1899 at Magersfontein, destroying the prospect of early relief. Rhodes complained to General Buller. 

At the beginning of 1900 Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener arrived in South Africa with substantial reinforcements to take over command in chief from General Redvers Buller.

On 7th February 1900 the Boers opened fire on Kimberley causing panic in the population and provoking a lengthy crisis between Rhodes and Kekewich.

Kimberley was finally relieved on 15th February 1900 by General French's cavalry division which galloped spectacularly across the Veldt.  The horses were overloaded and unused to the conditions and many perished as a result, leaving the Division seriously weakened.  On French's arrival Rhodes demanded that Kekewich be sacked as the garrison commander.  French sacked Kekewich before leaving with his division.

The lifting of the siege of Kimberley had little impact on the progress of the war, other than to significantly reduce the number of mounted troops available to Lord Roberts. 

Rhodes died in March 1902 at the age of 48.  Kekewich was promoted to Major General in August 1902 after his success at the Battle of Rooiwal.  On the outbreak of the First World War he was appointed to the 13th (Western) Division. On 5th November 1914 he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head.

Robert Kekewich was the second son of Trehawke Kekewich of Peamore, near Exeter, which is about 16 miles from Military House. An unassuming and often overgrown cross on the embankment by the side of the main road commemorates members of the Kekewich family.

In 1958 the most radical reorganisation of the British Army since 1881 took place.  This included the formation of the Green Jackets Brigade, which consisted of the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, the 1st Battalion of The King's Royal Rifle Corps and the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own.

The Brigade system was unpopular and relatively short lived.  On 1st January 1966 the three battalions amalgamated to form a single regiment - The Royal Green Jackets.

The regimental cap badge was formed using elements from the predecessor units.  At the centre of the Royal Green Jackets' cap badge is a bugle on a Maltese Cross. The cross is taken from the badges of both the King's Royal Rifle Corps and The Rifle Brigade. In the cross are various Battle Honours from the former regiments. They are so displayed because the regiment does not have colours.  At the base of the badge is a Naval Crown. This was awarded to The Rifle Brigade to commemorate earlier service under Nelson at Copenhagen.  The badge is framed by a wreath and surmounted by a crown.

In 2007 the Royal Green Jackets became part of The Rifles.