Saffron Kilts and Irish Wolfhound (large photo)

[BEEDEE]

None of the pipers look happy. What gives?


Brian

[ccga3359]

So why do Irish Wolfhounds have flat faces? Generations of chasing parked cars. Love the matching dog coat, dont know about the length of the kilts though.

[Rex_Tremende]

None of the pipers look happy. What gives?

Having participated in a parade or two, it's probably one of those hurry-up-and-wait situations. You're in formation, at rest, but there's nothing you can do but get lost in your own thoughts until you get the command to step off.

Either that, or they are practicing for their fashion runway model look.

Regards,
Rex.

[macwilkin]

The wolfhound in question would be the mascot of the Irish Guards -- depending on when the photo was taken, that is Comnal, who replaced Fergal after an accident in '07.

Take note of the St. Patrick's Blue hackles being worn on the caubeens and bearskins, and the cap badge (the star of the now-defunct Order of St. Patrick) being worn over the right eye, a la the London Irish.

Up the Micks!*

Todd

*The regiment's nickname, and meant as a term of endearment, not insult.

[Rogerson785]

None of the pipers look happy. What gives?


Brian

That is because the Sergeants Major probably just chewed them a new one. I do not recall ever being happy at a parade that I had to march in, except for the first Gulf War parade in Dallas TX.

[English Bloke]

... Nothing says honor guard like wearing your hat ridiculously close to your eyes...

Spot on!!

... I do not recall ever being happy at a parade that I had to march in...

I can't believe you're saying such things!! "Drill is a PILL to be taken daily, not as a medicine but as a TONIC"!!

[xena]

That is because the Sergeants Major probably just chewed them a new one.

You never know. It could also be the "hurry up, and wait" syndrome too. They could be waiting for a Rupert to figure out how to draw his sword or some such.

Actually, speaking of that: I was on a parade practice once, where a few minutes pass after the order "Officers, fall in" was given. I couldn't see directly, (as I was in the second rank) but it looked like they were fiddling about with their swords. Then the Adjutant turns his head and the biggest boomiest voice I've ever heard come out of him says "OFFICERS, HURRY UP! THE TROOPS ARE WAITING ON YOU!"

Well, due to the keen observational skills that I've honed over years of practice, along with my natural talent for noticing the blatantly obvious, I thought that was a bit out of the ordinary.

The we continued with the parade until the dismissal where we were given a break for an undetermined amount of time, while the Officers were called into a separate room to have a "chat" with the Adjutant. Of course, like rats off a sinking ship, we cleared out of the building just to get as far away from that room as possible. I think the entire non-commissioned cadre was hanging out in the smoking area that day.

It was then that I realized that parade practices aren't for the troops. They're for the Officer's. They need to practice and memorize what they're supposed to do.

The Sergeants Majors just seem to yell at the troops and nitpick just enough to keep the average jock from realizing that.

It's like when I was Duty NCO with a Duty Officer that was inspecting a few blokes we had on defaulters parade. One of the lads broke wind, apparently, and another chap snickered at it. The Duty Officer leaned into the one who snickered and said, in a quiet but dangerously mean voice, (you know, like the way they say things when they promise to kill you) "Look if I have to pretend to be mean, you can at least have the common courtesy to pretend to be afraid of me." At that moment, all military discipline became clear to me. It was an epiphany, of sorts, really.