ROYAL
MARINES ASSOCIATION
REPORTING
NETWORK SUPPLEMENTAL
ARMED
FORCES’ ROLE IN THE FUNERAL OF LADY THATCHER
The
Ministry of Defence has announced details of the Armed Forces’ involvement in
the Funeral of The Rt Hon The Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG OM PC FRS, Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990.
The
Funeral will take place on Wednesday 17 April at St Paul’s Cathedral, involving
more than 700 Armed Forces personnel. The Coffin will be drawn on a Gun Carriage
of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery from St Clement Danes Church (the
church of the Royal Air Force) in the Strand to St Paul’s, with the Royal Navy,
the Army and the Royal Air Force lining the route. Outside the Cathedral a Guard
of Honour and Band of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards will be formed up.
While the Ceremonial Procession takes place, the Honourable Artillery Company
will fire Processional Minute Guns from Tower Wharf, HM Tower of London.
Carrying
the Coffin of Lady Thatcher into the Cathedral will be a Bearer Party made up of
all three Services, including those from ships, units and stations notable for
their service during the Falklands Campaign. Positioned on the steps will be a
Step Lining party made up of 18 tri-Service personnel and a contingent of
In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Senior military representatives
will attend the service.
The
military elements involved in the Funeral are:
Ceremonial
Gun Carriage
After
the Coffin has been moved to St Clement Danes Church from the Palace of
Westminster, it will be borne in Procession to St Paul’s Cathedral on a Gun
Carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The Gun Carriage will be
drawn by six horses (three of which are mounted), with a Sergeant riding
alongside, an Officer riding in front and three dismounted troops on foot.
Processional
Band
A
Band of HM Royal Marines will take part in the Procession from St Clement Danes
Church to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Bearer
Party
The
Bearer Party will walk alongside the Coffin in the Procession to the Cathedral,
consisting of 10 tri-Service personnel. Members will be taken from:
- Royal
Navy/Royal Marines;
- Scots
Guards;
- Welsh
Guards;
- Royal
Artillery;
- Royal
Engineers;
- Parachute
Regiment;
- Royal
Gurkha Rifles; and
- the
Royal Air Force.
Where
possible, personnel will be chosen from ships, units and stations connected to
those who served during the Falklands Campaign. They will be supported by one
Army Officer and a Warrant Officer.
Street
Lining of the Processional Route
The
Processional Route will be from St Clement Danes Church to St Paul’s Cathedral.
Lining the route will be personnel from:
- Royal
Navy and Royal Marines;
- F
Company Scots Guards;
- 1st
Battalion Welsh Guards; and
- Royal
Air Force.
Bands
in support of the Street Liners
Bands
from all three Services will be positioned alongside the Street Liners on the
processional route. These will be:
-
A Band of the Royal Marines;
-
The Band of the Scots Guards of the Household Division; and
-
A Band of the Royal Air Force.
Guard
of Honour
Outside
St Paul’s Cathedral a Guard of Honour of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards,
together with the Welsh Guards Band, will be mounted for the arrival of the
Coffin.
Step
Lining outside St Paul’s Cathedral for the arrival of the Coffin
A
Step Lining Party, comprising 18 Service personnel (six Royal Navy/Royal
Marines, six members of the Blues and Royals, Household Cavalry Mounted
Regiment, and six Royal Air Force) plus In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital
Chelsea will line the steps of St Paul’s for the arrival of the Coffin.
Processional Minute Guns
While
the Procession to St Paul’s Cathedral takes place, the Honourable Artillery
Company will fire Processional Minute Guns from Tower Wharf, HM Tower of London.
*
In
accordance with Lady Thatcher’s wishes, a flypast will not take
place.
For further information
on the military involvement contact the Ministry of Defence Press Office (020
7218 7907).
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