Christopher Robin went Down with Alice

OK.  A couple of days into this and I’m already confused.  Last post I said I was done with London but thankfully I had one more day.

First stop, Buckingham Palace.  

Not a walk by like I did earlier, but the Changing of the Guard.  Sort of. The Changing begins around 11:15 and I was an hour early. I took a few pics of the Victoria Memorial.  The 2300 tonne monument was unveiled in 1911.  With Winged Victory atop

the four sculptures were each made of a single block of marble representing the Queen

Motherhood

Justice

Truth

Truth

The corners are massive lions representing  Progress

Peace

Agriculture

and Manufacture

I heard band music playing a sort distance from the Palace and with time to kill went to the Wellington barracks to see what was up. There was a rehearsal going on for an upcoming remembrance of Gallipoli, one of the worst defeats by the British in WWI. A combination of Turkish & Brits were playing. While watching I chanced to meet an 84 year old, retired artillery man who explained what I was seeing.  He then went on to tell me that this was actually a very good place to observe vs. fighting the crowds in front of Buckingham as the band & Guard assembled here and marched over. I was informed that there were different Guards who took turns.These were all active duty troops forming the Queens Guard.  They consist of: Scots Guard, Irish Guards, Welch, Guards, Grenadier & Coldstream Guards.  Today were the Welch.

I was informed about the different ranks, what the inspection was about and a little history.  We also discussed US & UK politics, his life as a lad during WWII, serving in Korea and much more. Unfortunately I don’t seem to have a photo of Garrison Sargent Major Billy Motts who was working the parade grounds in preparation for an upcoming event.  All in all, it was a much better way to learn than standing in this throng hoping to get a photo without knowing what I was shooting.

Thank you for the lesson Michael Ellis