This summer will mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, one of the great military conflicts of history.
The Duke of Wellington's victory will be commemorated on Horse Guards Parade in London on the 10th & 11th June with a spectacle of military music, horses, fireworks, cannons and historical re-enactment.
Five bands
Taking part in the Household Division 'Beating Retreat' will be the five regimental bands; The Foot Guards of the Grenadier, Coldstream, Scots, Irish and Welsh, as well as the Household Cavalry Band.
And just as at Waterloo, the British Army will be joined by German representation with a performance from The Musikkorps der Bundeswehr.
Part of the massed bands performance will feature a bugle found on the fields of Waterloo in the aftermath of the battle.
It has been a part of the collection of the Museum of Army Music, Kneller Hall, for many years, and this year will be the first time since 1815 that it has been sounded in public. The instrument will have once served the purpose of relaying the commands of the 'Iron Duke' himself to the troops on the ground.
Delicate condition
However, having gone through one of the bloodiest conflicts of the era it is not surprising that the bugle is in a delicate condition — although still playable. Apart from being severely dented the instrument has lost part of the bell section, and the original mouthpiece is firmly stuck in.
Thankfully, the bugle will not see battle again, although it will proudly be used for this historic ceremonial purpose.
Bugle duty
On this occasion that duty will fall to Lance Corporal Nick Walkley, Principal Cornet of the Welsh Guards Band.
He told 4BR: "It's both an honour and a challenge. To play an instrument that a soldier took in to the battle we are commemorating gives us a direct connection that is rare and poignant.
It is also an extremely difficult task, as its condition has altered the pitch by almost a whole tone and the harmonics are no longer where they should be. The mouthpiece is also very different; much flatter and wider rimmed than I would ever use.
Despite all of that, it still makes a decent sound!"
It's both an honour and a challenge. To play an instrument that a soldier took in to the battle we are commemorating gives us a direct connection that is rare and poignantLance Corporal Nick Walkley
Time and place
LCpl Walkley is pictured above with the bugle at The Royal Hospital, Chelsea, alongside cannon also recovered from the battlefield. The white gloves are a special addition to his usual uniform, worn in this case to protect the condition of the bugle.
The Household Division Beating Retreat will take place on Horse Guards Parade at 8:00pm, Wednesday 10th & Thursday 11th June.
Find out more
On Wednesday it will be attended by The German Ambassador to London, and on Thursday evening by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.
For further details visit http://www.householddivision.org.uk
Army career
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