- Public duties
Public duties are performed by military personnel, and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role.
Germany
The "Wachregiment Berlin" was founded in early 1921. In addition to genuine security duties, the unit was used for ceremonial public duties in the capital. The regiment disbanded in June 1921 and shortly after was revived as "Kommando der Wachtruppe" (lit. Headquarters Guard Troop).
The "Wachtruppe" comprised seven companies, each drawn from one of the seven active army divisions. Each company served for three months before returning to their parent division. In this way, the Wachtruppe represented the whole
Reichswehr .The "Kommando" was based at Moabit Barracks, and every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, performed a modest changing of the guard ceremony for the public. On each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday the entire "Wachtruppe", accompanied by the regimental band, marched from the barracks through the
Brandenburg Gate and to the Berlin War Memorial, providing a greater spectacle for public view.In 1934, the unit was renamed "Wachtruppe Berlin" and in 1936 a headquarters and administration company were added. In June 1937, the unit was again renamed "Wach Regiment Berlin". Postings were now done by individuals, not entire companies, and each man served six-month tours of duty. The unit provided escorts and Guards of Honour for State Visits, Conferences and even the Olympic Games.
In 1939, the unit was reorganized as the "
Infantry Regiment Grossdeutschland ". While equipped as a field unit, the regiment also maintained a public duties detachment in the capital. The ceremonial guard was pressed into service during the July bomb plot in 1944 and helped round up conspirators in the capital.Like the British Brigade of Guards at that time, the "Grossdeutschland" maintained a strict height requirement. [Spaeter, Helmuth "History of the Panzerkorps Grossdeutschland" (J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing) ]
United Kingdom
London
Three
infantry battalions of theBritish army are currently tasked with the provision of Public Duties. Two of these are from theFoot Guards of theHousehold Division , and one (since 1996) is aline infantry battalion. The former are normally based at Wellington Barracks in centralLondon , within a short distance ofBuckingham Palace , and atVictoria Barracks inWindsor Castle , while the latter is at theCavalry Barracks, Hounslow . Permanent Public Duties companies of theFoot Guards also supplement these men.Line Infantry Battalions on Public Duties since 1996
*1st Bn,
Royal Regiment of Wales 1996-1998
*1st Bn,Duke of Wellington's Regiment 1998-2000
*1st Bn,Devonshire and Dorset Regiment 2000-2002
*1st Bn,Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment 2002-2005
*1st Bn, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regimentfn|1 2005-2008
*2nd Bn,Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 2008-The 1st Bn, 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment served in this role 1986-1988, stationed at
Caterham , the first to do so. The 1st Bn,King's Own Fusiliers in the series "Soldier Soldier " served for a period on public duties during the run of the series.Apart from providing the
Queen's Guard atBuckingham Palace andSt James's Palace , and theTower of London Guard, the Public Duties battalions occasionally also provide theWindsor Castle Guard, which is otherwise provided by the battalion based at Windsor. From 1783-1973 the Guards provided a nightly detachment for guard duty at theBank of England .All ceremonial events in
London involve the Public Duties battalions. They are also available, should this be necessary, to fulfil the primary role of a royalbodyguard , that of providing armed troops for the defence of the Sovereign and thecapital , and of providing military assistance to the civilian authorities as and when needed (such as the firefighters strike).
*fnb|1 The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters will be amalgamated in 2007 while they are stationed in London. The 1st Battalion will be renamed as the 2nd Battalion,Mercian Regiment .Edinburgh
Public duties are also carried out in
Edinburgh , although not as frequently as London. Prior to 2002, sentries were permanently stationed at the entrance toEdinburgh Castle , but these were withdrawn due to cost-cutting measures. Today, sentries are posted during the evenings between 6 pm and 9 am, and throughout the week that HM The Queen spends in Edinburgh at both the castle and thePalace of Holyroodhouse . Sentries are also posted at the castle during the month of theEdinburgh Military Tattoo prior to each performance.Unlike in London, there is no permanently based foot guards battalion stationed in Edinburgh, so public duties are performed by one of the resident line infantry/rifles battalions. These are currently: 3rd Battalion,
The Rifles , based atRedford Barracks , The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st BattalionThe Royal Regiment of Scotland , based at Dreghorn Barracks andThe Royal Highland Fusiliers , 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland at Glencorse Barracks,Penicuik . These units will rotate duties periodically but the unit under the command of52nd Infantry Brigade will have responsibility for public duties.Edinburgh Military Tattoo sentries
*1998: 1st Battalion,
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
*1999: 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
*2000: 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's)
*2001: 1st Battalion,The Light Infantry
*2002: 1st Battalion,The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)
*2003: 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment)
*2004: The Royal Gibraltar Regiment
*2005:Royal Naval Reserve
*2006:The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders , 5th BattalionThe Royal Regiment of Scotland
*2007: 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery
*2008:Hans Majestet Kongens Garde Arms Plot
Battalions on public duties are part of the regular arms plot; this is where infantry battalions are periodically rotated to various locations and different roles. From approximately 2006, the arms plot system will cease - battalions will be given fixed roles and locations. In theory, this will include public duties in London, which will retain its two guards and one line infantry battalion. However, for unpopular postings (including public duties), light role infantry battalions will continue to rotate. Under this scheme, several battalions have been initially earmarked to rotate public duties in London:
*1st Battalion,Grenadier Guards
*1st Battalion,Coldstream Guards
*1st Battalion,Irish Guards
*1st Battalion,Welsh Guards
*2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
*2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)
*2nd Battalion,The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
*2nd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (Green Howards)
*1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
*3rd Battalion,The Rifles Two battalions of foot guards will be assigned to operational formations while the other two are on public duties. These four battalions will rotate with each other. The line infantry and rifles battalions will rotate between public duties as part of London District, service as a resident battalion in
Cyprus and serving as part of 52 Infantry Brigade, which holds infantry battalions at high readiness for independent deployment.Canada
Public duties are performed in
Ottawa , the capital ofCanada . The primary ceremonial duties involve mounting guard at the Canadian Parliament and atRideau Hall , the official residence of the Governor General. These are performed primarily by the two Canadian regiments of foot guards, detachments of which are formed into theCeremonial Guard . However, as in London, it would be possible for any Canadian regiment to serve in this capacity. The guard at Parliament Hill and Rideau Hall are mounted daily from early June until late August, with the first parade usually on the Friday beforeCanada Day . Since 1989, theGovernor General's Foot Guards have performed additional public duties in Ottawa during the autumn and winter months.United States
Washington, D.C.
Probably the best-known U.S. military unit to regularly engage in public duties is the
3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") of theU.S. Army . Since April 6, 1948, the regiment is tasked with perpetually guarding theTomb of the Unknowns atArlington National Cemetery . The regiment also regularly takes part inWhite House ceremonies, including atstate visit s.The other U.S. military services have their own ceremonial units.
References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.