GDF golden jubilee celebrations continue with trooping of Colours

Nov 19, 2015 Sports

As the local military continues to focus on commemorating the past, celebrating the present and carving the future, the Guyana Defence Force hosted an historic consecration and Trooping of the Colours on its

GDF flag bearers and ranks during trooping of the Colours of five Units of the GDF.

playfield at Base Camp Ayanganna.
Yesterday’s ceremonial showcase featured the consecration and trooping of the Colours of five Units of the GDF— the Number One Infantry Battalion, Second Infantry Battalion, Base Camp Ayanganna, Base Camp Stephenson and Four Engineers Battalion.
The grand spectacle of military precision was part of the Guyana Defence Force’s 50th Anniversary (Golden Jubilee) activities. They were witnessed by military ranks, dignitaries, ministers, civilians and members of the diplomatic corps.
As ranks marched in both slow and quick timing at intervals their equilibrium on field evoked much celebratory applause from those present.
Commander in Chief- Brigadier (Ret’d) David A Granger, and Chief of Staff -Brigadier General Mark Anthony Phillips, took the salute from the ceremonially attired ranks.
As part of the day’s proceedings a consecration Service was conducted by army Chaplain Rev. Nicholas Corbin, supported by Pastor George Jeffers, assistant force Chaplain who blessed the five flags and their ranks, as did Pandit Dhanesh Prashad and Brother Asheel Khan. After the consecration the flags were returned to the flag bearers of each unit.
According to the GDF, Guyana’s tradition of colours date back to the days of colonial rule when the British Guiana Volunteer Force received both its own Regimental Colour and the Queen’s Colour.

GDF Chaplain Reverend Nicholas Corbin supported by Pastor George Jeffers, assistant force Chaplain prays for the five unit flags and their ranks seeking direction and protection from the almighty in the company of Pandit Dhanesh Prashad and Brother Asheel Khan.

The Regimental Colour of the Guyana Defence Force was presented after Consecration, on Sunday October 29, 1972 by Forbes Burnham the then Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.
The State Colour was consecrated and presented to the Guyana Defence Force on Tuesday October 29, 1985 by Hugh Desmond Hoyle, then President and Commander in Chief.
The force’s next event is the military tattoo showcase slated for Saturday at the same venue. It will feature displays such as martial arts, paratroop jumping and a grand fireworks display.
From earliest times men have carried into battle some token to serve as identification and a rallying point in the field. The form this token has taken has varied throughout the world.
However, in England during a period of conflict with Spain, Commanders of regiments who were not noblemen and who therefore had no Coat of Arms, used tokens of various colours to identify their particular commands. These tokens took the shape of flags and became known as “Colours”.
Colours were taken into battle by “Ensigns” in positions from which they could easily be seen and recognized. They became the centre of the bitterest fighting. Many deeds of heroism and self sacrifice to prevent the capture of “Colours” are recorded.
Thus, the Colour became the symbol of the embodiment of the spirit of the men who fought under them.
Battle-honours earned by those men were placed upon them. The practice of consecrating the colours developed and they were accorded the highest military honours.
Trooping the ‘Colour’ is a ceremony involving parading the colour within the ranks developed initially as a means of ensuring that each soldier knew the colour of his unit and could therefore rally to it in Battle.
Colours are no longer carried into battle in response to the changing circumstances of war. However they remain the symbol of the spirit of the regiments, and the ceremonial tradition associated with them has been preserved.