More than 1,000 sailors and Royal Marines are undergoing final preparations for their pivotal role in the Queen’s funeral after days of intensive training.

The Royal Navy say their sailors have the honour of pulling the State Ceremonial Gun Carriage bearing the Queen’s coffin for two miles through the streets of London – a duty they have performed since the funeral of Queen Victoria in 1901.

“Some 98 sailors will haul the two-and-a-half-ton ceremonial carriage, with a further 40 sailors marching behind the vehicle acting as brakes. They form the core of more than 1,000 Royal Navy personnel in the capital for the funeral including the Bands of HM Royal Marines, marching contingents of sailors and Royal Marines, musicians, stewards and personnel lining the route alongside colleagues from the Army and Royal Air Force.

Seventy years ago, the grandfather of Able Seaman Murray Kerr, a seaman specialist undergoing training, was a street liner on The Mall for the Coronation of the Queen while serving in the Scots Guards.”

On Monday, 20-year-old Murray, from Ayr, will repeat that duty at her funeral.

“I’m the third generation in my family in the Public Services – my grandfather as a National Serviceman, my father in the Fire Service, and now me in the Royal Navy,” the Scotsman said.

“My grandfather was there at the beginning of the Queen’s reign – I always thought it was an amazing thing to have done and tell people about – and I find there’s a strong symmetry being there at the end. It’s one of the biggest moments of not just this century so far but the last century too. I will now have the same sense of pride he did and I can tell my grandchildren like he did and inspire them to go and do similar things.”

Since Friday, Royal Navy ships, units and establishments around the world have paid their respects to Her Majesty with gun salutes both at sea and ashore, and lowering flags to half mast. And personnel were activated almost immediately to prepare for ceremonial duties surrounding the State Funeral.

“They have been drawn from the Royal Navy’s air stations at Culdrose and Yeovilton, HM Naval Base Portsmouth, Clyde and Devonport, HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, submarine HMS Vengeance and frigate HMS Iron Duke. They have converged on HMS Collingwood in Fareham to practise drill, marching and above all pulling the gun carriage which is being used for only the seventh time.”

Avatar photo
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

27 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
David Steeper
David Steeper
1 year ago

It’s strange to think that the Monarchy has no actual power over us and hasn’t had for centuries yet it has the greatest power of all. The power to bring us all together and remind us that whatever our arguments about politics or nationality we have far more in common. We’re many things but we’re also British and if only for a short time it will do us all good to remember that.

Andrew D
Andrew D
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

👍

Andy reeves
Andy reeves
1 year ago
Reply to  Andrew D

Magnificent

andy reevesandy262@gmail.com
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Pride an more than a bit jealous of one and all of them

Bill
Bill
1 year ago

👍

DH
DH
1 year ago

BZ. 👍👍

Daniele Mandelli
Daniele Mandelli
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Bravo!! BRAVO!!!

Mark B
Mark B
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Well said

Patrick
Patrick
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Nicely put.

Expat Alien
Expat Alien
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

👍

Quentin Drury
Quentin Drury
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

Well said David! Regards from 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇧

Mikka
Mikka
1 year ago
Reply to  David Steeper

It’s the paradox of human nature!

Posse Comitatus
Posse Comitatus
1 year ago

It was absolutely mesmerising and beautiful to watch the sheer precision, pageantry and skill of the various service personnel as they accompanied the Queen’s cortege from Buckingham Palace to Westminster. No country does it better.

Andrew D
Andrew D
1 year ago

Absolutely

andy reevesandy262@gmail.com
1 year ago

None

Bill
Bill
1 year ago

exactly

Angus
Angus
1 year ago

Only GREAT BRITAIN and its serving service personnel could do what we see. Doing the Queen ‘the Boss’ proud as she deserved.
Oh they have the right of power but choose not to letting the people do so. But their intel is better than we all know as she showed time after time.
RIP Ma’am. God Save the King

lonpfrb
lonpfrb
1 year ago
Reply to  Angus

Her majesty was engaged in transport, especially during her service in the ATC

Laurel Cooper
Laurel Cooper
1 year ago

My retirement home will be watching the ceremony on Monday, on TV in our communal lounge. Someone is providing sandwiches. I, as a Naval wife, (my late husband served with Prince Philip) will be providing a bottle of Pusser’s rum. So anyone who wishes can drink her Majesty’s health, Naval style.

Mark Forsyth
Mark Forsyth
1 year ago

All members of the British Military swear allegiance to the Sovereign and their rightful heirs. I swore an allegiance to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, and NOT the government of the day. During the period between Boris resigning and Liz Truss being asked to form a government, all legislative power and authority rested with Her Late Majesty. If she had wanted, she could have not asked LT to become her “Prime Minister”, and could have kept all the power withing the Royal Household. That is the power of a democratic sovereign, and I suspect that had serving and retired personnel… Read more »

Andy reeves
Andy reeves
1 year ago
Reply to  Mark Forsyth

I swore the same allegiance when I joined the prison service in1982,it was put to the test in the Falklands I was proud of the opportunity to do it.

Amin
Amin
1 year ago

Even we don’t like our leader as much as you because if he wants me to stop breathing it’s easy X_________X

Tom
Tom
1 year ago

The enthusiasm, patience and dedication shown by all those who have taken the time, to pay their respects to HRH laying in state, is a tribute to Great Britain.

Andy reeves
Andy reeves
1 year ago
Reply to  Tom

Nobody does it better than the British.

Andy reeves
Andy reeves
1 year ago

Those sailors have done a magnificent job of carrying the gun coach to the abbey we should be very proud of them

DH
DH
1 year ago

Watching HRH QUEEN Elizabeth ‘s ceremony. I’m crying like a we’ un. Well done the RN, and everyone. Restores your pride. God save the King!

Tommo
Tommo
1 year ago

Don’t wish too be a critic for an unforgettable, End for our Elizabean Age I may be wrong it just could have been the BBCs Camera angle but one Rating front rank offside second drag rope looked as if his trouser came adrift from his Gater I do hope I’m wrong as the Navy rose too an occasion not seen since Mountbattans funeral And alot of those young Ratings have still to pass out of their specific Branch’ course by the absence of Branch badges So bravo too all those involved with such a world stopping event