JUNE 28, 2023 – London, UK – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) – Canadian Army, alongside soldiers from their Allied Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers – British Army, participated in a momentous Drumhead Service at Colour Court, St James’s Palace, London, UK. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Fraser, CD, Commanding Officer of the Lorne Scots, led the guard in front of a private audience, including His Royal Highness, Field Marshal, The Duke of Kent, to consecrate their drums and rededicate them to His Royal Highness by naming them the HRH The Duke of Kents’ Drums in recognition of his commitment as their longest serving Colonel-in- Chief.
“No more fitting place could be found to recognize these emblems of duty and of service than this Chapel Royal, where praise, prayer and acts of devotion and dedication are made.” – Captain Kevin Coupland, Padre – The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment)
During the ceremony, the Regimental Colours were placed over the stacked drums, and a service conducted by the Regimental Padre, Captain Kevin Coupland, and The Reverend Canon Paul Wright LVO, Sub-Dean to HM Chapel Royal, consecrated the Colours. The event concluded with three cheers for HRH The Duke of Kent and an awards presentation within the Chapel Royal.
The Lorne Scots Regiment felt honoured to journey to London for this occasion, to conduct the service in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent. The soldiers of the Lorne Scots will proudly march to the beat of the Duke of Kent’s Drums during the upcoming Presentation of New Colours Ceremony in Halton Hills, Canada, this fall.
His Royal Highness, Field Marshal, The Duke of Kent KG GCMG GCVO ADC(P) was appointed the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment June 11, 1977. The Colonel-in-Chief is the titular head of a Regiment and usually a member of The Royal Family.
Since his appointment as our Colonel-in-Chief, His Royal Highness has visited the Regiment five times (1979, 1983, 1991, 2010 and 2016) to attend similar parades such as the Trooping of the Colours. In 1991, His Royal Highness presented the current Colours of The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) during a visit to Ontario, Canada.
A Drumhead Service is an Army ecumenical service traditionally held in the field during armed conflict, which sees the Regiment’s drums placed on top of each other to form an altar. The Service dates back to the 1700s when, lacking any means of transport to travel to church, the Regiment’s Padre would conduct the Service in the field, to provide the soldiers with a period of religious reflection and remembrance, and to pay tribute to their fallen comrades. During the Service at St James’s Palace, The Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment) dedicated the Drums of their Regiment.
Photos by MCpl Varun Virwani. See the full album on our Facebook Page.
