Queen Awards “Royal” Title To Regiment
Her Majesty The Queen has awarded the title ‘Royal’ to the Bermuda Regiment with effect from today — the 50th Anniversary of its amalgamation — and the Regiment will now be known as the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
Speaking today at Warwick Camp, Governor George Fergusson said, “This is terrific news. This is a real honour and mark of recognition for the Regiment.
“These things are not at all automatic: it’s a real award, recognising not only the Regiment’s contribution to Bermuda since its formation but also its support to countries and Territories in the Caribbean.
“It is also very specifically a recognition of the contribution and sacrifices made by its predecessor units, the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps in two World Wars, and units before that. Members of the Regiment, past and present, have every reason to be proud at this award.”
The formal announcement read, “Her Majesty The Queen has graciously agreed to the award of the title ‘Royal’ to the Bermuda Regiment to mark 50 years of dedicated and loyal service to The Crown and its forbears’ dedicated and loyal service dating back to 1612. By Her Majesty’s Command the new title is effective from the Regiment’s Golden Jubilee on 1 September 2015.”
The announcement comes on the Anniversary of the formal amalgamation of the Bermuda Militia Artillery and the Bermuda Rifles on 1 September 1965.
The Regiment will be known as the Royal Bermuda Regiment [RBR]. It is not expected that costs will be incurred as a result of the change. Changes to insignia, badges etc will be made as new items are required, ordered or manufactured, the Regiment said.
The Regiment’s Commanding Officer Lt Col M Foster-Brown, who is currently off island, sent the following comments of support: “I am thrilled and delighted at the honour which recognizes the long and distinguished service of the Regiment.
“This Distinction is particularly appropriate on our golden anniversary and is the best birthday present we could have hoped for.”
The comments should be good… *gets popcorn*
Bermuda for Independence.
Nope
Mind you, even in an independent country, the term ‘Royal’ could still be applied. Barbados for example, their police force has ‘Royal’ as a prefix.
Or indeed the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Imagine someone with fixed anti Royal feelings being stopped. Would they ignore the police or comply?
Many Commonwealth countries retain the monarchy as their head of state. Some don’t, such as India, Pakistan and Singapore (as examples).
Royalism and republicanism are a completely separate issue from that of independence. There are republican movements throughout the Commonwealth (such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada) and within the UK itself. Indeed, thge republican movement has longer roots in Britain than Mrs Windsor’s dynasty.
Is Pakistan, for example, a great model for democracy, freedom, and tolerance, in your view?
That’s irrelevant to the point. They were merely examples that royalism\republicanism are unrelated to the issue of independence.
The success or otherwise of different countries varies and due to complex reasons. It’s far too simplistic to conclude, for example, that this country’s problems are solely down to it being a republic or this country’s success is due to it remaining a monarchy.
Additionally, there are different forms of republics, just as there are different forms of monarchies. The Saudi monarchy is different from the Swazi monarchy and the Dutch monarchy. The German republic is different from the French republic and the US republic, etc.
So No then.
Its an honor to be an 8th year soldier of the Royal Bermuda Regiment.
we thank you for your service
Congratulations to The Royal Bermuda Regiment. I am honoured to have served with the Regiment, and all members past, present and future should be pleased with this recognition. “Train hard, fight easy”.
Fight what?
thank you for your service
Congratulations to everyone involved at the Royal Bermuda Regiment!
This is a great honour and I am proud to see our Regiment recognized.
Well done Royal Bermuda Regiment!!!
How is this an honor? I dont get it.
I hope republicans can now claim exception from conscription going forward.
I’m proud of my time in the Regiment. But I would have refused outright to have served it under such a name. Would rather spend my time in the brig than parade under such a name.
I take it you will refuse any treatment at King Edward Memorial Hospital then?
No problem attending a university established by Royal Charter with your tuition fees paid for by British taxpayers though.
Ha, I advocate for it’s renaming as the Ball-Gordon Memorial Hospital myself.
As far as I’m concerned, that’s what it is to me. And I look forward to the day we do away with these colonial legacies and anti-democratic institutions of ‘royalty’.
(Apologies for any repetition)
while I agree with you that conscription needs to be done away with I see no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. a career in the military is something that many young people want. sometimes, it’s their only career option.
To be clear, I wasn’t really speaking to the issue of conscription, but just to the argument that those who are profoundly opposed to the monarchy and see it as inherently incompatible with notions of democracy, such as I, should have the right to be excused from being conscripted into a military organisation designated as ‘Royal’.
On the issue of conscription itself, my view is that if we are to have a military then we should have universal conscription, rather than male only and a lottery at that, but with exceptions for conscientious objectors and, if we’re calling it ‘royal’ for republicans too.
Personally I don’t think we require a military and would like to see Bermuda an international military free zone. So no Regiment (‘royal’ or otherwise) and no supporting foreign military vessels. I am supportive of a national service in a non-military version, focused on hurricane training. Something more akin to an engineering corps I suppose.
However, the argument I was making was solely an objection to the monarchy and the Regiment being so named.
@ Starling. GROW UP your like a little child a little whiner. You did your time, you were proud to serve, Do you have a phobia against Royalty. I have a disloyalty to socialism. Boo Hoo.
I suppose one could say I have a phobia towards the monarchy in as much as I’m an ardent believer in something called ‘democracy’ and find any notion of an unelected head of state, constitutional or otherwise, as inherently incompatible with any notion of democracy. Sure.
Not sure why you’re bringing up socialism here. That’s got nothing at all to do with an argument for a republic…
J Starling you are not alone with your way of thinking. Thank you for illustrating your feelings way better than I could.
So called democracy is a myth. One man one vote is the biggest myth. Take Bermuda and probably three quarters of the Constituencies are fixed in how they vote. The closest one could get to democracy is to have every single Government decision to be put to a referendum. That is still not democratic as the result can easily be set by the format of the question. Not only that but unless every taxpayer is given a vote you get back to “no taxation without representation” and Bermuda is a classic example of that fallacy. IB provides most of Bermuda’s income yet has very little influence in a vote.
Hamilton Tea Party anyone?
I’m sure they will be better off without a whinging complainer among their ranks.
Says the person complaining and whinging about someone arguing for democracy and an end to an anti-democratic institution that is the monarchy…
FWIW, I served from 2003 to 2006…
Says the guy who sallies forth about refusing to serve “unelected heads of state” but sees Cuba under the Castros as “a beacon of hope.”
I admire your attempt to deflect.
However, I said the Cuban revolution and the successes of it are a beacon of hope. At the same time I’ve called for the deepening of the revolution through greater democratisation.
Things are not black and white. One can admire some aspects of a system while being critical of others. Even the imperialist USA has some good points.
Deflect from what? The story is what the story is.
Harrumphing about the undemocratic implications of a royal title for the Regiment is your thing.
Elevating a paranoid and brutal Caribbean caudillo-ship to the legendary shining city on a hill is another one of your things.
One could be forgiven for thinking that your concern for the preservation and promulgation of certain “democratic” values is somewhat skewed.
Since an MP has take an oath pledging allegiance to the Queen, I imagine you will no longer be attempting to become one, since it would be a waste of everyone’s time if you’re just going to fail to make the required pledge.
Unless of course you are prepared to lie under oath in order to obtain an MP’s salary. But of course you wouldn’t do that.
That’s fitting since politicians (police too) clearly have no allegiance to their country or constituents just to the little old lady in the shiny hat.
I was proud to serve and am even more proud now to have had the privilege to serve the ROYAL Bermuda regiment.
Train Hard Fight easy. Hoo Raa.
Hoo Raa?!! That’s the Regiment’s battle cry?!?! LOL!!! That’s worse than the accursed hooah I have to put up with from other Army personnel out here. LOL!!!http://www.duffelblog.com/2012/11/hoah-hoahhoah-hoah-hoah-hoah-hoahhaoh-hoah/
glad I never served for the house of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (the Winsdor family). The monarchy is finished. It was finished a while ago, but they’re still making the corpses dance.
@ jr Smith. you will pass long before the monarchy does. I need not guess who your hero could be. Dance on little mushroom.
Great news…I was worried standards would falter when the Crown went missing on police pips….why dey did dat?
Well deserved!
This is wonderful news!
Quite a distinguished accolade. A fitting tribute to memorilaize the Regiments golden anniversary.
Lol @ all of the ‘positive’ comments above. You can bet that strong words of encouragement were sent around telling people to post on this story. Too bad they do just the opposite when negative press is shared or actual facts are needed re: assaults, lack of organization, poor management, even worse people management, those in charge being unsure of protocols/standing orders, false arrests, bullying, discrimination, antiquated laws, straight up lying, binge drinking etc. But be proud of your time served. I mean all of those wars, riots, hurricanes, fitness tests, January swims, and marches you have helped with have done wonders for our island. Hoo rah! Lmao. No
You and Starling certainly know how to whine!
Time for the both of you to go back to the Motherland.
Say hello to the Queen.
Not too sure what’s not to like about my comment. Hoo rah is like a knock off of the USMC Orah. That’s really the only one I like. I don’t let my Soldiers hooah at me. I hate it.
Anyway, it is nice to see the comments thanking those that served for their service. Even though a lot of people laugh at those that serve in the Regiment, I am one I tease my friend about it a lot, it really is a sacrifice. When hurricanes hit and you get to be home with your families the men and women of the Regiment are away from theirs to help keep you safe.
I chose to move to the US and become an American Soldier…best decision I made. I think most if not all Bermudians would benefit from serving.
Wow – comparing the Monarchy to despotic leadership…last time I checked the Monarchy in the UK whilst holding the right of veto has not exercised this right is as long as I have been alive. The Monarchy is not really not interested in meddling with the affairs of state – it is much more a figurehead for the UK and her territories. Believe it or not your anti-establishment opinions are polarised from those of a majority of people – if you want to talk democracy!
I don’t think I made any comparisons with despotic regimes…
At most I said the concept of a monarchy is inherently incompatible with any notion of democracy; not that it was inherently despotic.
And in a democracy, even a flawed one that maintains an unelected head of state such as a monarchy, one’s entitled to advocate for ones beliefs, including for a republic. I’m not imposing a republic on any one (although a monarchy IS imposed on me), only giving an argument for a republic and against a monarchy.
Nor does it matter if it’s a minority opinion. We live in a flawed democracy, not a mob-rule society. And is it any surprise it’s a minority position? People tend to inherently support the status quo; it’s not questioned generally until one stops to reflect and point out the absurdity. And even then one is up against multiple layers of indoctrination regarding the monarchy, plus the fact that a sizeable chunk of the people’s wealth used to maintain the monarchy goes to an aggressive propaganda campaign for the monarchy.