Here's a question for serving or ex British Army blokes

minigeff

Ello, resident AJB nutcase here.

While trawling YouTube for all sorts of guff, I happened upon this clippy of a rather disrespectful tourist (out of shot) climbing the gates at Buckingham Palace;

http://youtu.be/Jh04KlutGD0

So here's the question, what powers do the guards have? Are the toys for show or could someone end up getting skewerd, or worse if they climbed over?

Just curious, that's all.

MG

Ps, keep up the good work chaps n lasses, ya country is proud -{

The Domino Effect

Not a squaddy past or present, but I'm pretty sure that the rifles are not loaded and that although they're more than capable of tackling any trespasser the job is actually down to the Bobbies.

Polynikes

The Domino Effect wrote:

Not a squaddy past or present, but I'm pretty sure that the rifles are not loaded and that although they're more than capable of tackling any trespasser the job is actually down to the Bobbies.

I've never done ceremonial guard duty but was always issued with 10 round in a magazine depending on the current threat level this was either fitted to the rifle or on my jacket pocket. If the magazine is fitted you can assume it is loaded. As well as the soldiers in tunics there will be others on standby in combats in the guardroom The bayonets are ceremonial but I'm sure would still do the trick. So14 royalty protection officers of the metropolitan police are also armed and will deal with any low level public order in the first instance.
The guards are infantry soldiers first and ceremonial guards second.If I were a visiting tourist I'd be careful about messing them about too much!

minigeff

Polynikes wrote:

The Domino Effect wrote:

Not a squaddy past or present, but I'm pretty sure that the rifles are not loaded and that although they're more than capable of tackling any trespasser the job is actually down to the Bobbies.

I've never done ceremonial guard duty but was always issued with 10 round in a magazine depending on the current threat level this was either fitted to the rifle or on my jacket pocket. If the magazine is fitted you can assume it is loaded. As well as the soldiers in tunics there will be others on standby in combats in the guardroom The bayonets are ceremonial but I'm sure would still do the trick. So14 royalty protection officers of the metropolitan police are also armed and will deal with any low level public order in the first instance.
The guards are infantry soldiers first and ceremonial guards second.If I were a visiting tourist I'd be careful about messing them about too much!

Ta, I was always curious as to what these guys could do and if it was all for show or not.

A mate of mine said when he did his basic in the RAF he was given 3 rounds for gate duty ) he'd probably miss with 2 of em )

You'd think the palace guards would be fully loaded, but I guess like ya say, there's a battalion behind the scenes.

I certainly wouldn't take any chances either way )