WILTSHIRE’S newest battalion officially said hello to Wiltshire on Monday when it hosted a musical ceremony with echoes of the past.
As the sun set over Salisbury Plain, The 5th Battalion The Rifles (5 RIFLES) signalled the completion of their move from Paderborn in Germany to Bulford by Sounding the Retreat.
The Band and Bugles of The Rifles gave the guests a rousing performance of both modern and traditional tunes concluding with the hauntingly beautiful ‘Sunset (bugle call)’.
The salute was taken by both General Sir Nick Carter, Chief of the General Staff, in his role as the Colonel Commandant of the Battalion and the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton.
Other distinguished guests included the leader of Wiltshire Council, Baroness Scott of Bybrook and the Mayor of Salisbury, Derek Brown and many senior retired officers from the regiment.
Also attending were soldiers and officers of the Battalion with family and friends.
The 5th Battalion was created from the First Battalion The Light Infantry and has deployed to Iraq and more recently Afghanistan where it was the last fighting unit in Helmand province.
It will now make its permanent home in Bulford as part of Army 2020 and Army Basing.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here