The Royal Canadian Artillery Band received the distinction of accompanying Capt. Megan Couto, 24, in a history-making moment.
The Canadian army officer led 40 Canadian soldiers through the changing of the guard ceremonies at Buckingham Palace and St. James Palace on Monday, June 26.
She was the first female infantry officer to command troops guarding the Queen and her residence.
“In Canada women have been in the military and in ground combat for quite a few years. In the United Kingdom, they are just getting women into the infantry. For Captain Couto, the guard ceremonies – that was breaking barriers,” said Capt. Christopher Embree, commanding officer of the RCA Band.
Although Couto was the first female infantry officer to command the guards, she was not the first woman serving with the guards. Back in 2000, the BBC News reported that in celebration of Australia’s centenary in the Commonwealth, The Australian Guards, four of which were women, took up sentry duty to protect the palace.
Capt. Cynthia Anderson led the detachment in a morning parade and formally asked permission for the new guard to relieve the old guard.
Couto’s unit, the Second Battalion of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2PPCLI) based out of Shilo, Manitoba, was invited to London to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary as a nation.
The 35-piece RCA band, smartly dressed in formal red uniforms and grey pith helmets, provided musical support playing Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and the theme song to Hockey Night in Canada.
“This was such a huge honour for the RCA Band – to parade in front of Buckingham Palace. I’m so humbled to represent our regiment back home. It was an honour to put our best foot forward and show London what Canadians can do,” said Embree in an upbeat tone.
Located at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, the RCA Band arrived in London on June 9 and will depart on July 6. Bunking at Cavalry Barracks, the home of the First Battalion of the Irish Guards, the military musicians have enjoyed a full schedule of public events.
They participated in the changing of the Queen’s guard five times marching into Buckingham Palace’s gated square to the applause of hundreds of tourists and Londoners.
On each occasion they played a diversity of Canadian material ranging from Stan Rogers’ Northwest Passage to Great Big Sea’s Ordinary Days.
Today, Canada Day, the Canadian High Commission has hijacked Trafalgar Square providing entertainment for this popular tourist destination from the early afternoon until 8 p.m. The RCA musicians are slated to perform for 30 minutes at 2:10 p.m. London time.
Upon their initial arrival in London, the band participated in the Beating Retreat Ceremony, a tattoo-styled ceremony showcasing five Foot Guard bands as well as The Band of the Household Cavalry.
Held at the Horse Guard Parade Square, the outdoor, sold-out event attracted thousands of watchers.
“To be centre stage was a fantastic opportunity for the musicians. To be with all the Household Division bands was unbelievable.”
Possibly the most emotional piece of the celebration was Major Simon Haw’s composition titled Passchendaele.
During the performance, two guards walked up through the centre of the band. One represented Canada. The other, the United Kingdom.
“They each carried a World War I ceremonial drum representing the two nations. They placed the drums atop a drum altar. It was absolutely amazing. There wasn’t a dry eye in the place.”
And on June 17, the day of Queen Elizabeth’s 91st birthday celebrations, the band performed at Green Park as part of the 41-round Royal Gun Salute. Her majesty, meanwhile, stood on Buckingham Palace’s balcony watching a flyby.
On another occasion, on June 28, the RCA Brass Quintet performed live on BBC Radio 3. Trumpeters Sgt. Sylvain Beyries and Sgt. Greg Moffat in addition to Sgt. Annenieke Vanderkraay (trombone), Bdr. Angie Dolomount (French horn) and Sgt. Don Pain (tuba) played Morley Calvert’s Sweet on Canada Folk Songs and Howard Cable’s Newfoundland Rhapsody.
“That was really big.”
And on a sadder note, trumpeters Byries and Moffat played a duet of Last Post and Reveille at Lady Patricia, Countess of Mountbatten’s funeral at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
For 33 years, she had served as Colonel-in-Chief of the PPCLI before relinquishing her title to the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson in 2007.
“It’s basically a once in a career chance to come here and do the job we are doing. Mounting the Queen’s Guard is the highest honour. We came because of Canada’s 150th celebrations and we can hold our heads high and know we’ve come a long way in 150 years.”
