'Immaculate' Royal Navy sailors and musicians conduct HMS Excellent training drills for Remembrance parades

Dedicated military personnel conducted vital training drills ahead of emotional Remembrance services this weekend.

Around 110 people from different services have been undergoing gruelling training regimes at HMS Excellent on Whale Island. Today (November 4) marked the final set of parades ahead of events in London.

Warrant Officer 1 Glynn Moffat, State Ceremonial Training Officer (SCTO), is tasked with making sure everything is perfect before parades at The Cenotaph The Royal Albert Hall. He said today’s drills were a culmination of four weeks worth of intense training.

“It’s not about getting the drill right,” he told The News. “It’s about getting across to the individuals why remembrance is so important to themselves and the Royal Navy, and why getting it right matters. All of that hard work and effort is now done, so we’re ready to transfer to London and deliver on the day.”

Volunteers were drafted from from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service and Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Talented musicians from the Royal Marines Band Service (RMBS) will be taking centre stage during the performances.

The processional group marched in formation around the training square. Observant instructors kept their beady eyes over the personnel to ensure nothing was out of place. Buglers practiced The Last Post in bitterly cold and windy weather.

WO1 Moffat, born and raised in Portsmouth, said the preparations are intense in order to meet the appropriate standards. “We have a long time to train to condition our individuals to stand still for long periods of time,” he added.

“I challenge anyone to do that without conditioning training. It’s important so we can honour those who came before us in the right way. In their own way, sailors volunteering for this reinforces the connection they have with family members who have done it before, or honouring shipmates or family members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.”

WO1 Moffat said Remembrance weekend events are the most significant in a busy ceremonial calendar. “They’re the most poignant and brings the nation together,” he added. “The Royal Navy, Royal Marines and QWRNS are front and centre to that remembrance activity.

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“This is the most special event for me personally. I’m a third generation Warrant Officer, the fifth in my family to have the honour of being the Warrant Officer. My family has a rich tradition of being in the service. I think the personnel will do great and hopefully everyone will be able to see it on TV.”

Lance Corporal Dan Harris, of Fratton, has served in the RMBS for 18 years and said preparations have been excellent. The 36-year-old added: “The guard forming up, with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Band, were absolutely immaculate.

“It’s really important we do that as it's a really tough day to stand there and endure the weather and everything else.”

L/Cpl Harris said the younger personnel are stepping up to the challenge despite being nervous. “As a nation, we do this impeccably, and we’re ready to keep up those standards,” he added.

“We’ve been doing this for generations. It hasn’t changed and is always the same. That’s important because it sets the standards we need to maintain.

“It really gets to the heart of the matter and makes people proud. Seeing people being a part of it as you grow up and then being involved yourself is a good feeling. I look forward to this every year as it’s so important, and we’re all fully prepared.”

AB2 Eva James, 17, of Horndean, will be taking part in her first remembrance service. She said she joined the force as she was inspired by veterans and those who served before her.

She said: “I get a lot of pride in being part of parades like this. Not everyone gets the opportunity. To be picked is really exciting. I didn’t know I was doing this until a couple of weeks ago. It was really exciting, I’m a bit nervous though.

“The training is obviously quite tough, but it’s nothing compared to what the soldiers went through fighting for our country. The long days are worth it, you meet new people and make new friendships. You see what everyone else is doing for the country, and you want to step forward and do the same.”

AB2 Lenny Crockford, 17, of Cosham, said: “We’re training for a big moment and to pay our respects to those who passed away serving our country. This is to show our thoughts for them.

“We’re working to make sure we’re properly conditioned. Even though many of us are really young, we’ve been doing quite well. Everyone is working as hard as they can. Being from Portsmouth, the Royal Navy is all you really see, and you just want to be a part of it.”