Queen Victoria's Funeral (1901)

[Orvis]

Fascinating film! Of course, those were the pre-1914 days of regimental full-dress throughout the British Army, so it would be spectacular to see as a "talking" colorized newsreel. I agree that part of the film was a reverse-negative (showing swords being carried opposite to where they should have been). It was interesting to see the Guardsmen carrying their rifles at "reverse arms," and then while halted executing the movements for "rest upon arms reversed." Did you note how the Guards officer had to chivvy some of his men away from the front of the VIP stand when the gun carriage was drawn to a halt prior to taking off HM's casket? As to the precision of marching and drill, one can't really tell much from a silent film of such age (for example, it appeared that the marchers were marching at "quick time," while they were actually doing the slow march, but I believe it had been quite some time since the troops and the other dignitaries had performed a State Funeral of such magnitude. Since there was probably no dress rehearsal (except probably for the RN gun carriage crew, which obviously got a lot of rehearsal, judging from the precision of their drill), I am not surprised that some of the marchers were a bit rusty. As to the German officer in the winged pickelhaube, I believe that was Kaiser Wilhelm II (Queen Victoria's cousin), who did attend the State Funeral, along with royalty and nobility from across Europe (they were all related somehow).

When Sir Winston Churchill died and received a State Funeral, it was the first live trans-Atlantic TV broadcast, and I remember seeing it as a kid. The RN again formed the gun carriage crew and carried out their duties according to the extant edition of the Royal Naval Handbook of Parade and Rifle Drill. It wasn't that much different than what was carried out during Queen Victoria's funeral, except that the sailors didn't wear straw hats. During that funeral, the Massed Pipes and Drums of the Highland regiments (51st Highland Division??) were posted along the cortege route playing "Highland Cradle Song" and "My Home." It just grabbed me, and that is what started me down the road to an interest in all things Highland, including kilt-wearing.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

As to the German officer in the winged pickelhaube, I believe that was Kaiser Wilhelm II (Queen Victoria's cousin), who did attend the State Funeral, along with royalty and nobility from across Europe (they were all related somehow).

Actually, the Kaiser was Queen Victoria's grandson, a nephew of Edward VII and first cousin of the future King George V.

When I was with Wilkinson Sword I used to regularly drive past Wormwood Scrubbs prison. Here, on a weekly basis, the King's Troop RHA would practice doing a state funeral. Quite impressive, and always a good reason to arrive late at the office.