Cadets brave the elements at Glasgow

Cadets from a number of Army Cadet Forces and the Air Training Corps combined to 'Beat Retreat' in Glasgow's George Square on 7 May 2011. The origin of the ceremony was the drummers' call to summon troops back to camp at sunset for roll call and the closing of the gates.
Not much sight of the sun setting on this particular evening though. Continuous and at times torrential rain was the order of the day, but that did little to dampen the spirits of these young cadets and their tutors who joined them for the occasion.
Each year an eight day residential instructional course in traditional piping and drumming is provided free of charge in Inverness for cadets aged 12 to 18. The course leads to accredited qualifications (PDQB), Course participants combine to form a massed band and parade locally and elsewhere.
This selection from the evening includes the 6/8 march Miss Octavia Hill [02:13]. This lovely tune was composed by Lance Corporal Andrew Smith for the Cadet 150 celebrations in 2010. I hope other bands will consider adding it to their repertoire. You can download the music from www.armycadets.com.

[@johnvirag656]

what a pleasure to see so many young people getting into piping. Kudos to the cadet corps.

[@dianamarquez4774]

How I enjoy these young people perform. I am in the U.S. and would love to live in Scotland or England or Ireland. To see such a performance live is one of my dreams. And that the weather was not sunny but the bands played on.

[@mickstewart9119]

What a superb massed bands. The Drum Majoring is the best I've seen on youtube, outside of the Regimental DM's at Edinburgh or Canada; the piping and drumming is excellent. Most of all the dress, drill and deportment is bang on. What a great job these young people do - well done.

[@galax574]

Excellent Drum Majors, pipers and drummers!

[@dodesmith]

What a great display by these young achievers. To play in the torrential rain and apply the concentration required throughout their repertoire I take my hat off to you all. More youngsters should get involved in these activities and appreciate all the hard work that goes into providing these opportunities and more.
The band and indeed the ACF enrole cadets from the age of 12 up to 18. If you are in this age bracket and want exciting opportunities such as this look up Army Cadets for your area

[@davidbond3044]

Another excellent display of piping, drumming and deportment. Thank you for posting.

[@billstrong4179]

I remember a Highland festival in Estes Park, CO (USA) a Maj MacKintosh of the "Forty twa'"declared, "We did not travel this distance to America to not perform." They performed a standard routine, including a "sword dance" in the rain. I did not attend to not watch.

[@alvindurochermtl]

Bill Strong That Major Richard Cole-Mackintosh. It’s the late 1990s or early 2000s. I think he left the army as a Lieutenant Colonel.

[@jimlyon7276]

FURTHER TO THE ABOVE
LA BOUM ECOSSE
( The Scottish Party)
"When the sun goes down on the dark side
With your friends all far away
All alone in a crowd
With your heart so proud
As the pipes begin to play.
When you hear those drums in the distance
When your soul lived up and say
With the thrill of the sound
Does your heart still know
When the pipes begin to play
And the drum beats far away.
For you know your love is in Scotland
Even though you’re old and grey
By the right you will stand
When you hear the command
And the pipes begin to play
And the drum beats far away.
To the friends who share in your memories
To the love that lost its way
For you know in your heart
You will cry at the part
When the pipes begin to play
Be in joy, be in tears
They have sent through the years
As the drum beats far away
When the pipes begin to play."

[@frazlesc6937]

Miss Octivia Hill is the founder of the Cadet Force in the Uk. It was formed as young youths to go in the Army if the French was sending to invade Britain. But it never happened. I know this because I go to Army Cadets.

[@M1SSMAGIC]

brilliant cant say no more

[@kernanhosea2024]

love it will be any new ones in2018. K

[@elgaitero1]

does only the lead DM have the correct combo of kilt length and hose?

[@Fergus110]

Where do they buy the patrol Jackets? They look amazing.

[@jwpipes47]

TO LET. TOLET. TOLIET. Did I crack the code?

[@BWDAVIDSONFC]

@dodesmith I am in greater Manchester army cadet force pipes and drums, just got back from France with the cadets, I have been playing for about 1 year, are u in the same band as ailsa howie?

[@frazlesc6937]

I gust love the Scottish hiland music. Im glad I'm qaughter Scottish. (spell check playing up)

[@yank-tc8bz]

Let me tell you that have a wet wool kilt slapping the back of your knees in a cold pouring rain is not much fun.

[@1304Jamie]

1 highlanders ftw! :D

[@456japan]

does everyone wear their own tartan?

[@mayhem380]

+456japan
The red tartan was specially commissioned for the Army Cadet Force, and the blue is the RAF tartan worn by the Air Cadets. I'm not sure what the black is.

[@ifthousayestso]

At the end of the video you see a list of participating units, which I think explains the different tartans (I saw more than three ;-)).

[@Jackwylde68]

456japan The black one looks like black watch, probably affiliated with the Scottish army cadets

[@lawofscotland]

The black is a faded version of the 'Black Watch' tartan. It was the old-style kilts for the massed band of the ACF before the newer red ACF tartan was commissioned. It has all been replaced in the band by the new style sadly.

[@Fergus110]

Apart from the Cadet and RAF one, it's all based on RRS tartans, hence Cameron of Erracht, Royal Stewart, and Black Watch