Cocktail Party and Beating Retreat at Dennison Barracks

The Royal Engineers Officers’ at Denison Barracks, Hermitage held a cocktail party and Beating Retreat on Wednesday evening. We were greeted by the Commanding Officer, Colonel Rupert Dash his officers and were introduced to both serving and retired officers. Several of the officers were attending a long course and two were American Officers, over from Washington – the other from New York. They were accompanied by their wives. They were intrigued by the Mayor’s Chain and I gave them a brief outline on its creation and history.

After the Cocktail Party, we were escorted to a parade ground, where seats had been positioned under a canvas awning. Although the ground was wet, the rain thankfully kept off during the Beating Retreat. The Beating Retreat was carried out by the band of the Corps of Royal Engineers, dressed in the traditional red jackets and blue shakos with white plumes. The formation marching was led by Drum Major Libby and the band played some traditional marches as well as some taken from themes from the opera Carmen and The Great Escape. The evening ended with a moving rendering of the Retreat, followed by the National Anthem. The band then marched off to the Corps March, British Grenadier & Wings.

This was the culmination of a splendidly hospitable evening which we thoroughly enjoyed.