The old and the new came together under one roof last week at St Mary's Church in Hawera, when serving members of the Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles brought their current guidon, or military standard, into St Mary's Church for a short service.
The regiment has been touring Taranaki this month as part of its 150-year celebrations. Bringing the guidon to St Mary's was something "quite special", says Staff Sergeant Gardiner, who says the current guidon is the second the regiment has owned, with the first being permanently on display in the church in Hawera.
The guidon is a silk banner which carries the regimental badge and regimental battle honours. The original Queen Alexandra's Mounted Rifles guidon was presented at the Waverley camp in May 1929, followed by a ceremony in Hawera a month later where the guidon was given to St Mary's Church for safekeeping, in line with the military tradition of churches storing guidons as safe haven and as a memorial to regiment members.
This guidon was taken from its oak and glass casing every year, to be trooped at the regiment's annual camps. In 1964, the guidon travelled to Great Britain, where it was lodged in Chelsea Barracks before being carried on guard duties at Buckingham Palace for two weeks. During that time, Queen Elizabeth appeared in the forecourt of the palace to watch the changing of the guards. In accordance with tradition, the guidon was lowered in royal salute to the British monarch.
The current guidon came into use in 1992, and its predecessor is now on permanent display at St Mary's Church in Hawera.
