Lt. Colonel Johnny Thompson of the Scots Guards and Handsome Men In Kilts **Appreciation Thread

[La Rhumba]

I can't resist ... another picture of my favorite Royal Regiment of Scotland soldier. This was taken by either the RRoS photographer or the iForce.net photographer during the "Fit for Role" practice in preparation for London duties in 2019.

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With his hand in that metal shield holding his sword. What an impressive sight!
I wondered how all the RRoS soldiers could slow march for over an hour during the Late Queen's Funeral ceremonies with their right arm locked in one position, it must get very crampy, but you'd never know.

I used to think the headdress looked like a rabbit, then read it was a Highland Blackcock feather. It does look very striking!

 

[lizle]

Surely he would have more medals if he was a Lt col? No?

RomeGirl will most likely be able to answer this question better than I can but I'll give it my best effort. An Equerry is a seasoned senior military officer. To reach that level of secondment, one must have served in good standing for many years. As well as serving in the Royal Household, the Equerry position is designed to deepen the knowledge and skills of an officer in preparation for further advancement in his branch of the military. The gentleman in the picture, as RomeGirl mentioned, appears to be very young. He has not been in the military long enough to have earned Jubilee medals. He does not have a "Long Service" medal. He is not wearing battle medals like Jonny's so he has not seen deployment action in a theater of war such as Iran or Afghanistan. To my untrained eye, it appears that he is too young in age and lacks the depth of military experience to have been selected by the King as THE Equerry. Since he is from the Coldstream Guards he is, speculating, the new temporary Equerry who will be with the King when Jonny, THE Equerry, is not. While the picture of the new Equerry is not in focus, it appears that his shoulder pips are all the same size and standing at the same elevation above his shoulder epaulettes as opposed to Jonny's shoulder decorations which differ in size and height when looking at them in profile which leads me to believe that the new person is a Captain.

On another note, the next time you see Jonny wearing his battle bars rather than his medals, notice the ribbon bar on the left of the second row. It bares a rosette which is an honour for serving with distinction and valor! As the French would say, "Chapeau" (hats off) to Jonny for his military abilities and actions!

 

[Francie123]

I was trying to find a picture with the battle bars. Please look at the picture below. I believe the rosette is pretty clear - on the left of the second row. Please let me know, if this is wrong, and I will keep searching!

 

[lizle]

I was trying to find a picture with the battle bars. Please look at the picture below. I believe the rosette is pretty clear - on the left of the second row. Please let me know, if this is wrong, and I will keep searching!

View attachment 5857468

Good job on finding the picture! Yes, that is the ribbon/battle bar with the rosette. It is for service during Operation Herrick in Afghanistan.

 

[RomeGirl]

RomeGirl will most likely be able to answer this question better than I can but I'll give it my best effort. An Equerry is a seasoned senior military officer. To reach that level of secondment, one must have served in good standing for many years. As well as serving in the Royal Household, the Equerry position is designed to deepen the knowledge and skills of an officer in preparation for further advancement in his branch of the military. The gentleman in the picture, as RomeGirl mentioned, appears to be very young. He has not been in the military long enough to have earned Jubilee medals. He does not have a "Long Service" medal. He is not wearing battle medals like Jonny's so he has not seen deployment action in a theater of war such as Iran or Afghanistan. To my untrained eye, it appears that he is too young in age and lacks the depth of military experience to have been selected by the King as THE Equerry. Since he is from the Coldstream Guards he is, speculating, the new temporary Equerry who will be with the King when Jonny, THE Equerry, is not. While the picture of the new Equerry is not in focus, it appears that his shoulder pips are all the same size and standing at the same elevation above his shoulder epaulettes as opposed to Jonny's shoulder decorations which differ in size and height when looking at them in profile which leads me to believe that the new person is a Captain.

On another note, the next time you see Jonny wearing his battle bars rather than his medals, notice the ribbon bar on the left of the second row. It bares a rosette which is an honour for serving with distinction and valor! As the French would say, "Chapeau" (hats off) to Jonny for his military abilities and actions!

Re Jonny's Afghanistan medal - Sorry to burst your bubble but the rosette on the bar/clasp on the medal is not for valour or bravery. Rather it denotes specific service during the Afghan campaign. Jonny's Afghan service was during Operation Herrick.

I attach information about the medal and the qualifying period for the clasp/rosette so you can see.

 

[lizle]

Re Jonny's Afghanistan medal - Sorry to burst your bubble but the rosette on the bar/clasp on the medal is not for valour or bravery. Rather it denotes specific service during the Afghan campaign. Jonny's Afghan service was during Operation Herrick.

I attach information about the medal and the qualifying period for the clasp/rosette so you can see.

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Yes, bubble properly burst and thank you for the correction. I was certain I read somewhere that the rosette was for distinguished service but I evidently was wrong on that one! Thank you! His dedication to his military service and devotion to the King make him a hero!

 

[RomeGirl]

With his hand in that metal shield holding his sword. What an impressive sight!
I wondered how all the RRoS soldiers could slow march for over an hour during the Late Queen's Funeral ceremonies with their right arm locked in one position, it must get very crampy, but you'd never know.

I used to think the headdress looked like a rabbit, then read it was a Highland Blackcock feather. It does look very striking!

The 'metal shield' of the sword is called the Basket, the sword handle is inside this.

It does require strength to carry it for long-ish periods, but it would never be carried for the length required for a full ceremonial procession. At all of the processions for the late Queen's ceremonial everyone had their swords carried slung, by their sides.

 

[La Rhumba]

I was trying to find a picture with the battle bars. Please look at the picture below. I believe the rosette is pretty clear - on the left of the second row. Please let me know, if this is wrong, and I will keep searching!

View attachment 5857468

Is it any wonder that even on getty news footage people swoon for Jonny. He must be used to it now.
2 of my fave news clips, both before the Coronation, are :
1) in Scotland visiting an indoor building that looked like a museum and Jonny asked a group of people to "make a horseshoe shape' curving his hands to demonstrate, "that way she (Camilla) can chat to all of you". And an elderly gentleman tells Jonny, "You're much better looking than me, we should swap places, and you stand here to meet the Queen". Bless
2) At a Reception at BP, think it was either for World or Commonwealth Leaders, and Jonny was just standing in the middle in full regalia, towering over a group of female Asian guests giggling and cooing at being in his presence, a gorgeous man in a kilt, as he smiled back at them.

 

[RomeGirl]

RomeGirl will most likely be able to answer this question better than I can but I'll give it my best effort. An Equerry is a seasoned senior military officer. To reach that level of secondment, one must have served in good standing for many years. As well as serving in the Royal Household, the Equerry position is designed to deepen the knowledge and skills of an officer in preparation for further advancement in his branch of the military. The gentleman in the picture, as RomeGirl mentioned, appears to be very young. He has not been in the military long enough to have earned Jubilee medals. He does not have a "Long Service" medal. He is not wearing battle medals like Jonny's so he has not seen deployment action in a theater of war such as Iran or Afghanistan. To my untrained eye, it appears that he is too young in age and lacks the depth of military experience to have been selected by the King as THE Equerry. Since he is from the Coldstream Guards he is, speculating, the new temporary Equerry who will be with the King when Jonny, THE Equerry, is not. While the picture of the new Equerry is not in focus, it appears that his shoulder pips are all the same size and standing at the same elevation above his shoulder epaulettes as opposed to Jonny's shoulder decorations which differ in size and height when looking at them in profile which leads me to believe that the new person is a Captain.

Sorry for my late replies about this. Mr RomeGirl insists on eating dinner at night!!

Mr RomeGirl also says I am to stop being silly, of course the 'new' equerry is only a Captain (!!!) so definitely the new Part-time not Jonny's replacement. (I thanked him for his input)

 

[RomeGirl]

I have never noticed the King's Cypher on Jonny's Aiguillette. What should I look for as in regard to its location?

HA! Well, the rules about aiguillette are quite specific - again Mr RomeGirl is responsible for this answer...

Jonny's Aiguillette do not have a cypher on them. Believe me I have tried to spot it! Probably because it is only the Sovereign's Equerry that is entitled to the Royal Cypher, and Jonny wears his 'old' ones from what he was with the former PoW.

An Aiguillette with the late Queen's cypher looked like this -


But a lot of the King's cyphers seem to be in silver not gold - I have no idea why so don't ask!!!

I had to almost break out a magnifying glass to see what Mr RomeGirl was talking about with the 'new' Equerry, but it is JUST visible if you know what you are looking for. I have pointed to the silver bits that can just be seen beneath the bobble (very technical term ) at the top of the tips.



For those interested in the Regs as to who can wear the cypher on their Aiguillette I attach these - again thanks to Mr RomeGirl (he has been busy this evening and earned his pudding!)

See point 10.6 in the 1st pic, and point a. (vii) in the 2nd pic

 

[RomeGirl]

And as Mr RomeGirl was pointing out Army Dress Regs to me for the aiguillettes, I copied the bit about facial hair, which illustrated why Jonny being photoshopped with 'stubble' is so not right.

Men are to be clean shaven and beard and whiskers only to be worn with permission of the CO - which means only for religious of health reasons.

Ok. I shall climb down off my soapbox now

 

[RomeGirl]

Yes, bubble properly burst and thank you for the correction. I was certain I read somewhere that the rosette was for distinguished service but I evidently was wrong on that one! Thank you! His dedication to his military service and devotion to the King make him a hero!

Sorry! Regardless, as you say, he is a hero in a lot of people's eyes. Even if only for the gentle way he took care of the Late Queen during his time as CO of the Balmoral Royal Guard, and during other ceremonial duties with her.

 

[RomeGirl]

So, at last, here are my questions. I believe La Rhumba's research revealed that there is only one other case in the history of the line of Kings when an Equerry served as Equerry for two different royal positions. So, Jonny would be only the second Equerry in history to do this. Is it conceivable that Jonny could receive two honors at the end of his time as Equerry ... one for his 2.5 years as Equerry to the Prince of Wales and another for his time as Equerry to the King? And, my second question is, after all of his devoted service working shoulder-to-shoulder with the King and Queen after her Majesty's death, can we expect to see Jonny awarded the same funeral medal that so many others have received?

Again, sorry for the late reply, life gets in the way sometimes.

First re an Equerry serving for 2 different people - Jonny Spencer (then the ) Viscount Althorp, actually served only as Equerry to the Sovereign, but 2 of them sequentially. Not for 1st the PoW THEN the Sovereign, so our Jonny's position is still unique.

Re the funeral medals. These were the RVM (Royal Victorian Medal) an honour, but the lowest rank of the Royal Victorian Order. They were awarded to predominantly ordinary ranks, but in every case to people whose role in the Ceremonial was completely out of the ordinary to their usual duties - definitely above and beyond. None of the senior Royal Household personnel, or senior military participants were awarded with them.

As fo Jonny's honour for serving as Equerry. That will depend on the King.

Usually an Equerry is awarded an MVO (Member of the Royal Victorian Order). Occasionally there has been an LVO awarded (Lieutenant etc).

My personal opinion is that Jonny could receive at least the LVO, or possibly CVO (Commander etc) in recognition of his unique and special service. However, if he leaves the Army and continues to serve as a member of the Royal Household in some capacity, I would expect him to receive a KCVO (Knight Commander etc) in time.

 

[lizle]

And as Mr RomeGirl was pointing out Army Dress Regs to me for the aiguillettes, I copied the bit about facial hair, which illustrated why Jonny being photoshopped with 'stubble' is so not right.

Men are to be clean shaven and beard and whiskers only to be worn with permission of the CO - which means only for religious of health reasons.

Ok. I shall climb down off my soapbox now

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We love your "soap box" because you have so much knowledge and are willing to take time to answer our questions and help us learn about all things military and Equerry!

 

[lizle]

Sorry for my late replies about this. Mr RomeGirl insists on eating dinner at night!!

Mr RomeGirl also says I am to stop being silly, of course the 'new' equerry is only a Captain (!!!) so definitely the new Part-time not Jonny's replacement. (I thanked him for his input)

Thank goodness! Not to worry about a fainting spell now. Raising a glass with a big thank you to Mr RomeGirl