Military Tournament packs Earls Court

 London is renowned for staging spectacular shows and events at Christmastide and the British Military Tournament at Earls Court was the perfect prelude.

Thousands packed the iconic events and entertainment venue for four performances on December 8 and 9, 2012.

The only real disappointment came on the final evening when it was announced that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had been forced to miss the performance following the Duchess's recent stay in hospital.

Before taking their seats members of the audience visited two large exhibition areas packed with display stands promoting every aspect of life in the Armed Forces and the work of numerous military charities. 

Large crowds gathered around the Royal British Legion stand and the Poppy Shop did a roaring trade while soldiers, sailors and airman were on hand to give out promotional leaflets and stickers.

Members of the Central Band of the Royal Air Force Big Band  -  'The Squadronnaires'  -  entertained  visitors, there were long queues at the reconstruction of an Army Logistics Corps field unit and, on the Army Medical Corps stand, a young dental nurse provided entranced children with the opportunity to draw teeth from a reclining manikin.

In the main arena the lights went down and the Tournament, following the activities of our Armed Forces during the Queen's 60-year reign, opened to the music of the Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

As their final number drew to its close,  Royal Marines abseiled from the Earls Court roof to great acclaim from the huge audience.

The massed pipes and drums of the Scottish Regiments were also given a generous reception before the arena burst into life with the Household Cavalry Musical Ride.

A Chistmas mood was created as lances, cuffs, stirrups and hooves were illuminated with tiny festive lights.

Royal Navy Physical Training Instructors from HMS Temeraire climbed, hung and swung from a wooden rigging frame, a display that revived memories of the Royal Tournament many years ago.

The deafening roar of motor-cycles signalled the arrival of the Royal Corps of Signals 'White Helmets' display team.  Challenged to an obstacle race by horse riders of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery they had to concede defeat to the equine team, a result that clearly found favour with most of the audience.

The musical drive by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery is always a firm favourite and, at its conclusion, the firing of the guns caused shock waves to bounce around the walls of the cavernous Earls Court building.

The ever-popular field gun run opened the second half of the programme, teams of students from Wellington College competing as 'Fearsome' and 'Terrible'.

With scaled-down guns and limbers they scaled walls, crossed chasms and passed through apertures before racing to the finish.  It generated feverish activity, much noise, vociferous support from the audience and a blanket finish.

A further change of mood was created by the remarkable Central Band of the Royal Air Force whose Beatles medley was followed by a stunning drill display by the Queen's Colour Squadron.

At the conclusion the arena fell into darknes as the men of the Royal Logistic Corps entered for a stunning battle re-enactment.  A school gate was the main focal point in the setting of an Afghanistan village..

The discovery of an armed insurgent led to a fire fight, the enemy finally escaping but not before leaving an IED in the gateway. 

A bomb disposal unit arrived to defuse the device but a second noisy and spectacular fire fight ensued, enthusiastic applause greeting a final victory for the members of the British Army.

The Tournament production provided music, movement, magic and mirth but there were also a number of very moving moments  -  principally the relaying of Christmas messages from our troops in Afghanistan on the huge aerial screens.

The Grand Finale of the British Military Tournament brought over six hundred men and women of our Armed Forces into the arena.  Returning to the Diamond Jubilee theme, the closing spectacle opened with the arrival of Queen Elizabeth I on horse back, Queen Victoria (whose mount was led by her trusty Gilly John Brown), Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in an open carriage and Her Majesty The Queen, Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces  -  all played by look-alikes from the current military.

The massed bands, display teams and riders, both mechanical and equine, gathered beneath the sparkling lights as the audience rose to show their appreciation.

The final performance ended as it had begun, with reference to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and when the Officer Commanding called for three hearty cheers for the young couple the responses echoed around the huge arena.

With typical military precision the performers marched out of sight as a lone piper, standing on a small platform, was slowly lifted into the air until he finally disappeared into the darkness above the arena.

It has been said that military cut-backs have prevented our three Services from staging spectacular promotional events but the British Military Tournament demonstrated that, despite commitments around the world, Her Majesty's Armed Forces can still put on a magnificent show!