Military Tradition and Value

[jhungary]

Military Tradition and Value of the world

@jaibi @Slav Defence @AUSTERLITZ @nair @DESERT FIGHTER @Nihonjin1051 @Manticore @Neptune @levina @Armstrong @Viet @war khan @BoQ77 @Shotgunner51 @Horus @RescueRanger @WebMaster @truthseeker2010

And would like those member I tag to in turn tag other people that maybe interested in learning this.

I am opening this thread to introduce Military Tradition and their Value to people who want to know more about Military Live and Structure, people want to have a feel what Soldier's live is like could be find here, and I hope by making this thread more international, member can compare Military Tradition and Value offered by different military.

Member are encouraged to post their own Post regarding Military Tradition and Value on their own Military but PLEASE DO INCLUDED WHICH COUNTRY THOSE TRADITION AND VALUE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH...

So I will Get the ball rolling, my field is US, UK, Australia and Swedish military Tradition.

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Post 1 TAPS - United States Military

What is TAPS

Often comes up as "What's that tune that play during Military Funeral" . Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British Army, a similar call known as Last Post has been sounded over soldiers' graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique with the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services.

Taps began as a revision to the signal for Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day. Up until the Civil War, the infantry call for Extinguish Lights was the one set down in Silas Casey's (1801-1882) Tactics, which had been borrowed from the French. The music for Taps was adapted by Union General Daniel Butterfield for his brigade (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July, 1862.

History of TAPS

TAPS have only 24 Notes, but it was said to be one of the most famous tune of bugle call in history, the original application for TAPS (and all tune alike) was to serve as a "Light Outs calls" Which by then the Battalion Sergeant will perform a number count, those who are absent are either Dead or Taking out of line from Wounds.

TAPS was started when Gen Butterfield feels that the original light out call are too formal to celebrate (or remember) a soldier's death after his unit suffered at Harrison's Landing, drafting the help of the Battalion bugler Oliver Willcox Norton, they start to twist here and there a bit and form the bugle call TAPS was born.

The Tune is so sombre and too romantic, soon enough was adopted by the whole Union Army for the service alike, and even goes as far to confederate for their own memorial.

From then on, after the civil war, TAPS is officially induced as the funeral/memorial tunes for soldier of the United States Armed Forces.

Application of TAPS

TAPS was originally sounded for the end-of-day service, denoting a days end of a soldier, consistency move on to play at a funeral service for the soldiers.

TAPS have now been used in all US Uniformed Service, the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine, the United States Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service.

TAPS also played at Scout Guild of America Meeting and with that, TAPS assume the traditional role of signalling the end of day and played at dusk.

What you don't know about TAPS.

TAPS, although almost always only show with tune, they are actually with lyric, the lyric originally was

Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky
As we go, this we know

God is nigh.

and since then, 3 or 4 version have been updated/introduced as a replacement for the original set of Lyric

Also, prior to 1946 at some point, TAPS are not to be played on Megaphone

 

[Aepsilons]

Saved this thread. I look forward to reading more on Swedish military tradition. @jhungary --- i did read into (lightly, not heavily) into the Swedish Empire and the Great Northern War with Russia, truly, an impressive military tradition the Swedes have. Prior to that, the Swedes gave the Germans a good lickin' during the Continental Wars of the 16th century.

@SvenSvensonov , definitely check this thread out.

 

[Shotgunner51]

Military Tradition and Value of the world

@jaibi @Slav Defence @AUSTERLITZ @nair @DESERT FIGHTER @Nihonjin1051 @Manticore @Neptune @levina @Armstrong @Viet @war khan @BoQ77 @Shotgunner51 @Horus @RescueRanger @WebMaster @truthseeker2010

And would like those member I tag to in turn tag other people that maybe interested in learning this.

I am opening this thread to introduce Military Tradition and their Value to people who want to know more about Military Live and Structure, people want to have a feel what Soldier's live is like could be find here, and I hope by making this thread more international, member can compare Military Tradition and Value offered by different military.

Member are encouraged to post their own Post regarding Military Tradition and Value on their own Military but PLEASE DO INCLUDED WHICH COUNTRY THOSE TRADITION AND VALUE ARE ASSOCIATED WITH...

So I will Get the ball rolling, my field is US, UK, Australia and Swedish military Tradition.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post 1 TAPS - United States Military

What is TAPS

Often comes up as "What's that tune that play during Military Funeral" . Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British Army, a similar call known as Last Post has been sounded over soldiers' graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique with the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services.

Taps began as a revision to the signal for Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day. Up until the Civil War, the infantry call for Extinguish Lights was the one set down in Silas Casey's (1801-1882) Tactics, which had been borrowed from the French. The music for Taps was adapted by Union General Daniel Butterfield for his brigade (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July, 1862.

History of TAPS

TAPS have only 24 Notes, but it was said to be one of the most famous tune of bugle call in history, the original application for TAPS (and all tune alike) was to serve as a "Light Outs calls" Which by then the Battalion Sergeant will perform a number count, those who are absent are either Dead or Taking out of line from Wounds.

TAPS was started when Gen Butterfield feels that the original light out call are too formal to celebrate (or remember) a soldier's death after his unit suffered at Harrison's Landing, drafting the help of the Battalion bugler Oliver Willcox Norton, they start to twist here and there a bit and form the bugle call TAPS was born.

The Tune is so sombre and too romantic, soon enough was adopted by the whole Union Army for the service alike, and even goes as far to confederate for their own memorial.

From then on, after the civil war, TAPS is officially induced as the funeral/memorial tunes for soldier of the United States Armed Forces.

Application of TAPS

TAPS was originally sounded for the end-of-day service, denoting a days end of a soldier, consistency move on to play at a funeral service for the soldiers.

TAPS have now been used in all US Uniformed Service, the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine, the United States Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service.

TAPS also played at Scout Guild of America Meeting and with that, TAPS assume the traditional role of signalling the end of day and played at dusk.

What you don't know about TAPS.

TAPS, although almost always only show with tune, they are actually with lyric, the lyric originally was

Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky
As we go, this we know

God is nigh.

and since then, 3 or 4 version have been updated/introduced as a replacement for the original set of Lyric

Also, prior to 1946 at some point, TAPS are not to be played on Megaphone

Nice thread, gonna stick myself to it.

 

[jhungary]

Saved this thread. I look forward to reading more on Swedish military tradition. @jhungary --- i did read into (lightly, not heavily) into the Swedish Empire and the Great Northern War with Russia, truly, an impressive military tradition the Swedes have. Prior to that, the Swedes gave the Germans a good lickin' during the Continental Wars of the 16th century.

@SvenSvensonov , definitely check this thread out.

This is for you, nihonjin

Swedish 3 Crowns - Swedish Military Tradition.

My wife's Swedish Army Uniform, she wore on ISAF deployment .

The Origin of 3 Crowns

Also known as Tre Kronor. IS the 3 gold crown embedded in a Blue shield. It represent the realm of Sweden and serve as the coat of arms of Sweden.

Nobody actually know where the 3 crown represent, as the 3 crowns have been used since Kings Mangus Ladulås, which dating back to 13th Century....So, your guess is as good as mine


The possible explanation of the 3 crowns is as follow:

• The crowns are representation of the three crowned gods of Uppsala; the city of Uppsala has been the seat of a holy place even before the times of Christianity.
• The crowns represent the three areas of Uppland (the area around Uppsala);these areas had the right to take part in the election of the king.
• The three crowns are representations of the Three Wise Men (or Holy Kings).
• The crowns are just a representation of the king's power, and the number three is without significance.
• Magnus Eriksson was once king of Sweden. Magnus inherited the crown of Norway from his grandfather Haakon V of Norway, and then gained the Swedish crown as his father was the brother of the king of Sweden. In the 1330s king Magnus bought Scania from Denmark, and consequently used the title King of Sweden, Norway and Scania. The three crowns may represent King Magnus' three kingdoms.

In Military Uses in Historical Sense

Old Royal Symbol in 1300s

The 3 Crowns was not used in all unit heraldry, and appear exclusively as a battleflag on the Swedish King's own unit the Life Guard (Livgardet), the different between a Swedish Infantry Unit and British Infantry unit is that almost all the Swedish unit are territorial that is raise from the local population. Where the British unit is a continental, while still raise locally (traditionally) but they are not loyal to the area they hail from, but to the king and queen (Hence the royal title)
Regardless, all other unit that the King did not command directly was not authorise to use the 3 crowns as the heraldry, the substitute include the famous Swedish Lion, Fire, Cow and other livestock and dragon. The blue shield, however, is the same across different unit.

Unit Crest for Life Guard

In Military Uses today

Current Swedish 3 crown Crest

Today the 3 crown are less official (Still an official symbol for Sweden) but they appear to be passed on as a symbol of Government or Governmental Issue.

As the First picture show, a Swedish uniform is the property of the state, hence that is considered a Swedish Property and the tag inside suggested that this is an Swedish property, as a way to track an item.

From the patch, it would instantly recognized that the wear is a Swedish Infantry serving the country of Sweden, hence the word Sweden is printed in the patch, they have sort of the same value as to what an American Flag to an American soldier, just that the Swedish would use that to represent the King and an another Swedish Flag to represent the Country. Hence the King and Country are covered...

Nice thread, gonna stick myself to it.

do tell on the PLA tradition please

 

[Neptune]

@jhungary Awsome. From hoisting pirate flags after replenishment to Lamb Day, I will try to share everything I remember as soon as I get some free time

 

[Neptune]

@jhungary almost forgot that lol. There are a few I could remember now.

@SvenSvensonov @Horus @Armstrong @DESERT FIGHTER @Joe Shearer @Rashid Mahmood @asad71 @Zarvan and others.

1- In the academy we had annual Lamb Day. At that day former graduates are invited to the facility among with the commander of Naval Education and Training. Only lamb meat is eaten that day.

2- If a Turkish surface combatant anchors in a foreign country, the Ambassador of Turkey in that host country is invited aboard the ship and receives honor guards salute on the flight deck. CO of the ship reports to the ambassador and says "TCG bla bla bla is at your service with xx officers, xx petty officers and xxx specialists and seamen! Awaiting your orders sir."

3- Çimariva Salute; if a friendly or allied vessel passes by, all the crew members line up on the side closest to that friendly ship and they salute the ship with taking off their naval caps and shake it in the air. It's a centuries old Turkish naval tradition. It means that the crew salutes and expresses his gratitudes also the ship is peaceful since the battle stations would be unmanned during that moment.

4- If any vessel of the Turkish Naval Forces passes through the Dardanelles Strait, all the crew lines up on the deck, if it's a submarine first they surface then line up. By the order of the CO, the crew present arms and salute until the ship completely passes the strait. They salute the thousands of WWI soldiers died during the Battle of Çanakkale which the ANZAC and Turks fought for countless weeks in that strait.
This salute is also for the fallen crew members of TCG Dumlupınar. The submarine crashed with a tanker after returning from NATO Exercise Blue Sea at 4th April 1953, killing all of the 86 Turkish service members.

5- When a Turkish naval vessel performs replenishment at sea with any ship be it foreign or DZKK, after the fuel transfer a black pirate jack is hoisted above the ship and the Ottoman Military Anthem the "Mehter" is heard from the speakers of the ship.

6- At the highest peak of every Turkish naval ship, a Quran is placed there. It is not related with religion at all. But since 1081, Turkish ships have been doing that and now it's a tradition as well.

There are a couple more but that's all I remember now

 

[asad71]

Military tradition and values are important to mold/motivate the fighting man. Linking with history/heritage instils pride and esprit de corps in him.These make him fight as a team and fight for his team.

 

[Rashid Mahmood]

I enjoyed wearing all the ceremonial uniforms and mess nights during service...
red sea rigs, dinner jackets, No.8 and so on.

 

[jhungary]

Let me resurrect this post.

Post 3: British Army The missing "Royal" title

Had you ever ask yourselves this question??

On the one hand, you have Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Marine, but why only the Army part of British Defence Force were not called the Royal Army or Royal British Army?

The British Army was formed after the Restoration period in 1660 and by the Bill of Right of 1689, the British need to maintain a standing army in order to prevent the fourth inclination of the English Civil war. The bill of right gave the right to raise a standing army.

But since the Parliamentarian distrust the Monarch. The right to form a standing army was instead of giving to the Monarch of England, it was given by a right to confer by the English parliament.

And since the royal have no consent for the Standing Army of Britain, the title royal were not conferred as the Army was loyal to the British Parliament, not the King.

On the other hand, the regiment however, although today was usually commanded by a Major General, all Regiment having conferred the "Royal" title are presided by a member of the royal