Royal Marine Sunset Ceremony

This is a lovely set consisting of one Flag Pole and White Ensign, one Officer, five Side Drummers and one Marine lowering the flag. On a nightly basis in any Royal Marine barracks, sun set is marked by the lowering of the White Ensign to a salut from the officer in charge. On this occasion the Sunset Ceremony is being carried out in full ceremony dress.

The set is modelled in 1/32nd scale and the details is outstanding. The set comes complete and finished in the traditional toy soldier style.

The top picture shows the complete set.

Second from top picture shows the five Side Drummers playing their Cornets as the Ensign is lowered.

Third from top picture shows the Officer saluting the flag as it is lowered by the Marine.

The bottom picture shows the White Ensign and Flag Pole in detail, complete with rope and chain.

Blessing the Colours

The Queen presented the Royal Navy with new Colours in 2003. Unlike the Army Regiments, the Colours are not a battle honour. Battle honours are won by individual ships and are displayed on each individual ship, usually on the quarter deck.

With the Royal Navy the colours represent the Navy as a whole and were replaced purely because of their age and delicacy.

The officer with the staff which is called the Virgil is only present when the Queen and the Admiral of the Fleet are both in attendance. I have been told, but don't know of its authenticity, that the Virgil is probably a modern version of what was an oar from the times of when the King or Queen was rowed up the Thames in the Royal Barge.

This set is the first produced by Rank and File in the Collectors Style of silk paint.