Why do the rifles march faster

I spent so long planning the dratted thing, someone else beat me to it; but it was never as scientific as mine! Setting a tempo is essential to instil fundamental discipline on the parade ground where a person is taught to react individually to an order, similarly in a group, but as one and in a set tempo.

Recruits march at paces to the minute in the Army and RAF. For trained personnel the quick marching tempo is uniformly , and slow march at 65; these tempi are used from the onset of training by the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

During the development of the war role of these regiments it was found that heavy Infantry drill was cumbersome; the need to move quickly in reconnaissance or rearguard actions, or to form a screen, required fast marching and occasionally double marching. Preserving the element of surprise was desirable too so as not to give a position away to the enemy.

On ceremonial parades, march pasts are done in both quick and double time, the latter paces to the minute, which derived from the Peninsular wars, where they routinely carried out marches over long distances — at a pace far quicker than the rest of the Army.

By doubling five paces and then marching five paces, it was found that distances were more easily managed. The Light Division was famous for its march to Talevera in — covering miles in 6 days. As time passed the more reckless commanding officers have moved their battalions along at increasing speeds. The Household Cavalry functions still as a mounted regiment which, on occasion; parades in dismounted orders of dress, requiring a slight variation of tempo according to their foot wear.

The mounted Jack Boot, that comes up to the knee, requires 90 and at times, even slower. Here then are some snippets on differing tempos seen on State ceremonial occasions in British life. Interestingly, had the carriage been pulled by Naval ratings instead of horses the pace would have been Old Comrades at the Cenotaph and those grand old gentlemen of the Royal Hospital, the Chelsea Pensioners, all march past at This marching pace alternated three paces at a trot with three paces at a walk.

Remember a pace is two steps. You count a pace each time your left foot strikes the ground. It was important that Riflemen move at a faster pace than regular line infantry.

On advance guard duty, the Rifles had to move faster than the following main body. On rear guard, the faster pace was necessary to enable the Rifles to catch up to the main body. A rear guard often needed to stop to repel an attack by following French cavalry. This counterattack action would slow down the rear guard.