Field Marshal Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis KG, GCB, OM, GCMG, CSI, DSO, MC, CD, PC (Can), PC, 1891 - 1969, Colonel Irish Guards. As a 22-year-old platoon commander in the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, Harold Rupert Leofric George Alexander served with the British Expeditionary Force in 1914. He took part in the retreat from Mons and was wounded at First Battle of Ypres and invalided home. He returned to the Western Front in 1915 and fought at the Battle of Loos receiving the Military Cross, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his action during the Battle of the Somme. By 1917 he was the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion Irish Guards. During the Second World War he commanded in Belgium, France, Burma, India, the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily and Italy, eventually reaching the rank of Field Marshal. Post war he was appointed Governor General of Canada, and then at Churchill’s request served as British Minister of Defence. Outside the Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, there is a statue erected to his honour and for this year’s Irish Trooping of the Colour, a new slow march has been named after him. Composed by Adam Barras to be used as the first Neutral Slow march. The Fluffy Hat Music Co. © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Composed specifically for the quick troop of King's Birthday Parade 2024, “The Ballyragget” takes its name from a town North of county Kilkenny in Ireland. It is customary when armoured that the Irish Guards name all vehicles after towns in Ireland, with the commanding Officer’s vehicle being “St Patrick” and Adjutant’s being “Ulster”. During the second world war on creation of the Guards Armoured Division, the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards found themselves being armoured. In late June 1944, as a part of the 5th Guards Armoured Division, they landed in Normandy for Operation Overlord. In July that year whilst taking part in Operation Goodwood “Ballyragget”, under the command of 2Lt John Gormon, encountered a group of German tanks including one of the formidable Tiger II heavy tanks, noted for its thick armour. At close range Gorman ordered Ballyragget’s driver to ram the Tiger II knowing his Sherman’s tank gun would have little effect against such a foe. With both tanks subsequently disabled, Gorman ran to fetch a Sherman Firefly Tank fitted with a 17 pounder anti-tank gun and completed the destruction of the Tiger II. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. After the war Gorman left the Armed forces and following a successful career in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, the British overseas Airways Corporation, and Politics. He was knighted in the Birthday honours of 1998 and became deputy Lord Lieutenant of County Down. He died aged 91 in 2014 and is buried in Killyleagh County Down Northern Ireland. “The Ballyragget” features music composed to honour this event from 2nd Battalion’s history, capturing the rich Irish heritage and pride the Irish Guards feel for such regimental characters. The music portrays the actions of that day, if you listen carefully to the end of the bass section you can even hear the impact of Ballyragget against the Tiger II! The Fluffy Hat Music Co. © 2024 All Rights Reserved

The Irish Saffron kilt, an iconic part of the Drums and Pipes uniform. Including the melodies ‘John Ryan’s Polka’, ‘I’ll tell me Ma’, ‘If you’re Irish, come into the parlour’, and ‘Blarney pilgrim’, ‘Irish Saffron’ was written as an upbeat Irish celebration for the culmination of the Queen’s Birthday Parade 2022 and the start of the Platinum Jubilee weekend.