5 FUSILIERS will celebrate St George’s Day 2024 whilst also exercising their freedom of Northumberland with a special church service and parade through the streets of Ashington on Saturday 20thApril 2024.
The parade will also mark the 350thanniversary of antecedent regiment Northumberland Fusiliers as well as the 56thanniversary of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers which was formed in its current state on St George’s Day in 1968.
The Regiment has strong ties to the Newcastle area with its reserve battalion, Fifth Fusiliers based at Anzio House in Newcastle.
It is anticipated that over 200 people will take part in the parade with serving Fusiliers from Fifth Fusiliers taking part as well as Cadets and Veterans also. The parade will be reviewed by The Honorary Colonel - Lord James Percy, Colonel of The Regiment - Major General Jonathan Swift and local dignitaries.
The programme for the day starts with a special church service for invited guests at The Holy Sepulchre Church, Ashington before the parade then forms up at Woodhorn Road Car Park. The Church service will be conducted by Retired Padre Chris Groocock of The Holy Sepulchre Church. The parade will then set off at 12 noon and will cover a route of 1KM in distance throughout the town. The parade will halt outside Ashington Memorial Garden before VIP’s and all ranks attend a special lunch at Zulu Coy, Fox Barracks.
Lt Col John Gammon, Commanding Officer for 5 Fusiliers said “ This year’s parade is of particular significance as we celebrate a major milestone in the history of the Fusiliers in one of our Regimental heartlands, Ashington. Not only are we celebrating St George’s Day, but we are also marking the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, one of our antecedent Regiments. The Fighting Fifth has a proud history; 52 Battalions were raised during the Great War and 10 during the Second World War. In fact, they raised more ‘pals ’Battalions than any other Regiment. The Fifth Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers continues this legacy and retains the customs and traditions forged by the brave men of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers, many of whom were recruited, here, in Ashington. We continue to recruit from this area and the people of Ashington have always supported The Fusiliers so as a sign of respect and gratitude its fitting to be hosting this year’s parade in the town.”
Councillor Mark Purvis, Business Chair of Ashington Town Council added "The parade will wind its way through the very heart of our town, starting on Woodhorn Road and concluding at the Ashington Memorial Garden. We encourage everyone to line the streets, waving flags and cheering loudly to show their pride and support for our armed forces. This highly anticipated St. George's Day parade promises to be an outpouring of patriotism and civic pride."
The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, known as ‘The Fusiliers,’ is an English infantry Regiment in the British Army, formed from four historic Fusilier Regiments in 1968. Since then, the Fusiliers have seen service across the world in Northern Ireland, Cyprus, the Balkans, the 1st and2nd Gulf Wars and Afghanistan. The Regiment has two battalions– First Fusiliers in Tidworth and Fifth Fusiliers in Newcastle – and both adapt readily to challenging scenarios.
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