Beating Retreat

Beating Retreat. The Beating of Retreat was first performed at RMC in 1968 as a relatively low-key affair. Its success with the Canberra population ensured that this event would continue to be an annual event in the College and Canberra Festival calender. The ceremony has its origins in the British army of the 16th Century, and combines three customs. The first is the drummers signalling that the evening guard duties were about to commence and for people to return to the fortifications. The second was the singing of hymns and firing of volleys in honour of the fallen and to scare away the evil spirits of the enemy dead. Fighting in those days ceased at sunset. The third was the lowering of the colours and securing of them for the evening. The modern event has become a musical and drill show to some extent, with the involvement of cadets and the RMC Band. The parade culminates with the 1812 Overture, fireworks and gun salute.