21-gun salute as TA soldiers receive freedom of city
By Territorial Army soldiers will receive a 21-gun salute in the middle of the city on Saturday when they are given the Freedom of the City.
The 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Battery, Royal Artillery, and 57 (City and County of Bristol) Signal Squadron, have been honoured by the city council in recognition of “distinguished and eminent” service to Bristol.
The ceremonies open with a Royal Salute – the firing of 21 guns – at Bristol Amphitheatre at 12pm. This is followed by a parade that will take the reservists, accompanied by cadets and Old Comrades, past the Cenotaph and through Anchor Road, St Augustine’s Parade and Small Street.
The salute will be taken by the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol, Mrs Mary Prior. There will then be a civic reception at the Old Council House.
The honour is perfectly timed for 266 Battery, a commando unit, as this year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery.
The unit is based at the Artillery Grounds, Whiteladies Road, and 57 Squadron on Horfield Common. Freedom of the City of Bristol will give them the historic right to march through the city with “bayonets fixed, drums beating and standard flying”.
Only 51 individuals or organisations have received the Freedom honour since 1888, including in more recent years HMS Flying Fox, The Rifles and the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment.
Individuals include former Bristol MP Tony Benn and Sir Jack Hayward, who underwrote the return of the ss Great Britain to the city.
Honorary freemen have their names placed on the Roll of Honorary Freedom of the City and are presented with a seal confirming the honour.
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