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Hanging the Brick - a Coldstream Tradition
11 Dec 08

Way back in Coldstream History, 1815 to put a date to it, two very brave man called Colonel Macdonnel and Sergeant Graham held the gates of a farmhouse that the Coldstream Guards were defending from the French.  The actions carried out on that date are a little obscure but what is fact is that the Duke of Wellington later stated that Hougoumont Farm was key in the Battle of Waterloo and that if it had been lost then Wellington's flank would have been turned and the outcome of the battle may have been very different!



Some years later an English Clergyman left £500 in his will to be given ‘to the bravest man in England.’ Wellington was invited to nominate that man and he chose Colonel James Macdonell.  Macdonell immediately shared the money with Sergeant James Graham.

Each year, where time, location and the present situation permits, the Battalion celebrate this tradition in the form of the 'Hanging the Brick' ceremony, here's how it goes .....

The night before the ceremony the brick is secured in the Guardroom overnight, the brick being a piece of wall taken from Hougoumont Farm which is fixed to a very strong chain.  At a time and date stated the Mess Members form outside the Sergeants' Mess in fancy dress with Corps of Drums present.  Senior members of the mess are invited to 'help play' some of the instruments and the Regimental Sergeant Major normally marches at the front of the group acting as Drum Major.



The Mess will march in a pre-organised route to the Guardroom where the brick will be collected. The escorts and individual holding the brick will have been selected well before the day.  Usually the one holding the brick would be a mess member who would be leaving shortly (after 22 years) and this would be their final brick.  The one holding the brick would then normally choose (or advise) who the escorts would be. 

This year the lucky one chosen to carry and hang the brick was WOII (CSM HQ Coy) M Murphy, escorted by WOII (CSM 1 Coy) S Taylor and WOII (UWO) G Douglas.

Tradition then states that the brick is then paraded around the Battalion by the Sergeants' Mess (and Corps of Drums) arriving at the Officers' Mess where the Commanding Officer and all Officers are invited to attend the traditional activities in the Sergeants' Mess. 

On the way round though, tradition states that Guardsmen and Lance Corporals are invited to try and 'take' the brick.  If they do so, then they can 'hold it ransom' to the Sergeants' Mess who must pay for beer and drinks all day in the Junior Ranks Bar to release it.  So, on the way round Gdsm and LCpls attempt to 'take' the brick (using any available fire extinguisher, rotten eggs and hose pipes) and Mess Members 'encourage' them not to do so! 



After the collection of the Officers, the brick is then taken to the Sergeants' Mess where the brick is hung and the scroll is read by the person hanging the brick.  The scroll explains about the heroic deeds of Sergeant Graham and also states that once hung anyone may choose to touch the brick - BUT - by doing so must provide beverage to all in the mess at the point.  In other words, touch the brick and get the round in!!

The Sergeants' Mess then celebrate the deeds of Sergeant Graham and encourage Officers to touch the brick ................. usually by giving them a helping hand!

Learn more about this tradition by clicking here .....
 

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Hanging the Brick Group shot
(complete with Paul Baines on the Quad who was crying 'cause he missed the photo!)


(click image to enlarge)
 

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Other images from this event
(click images to enlarge)

NOTE
Some of these costumes are of ADULT ORIENTATION and should NOT be viewed by the fainthearted!













 

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If anyone wishes to gain 'Hi Quality' images from the event, please e-mail me at ShinyMessageBoard@yahoo.co.uk and I will be glad to help.
This offer is mainly for those that were at the event.
 

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