The Ministry of Defence has announced the names and details of the Bearer Party who will carry the Coffin of Baroness Thatcher, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, at her Funeral on Wednesday 17 April.
The Bearer Party is made up of eight personnel from all three Services, including those from ships, units and stations notable for their service during the Falklands Campaign. They will be followed by two Cap Orderlies who will hold the caps of the eight bearers when they carry Lady’s Thatcher’s coffin.
BEARER PARTY
Unit/Ship/Base
Name
Age
Hometown
Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, Fleet Air Arm
Able Seaman Thomas Baker
22
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
40 Commando Regiment, Royal Marines
Corporal John Caulfield
30
Weymouth, Dorset
4th Regiment Royal Artillery
Sergeant Jason Buffham
30
Grantham, Lincolnshire
9 Parachute Squadron, Royal Engineers
Corporal Carl Spence
29
Hartlepool, County Durham
F Company Scots Guards
Lance Sergeant Paul Quayle
31
East Kilbride, Lanarkshire
3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
Lance Corporal James Steel
24
Ripon, North Yorkshire
Queen’s Colour Squadron RAF
Lance Corporal Adam Jones
23
Prestatyn, Denbighshire
1 Royal Gurkha Rifles
Lance Corporal Tej Pun
31
Ashford, Kent
CAP ORDERLY
Queen’s Colour Squadron RAF
Senior Aircraftman Jamie Straker
23
Bridlington, East Yorkshire
1st Battalion Welsh Guards
Guardsman Sam Williams
19
Bangor, Gwynedd
On the day of the Funeral, Lady Thatcher’s Coffin was moved by hearse from The Palace of Westminster to St Clement Danes Church (the church of the Royal Air Force) and placed inside by the Undertaker when prayers will be said by the Chaplain. The tri-Service Bearer Party will then carry the Coffin out of St Clement Danes Church and place it on the Gun Carriage of the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. The Bearer Party will walk alongside the Gun Carriage, four on each side, as the Funeral Procession makes its way to St Paul’s Cathedral led by the Band of HM Royal Marines Portsmouth (Royal) Band.
The Processional Route was lined by Servicemen and women supported by bands, and outside the Cathedral a Guard of Honour and Band of 1st Battalion Welsh Guards will be formed up. While the Procession from St Clement Danes Church to St Paul’s Cathedral takes place, the Honourable Artillery Company will fire Processional Minute Guns from Tower Wharf, HM Tower of London.
Positioned on the West Steps of St Paul’s Cathedral is a Step Lining party made up of 18 tri-Service personnel and 16 In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Senior military representatives will attend the service.