Beating Retreat in Arras for the centenary of the "Battle of Arras", 9th April 2017
Beating Retreat is a military ceremony dating to 16th century England and was first used to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle.
These days, most armed forces in the Commonwealth perform some ceremonial form of the retreat and it is often used as a proving test for new band members as well as a practice for difficult drill moves such as the Spin Wheel. The ceremonies generally involve the marching of a band, the firing of cannon and other decorative presentations.