In 2008, he was assigned to Hounslow, West London, and became "an integral member of the Corps of Drums throughout the Battalion's time on public duties, the highlight of which was being a part of the Household Division's Beating the Retreat -- a real honour for a line infantry Corps of Drums, " the ministry said.

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The day ended with a rendition of military musical march The Beating of Retreat.

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The key to beating the rush is to force the cavalry charge of defenders into a retreat by breaching the defensive line.

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"Downing Street suddenly knew that it faced a choice between the story coming out, though in a far more technicolour and dramatic way than anyone had up to that stage realised, or beating a hasty retreat, " he writes in the latest edition of the magazine, edited by Tory MP Boris Johnson.

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