THE BRITISH Army has released a video ahead of Remembrance Day entitled The Last Post, featuring a bugler playing the emotive tune of the same name, which commemorates those who made the ultimate sacrifice in war.
Poignantly the video opens to the sound of waves crashing at the foot of the White Cliffs of Dover, with the bugler looking out to sea. As the moving music continues, the camera starts to circle the Bugler and as it does the location changes – transporting us to a sunrise over Stonehenge.
With the Bugler at the heart of the video, the location becomes a powerful supporting artist as we are magically transported around the country taking in a number of recognisable landmarks including the Angel of the North, Tower Bridge and Edinburgh Castle before ending, fittingly, at the National Memorial Arboretum.
The Bugler is Lance Corporal Sebastian Yaseen (24) who is an Assault Pioneer within the Bugle Platoon of 5th Battalion the Rifles. He was selected to be featured in the Army’s Remembrance Video out of 80 Buglers within the regiment and says it is one of the great achievements of his career so far.
“This has been a great year for me,” said LCpl Yaseen. “I placed second in the regimental competition and became the Colonel Commandant’s Bugler.”
In the five years that he has been playing the bugle, Sebastian has played at Horse Guards, the Royal Albert Hall and at a number of International Rugby matches, and has spent a number of days over the last two months filming all over the UK for this video.
When asked what his highlight was, he said; “Filming all over the UK has been a great experience and sounding the Last Post is huge honour. I always feel an overwhelming sense of pride.”
After a month of careful planning, the team of four Army photographers started filming in September. Warrant Officer Class 2 Daniel Harmer, Sergeant Jonathan Van Zyl, Corporal Tim Jones and Corporal Pete Brown brought the video to life but it is LCpl Yaseen who was the star at each location.
“The public reaction was great,” he said. “I had a lot of interest at all locations. Many people wanted photographs and asked me questions about the regiment, the bugle itself, and what we were filming for. I didn’t go into detail as we didn’t want to spoil the surprise!”