Our newer brethren would have noticed that there are hand movements that accompany this short ode. Some brothers choose to move their hand from side to side (once per line) but, traditionally, the movement should be in the form of a triangle. Why? Because! That’s why 🙂

On the placemats at the Combined Services Lodge, is an explanation for the hand movements. I’ll pass a little bit of it on but, for the full story, I suggest you visit the aforementioned lodge.

In 1966, Bro Henry Carr wrote an article claiming that the original movements where taken from the military. When having a drink, the commands would be:

• Present Arms (grab the drink)
• Aim (raise the drink to the top of the triangle)
• Fire (down to the left corner)
• Grand Fire (across to the right and then drink)

This has evolved (as all things do) and now we have the following:

• On the first line, the index finger of the right hand points to the apex of the triangle.
• On the second, it moves to the lower left corner.
• On the third, it moves across to the right hand side.
• On the last, it briefly returns to the apex before the clap.

Please remember to put your drink down before doing the movements 🙂