FOR REMEMBRANCE.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19814, 30 December 1929, Page 14

FOR REMEMBRANCE.

IMPRESSIVE NIGHT OF MEMORIES.

PRINCE AT THE ALBERT HALL

F£3»t OVS. CjXVST CO32ES?OSDEXT. LONDON, November 1 4-. It was fitting that New Zealand should be represented at the Festival of Empire and Remembrance organised by the British Legion at the Albert Hail on Armistice Night. The great hall was packed from floor to ceiling, and it was a splendid climax to a day—indeed, a week-end—of inspiring emotions. Here one could at last give way to the lighter and more cheerful emotions that went to make up the years of war. Assuredly there are memories that only please. They are associated with those, things which helped to make the war endurable—the gay numbing songs which reminded one of the comradeship of those years, the colours and Divisional signs which recalled the pride of one's unit, the parade of ail those auxiliary units —the Nursing Services, the W.A.A.C., the W.E.N.S., the V.A.D.'s who helped to make life in the back areas more comfortable and inviting — one might say, more human. They organise these pageants well ia this great city—the heart of the Empire. The entry of the V.C. men was a wonderful beginning to a night of thrilling experiences. There followed the march of the Chelsea Pensioners to the chorus of "The Old Brigade," the march of the Women's War Units and the Nursing Services to the strains of "The Great Little Army." Then came the Divisional Signs. Each one was carried by an ex-soldier representative of that particular Division. The New Zealand sign was carried by ex-Staff-Sergeant C. U. Milner (of the High Commissioner's Office"). Ex-service men naturally sought with pride the signs they had once worn on their coat sleeves, and they smiled to sec again the "Elephant." the "Ace of Spades," the "Yellow Horse Shoe," and a score of others which were so familiar on lorries and G.S. waggons on the roads of France and Belgium. The banner bearers marched in twos across the floor to the strains of "Tipperaiy'' played by the great organ, the massed bands, and sang by tho vast audience.

New Zealand Officers. Gradually the gay picture was forming on the stage and on the seats on each side of the organ. There followed the march of the Services to the chorus of the "Soldiers of the King.'' New Zealand in this was represented by Major T. M. Wilks, M.C., Major J. L. Findlay, M.C., Captain K. L. Stewart, M.B.e!, Captain L. G. Goss, and Captain S. F. Allen. 'The Royal Air Force came first, and then the overseas forces, the British Army, the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets, the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines, and Royal Navy. To the chorus of "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag" came the bearers of the. standards of the British Legion. They seemed never ending. Boy Scouts and Girl Guides followed and at last the picture was complete. Searchlights at the top of the building lighted up the scene and refleced back the red and the gold, the white and the blue, the green and the yellow, and the sprinkling of dull khaki. A thousand banners added gaiety to the picture. • In the Grand Patriotic Fantasia appropriate music was played as a representative of a particular part of the Empire stepped to the front and joined the line. "God Defend New Zealand" boomed forth from the organ when the New Zealand officer joined the group. This part of the proceedings finished with the singing of "Land of Hope and Glory" and "Rule Britannia" to the accompaniment of the organ and the massed ljands.

Prince's Appeal. •The Prince of Wales, who had had a seat with Lord Jellicoe, came down after the interval —during which the V.C.'s had under great pressure distributed their autographs on programmes—to speak from the platform. The printed programmes had coloured covers and it had been arranged that the audience should welcome the Prince of Wales by waving them closed. This, indeed, they did, but it was a greeting that they considered entirely inadequate. For several minutes they cheered, and then somebody started the singing of "He's a Jolly Good Fellow." The organist picked up the tune, and the lines were sung over and over again, and there was more cheering before the Prince was able to begin his address.

He began by reading a message from the King, and went on to speak of the true significance of Armistice Day, of the keeping of it in remote parts of the Empire, and to plead the cause of the ex-Service men. He reminded his hearers that, among some of those who fought, advancing years were now Tevealing weaknesses not suspected before. For such he pleaded; and he concluded by reminding his hearers that with them at least he need not dwell on the blessings of peace.

Shower of Poppies. When the Prince had finished his address he returned to his place, and the Welsh singers sang, "God Bless the Prince of Wales." Then the pipers marched through the hall and stirred excitement to fever pitch. With solos and community singing the festival was continued until the opening bars of c 'How Sleep the Brave" introduced the final and more solemn part of the celebration. From a point high up in one of the galleries the notes of Last Post quivered through the now darkened hall, and then Colonel Robert Loraine quietly spoke the lines of Laurence Binyon, beginning "They shall not grow old . . . ." A shower of poppies floated from the roof in memory of the Empire's dead, and then the Life Guards' trumpeters brought an almost unbearable silence to an end with Eeveille. The singing of "Now Thank We All Our God" and "God Save the King" were the last items on a programme which will long be remembered by all those who were privileged ro take part in it.