FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20427, 23 December 1931, Page 2

FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

RAIN OF POPPY PETALS. (rnou our own correspondent.) LONDON, November 12. When the King and Queen entered the Royal Box at tho Albert Hall last night, the vast arena was already filled from stalls to gallery. The occasion was the great and final ceremony of Armistice Day—the British Legion Festival of Einpire and Remembrance. With their Majesties were the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of York, and Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught. As the King and Queen appeared the trumpeters of the Life Guards sounded the Royal salute,- and everj' eye was turned to where they stood. There followed a burst of cheering which drowned the notes of tho trumpets—a spontaneous expression of loyalty and of gratitude that the King had once again graced the festival. -The marching tunes sung by the audience were mostly those of songs associated with the Great War, such .songs as "Tipperary," "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag," and "If You Were the Only Girl in the World." The massed Binging was led by the bands of the Brigade of Guards, conducted by Captain Andrew Harris, senior director of music in the Brigade, and taken up spiritedly by the huge audience. To the undying melody ,of "Tipperary" there entered and trudged along the central aisle a little party dressed as men were dressed in the front line, bearing Lewis guns and all tho impedimenta of that incredible time. .March of the Services. There were a series of processions l which carried the mind - back to the war. In the van a score of old Chelsea pensioners epitomised Britain's . war history over half a century. After them camo representatives of the Ser- [ vices. Most impressive was the entry I of the divisional signs, carried with an immense pride by the veterans who had worn the emblems on their tunic sleeves. All were be-medalled, and among them were some whose movement was hindered by the injuries sustained. To appropriate music there marched in Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, the uniformed Women's War Services, and Nursing Services. The flags were ranged in line upon the pla'tform, and the drums and fifes of the 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, converged upon them from three entrances and shrilled a march. Section by section, detachments of the services and bearers of the British Legion standards marched and took their places in the tiers of seats behind the bands. When they had oome together this segment of the arena was a blaze of colour, rimmed with the white and grey and scarlet of the Women's Nursing Services. _ Very beautiful, Eolemn, and impres- : sive was the latter part of the festival, particularly the affecting lament, "The Flowers of the Forest," played in memory of Field-Marshal Lord Hlaig, founder of the Legion, by pipers of the Soots Guards. During this tribute many eyes were turned to tho box where Lady who is carrying on her huband's great work among his beloved men, sat with friends. Then the lights became dim; drums rolled, and on the screen appeared a pictured field of poppies. Choristers of the Temple Church, unseen, gently broke the silence . . . Oh, valiant hearts, who to your glory came. As they sang, 1,104,890 poppv petals, each representing one sacrificed life, fluttered from the roof to form a red mantel on the shoulders of Legionaries below. With the beautiful strains of "Abide With Me" there appeared over the darkened hall a great cross outlined in poppies. Th«» trumpets of the Life Guards sent out the Reveille, and the National Anthem provided a perfect conclusion to another memorable j annual day of remembrance. , '