ROYAL VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27193, 10 November 1953, Page 13

ROYAL VISIT TO AUSTRALIA

Special Car Company Under Training (From a Reuter Correspondent.) T SYDNEY. .. in A a camp at Randwick soldiers of tne Australian Army, are being taught now to act in the presence of Royalty, iney are the nucleus of a new unit b £ inf L/ orn ? ed for the sole purpose of attending the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh on next year’s Royal Tour. rr» Royal Visit Car Company (R.A.A.S.C.), the unit at full strength win consist of seven officers and 120 p- c -o’s an d Privates. It will operate the fleet of 54 cars (including Daimlers, numbers, Fords, and Australia’s‘own Holdens).

.As well as drivers the unit will provide the Queen’s orderlies, baggage guards and escorts. Twenty n.c.o.’s who have already formed a training cadre will be instructors of the main body when it assembles early next month. , The company’s commanding officer, Major C. E. Thornhill, said this week that selection for the company is being made as a reward for good service. All will be picked men. Major Thorn-hill-said: “I have interviewed every man chosen for the fob, and every one of them has been carefully screened. Daily squad drill will keep the men fit, but apart from that they, have a lot to learn.” z

The drivers, some of whom will drive the Queen and the Duke, apart from having a thorough knowledge of car driving and maintenance, will have to know traffic control regulations in all States. In addition, all the men will have to attend courses “in deportment and manner of address in the presence of Royalty.”