Guide Was Shocked When Whitehall Sentry Moved

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28630, 5 July 1958, Page 13

Guide Was Shocked When Whitehall Sentry Moved

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, July 4. A soldierly professional guide. John Thompson Reeves, who is 63, spoke last night about the mounted Life Guard sentry who challenged his words in Whitehall on Wednesday and pointed his sword at him, the “Daily Express” reported. Pointing his rolled umbrella sword fashion and booming. “You’re a liar,” Captain Reeves told the “Daily Express”—“That, dear boy, is exactly what the sentry did and said.”

“I was shocked, speechless and very nearly paralysed.” said Captain Reeves. “I had just told my party of American sight-seers that if a wasp crawled up the nostril of one of the guards he would not permit himself to move his hand .”

Trooper John Tredbury, a 21-year-old North ■‘countryman, had earlier been charged with disobeying standing orders and asked by his commanding officer. Lieutenant-Colonel the Marquis of Douro, a descendant of the Duke of Wellington, the Iron Duke, to explain his action, said the “Daily Express.” He told the Marquis that for 55 minutes he had been sitting motionless on his horse when the guide and sight-seers walked up to him. He heard the guide, whom the troopers know as “Egypt,” tell the sight-seers that the men on guard did no cleaning. This was untrue, and to him a matter of honour, and his action followed, said the newsoaper. In the "extenuating circumstances” the charge against the trooper was dismissed.

Captain Reeves is not satisfield, said the “Daily Express.” He is demanding an apology. “If I get one for this extraordinary behaviour I shall be satisfied.” he said. “If not, I shall report the matter to the War Office.” At Knightsbridge Barracks, the guards closed their ranks. According to the “Daily Express" a trooper said: “We have had enough of ‘Egypt’ and have sent a petition to the commanding officer asking for this guide to be removed while we are on guard.”