FINAL REHEARSAL

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 192, 11 May 1937, Page 9

FINAL REHEARSAL

Thousands See Procession AN IMPOSING ARRAY By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, May 9. Thousands of people slept out in order to see this morning's final coronation rehearsal. They spent the evening seeing the decorations and then went to stands in the Mall and camped on them for the night. By 5.30 a.m. to-day every seat in the stands facing Buckingham Palace along the Mall was occupied,, while masses of people flocked down Constitution Hill ,up Birdcage Walk, and along Buckingham Palace Road. In many places people stood eight to 10 deep. Dawn revealed a cloudy sky, and soon there came a drizzle which developed into real rain. Special trains brought thousands more to the scene. There were cheers when mounted escorts rode down Constitution Hill. These included representatives from the Australian and New Zealand contingents. They escorted 11 carriages which will carry the Dominion representatives to the Abbey, and were part of an imposing procession which included the gold coach, drawn by eight Windsor greys. A tall sergeant-major of the Guards constituted himself "O.C. Cheers,’ and shouted to the crowds in the stands, “At the word of command, cheer.” Then, when the gold coach was passing, the crowd cheered, but not loud enough to satisfy the sergeant-major, who shouted, "Let’s have it properly next time.” The crowd cheered again more loudly, and broke up immediately after the procession had passed. Many were soaked to the skin.

PRESENTATION OF MEDAL London, May 9. General Sir Henry Chauvel, former Australian representative on the Imperial General Staff, London, will command the oversea contingents at the Coronation medal distribution at Buckingham Palace on Friday.