DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 10 (Supplement)

DEFENCE NOTES

Guarding the King THREE COMPANIES Frontier Operations (By Liaison.) Guarding the person of the King during the crowded Coronation season was not to be the sole privilege of Scotland Yard. Inside the Royal Palaces and at all State ceremonies the King is protected by his own private bodyguards, comprised of three distinct bodies. They are the Hon. Corps of Gentlenien-at-Arms, the King’s bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard and the Royal Company of Archers. The Archers, officially known as the King’s Bodyguard for Scotland, only function when the Sovereign is in the northern part of the Kingdom. At Buckingham Palace, - St. James’s Palace, and Windsor Castle, the duty of guarding the King devolves upon the Hon. Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arnis and the Yeomen of the Guard. The Yeomen must not be confused with Yeomen in the Tower of London, popularly known as “Beefeaters.” The Palace Yeomen belong to a body founded by Henry VII, in 1485, and the corps still wear the costume of the 15th century. All the members of the corps are former soldiers, selected for their good character. service, and stately presence. Until Inst year the Y’eomen were compelled to be bearded. Ex-King Edward VIII, shortly before the abdication, gave permission for the beards to be shaved off, a step which caused quite a flutter in Palace circles. The Yeomen are commanded by a captain. who is assisted by a lieutenant and an i sign. The present captain is Lord Teniplemore, D. 5.0., the lieutenant is Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Colin Macßae, and the ensign is Lieutenant-Colonel R, G. Lascelles. The Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms proudlj" call themselves “The Nearer Guard.” They are the premier Royal bodyguard, and are directly descended from the body of gentlemen pensioners, younger eons of noble families, instituted by Henry VIII, in 1509. In the late 18th century they were in danger of losing their identity, but they were re--Bt°.re.<l former glory by George IV and U ilham IV. Their present title and their permanent military status were assured by William IV. The corps consists of 39 gentlemen who must all be Army officers who have been decorated for war service. It is under the charge of a captain, who must be a peer and a member of the Ministry He retires with the Government. The present captain is the Earl of Lucan. When the King holds court at the Palace at Holyrood House, the greenclad Archers line the Throne room and other State apartments, and their colours are placed to the right and left of the Throne itself. The captain-general of the corps is Lord Elphinstone, the Queen’s brother-in-law. The Royal Company of Archers are not only an indoor Royal, bodyguard, but an outdoor one as well should need arise. When Queen Victoria paid her visit to Edinburgh in 1542 the Archers stuck so closely to her carriage that she- was alarmed in case they might be injured by the vast crowds, or be exhausted by the determined way they trotted along, keeping up with the horses I Frontier Operations. Though they are still on the warpath, the Waziri insurgents are being closely pressed. The recent operations, in which the Sham Plain was occupied, have deprived them of oue of their grazing grounds, and must have shaken their disbelief in the ability of the Imperial troops to pursue them into their remote mountain fastnesses. They are reported on good authority to have suffered relatively heavy losses on this occasion, and the use of aircraft for dropping supplies has to some extent restricted their power to interfere with the communications of the columns which have forced their way into the less accessible parts of their country. Every time the aeroplanes rise from their landing grounds to fly in a few minutes to the camps of the invading brigades, there to drop nearly four and a half tons of rations, the enemy loses a chance of attacking the long convoys of nack animals and their escorts which are so exceptionally vulnerable in mountain warfare against bold and enterprising antagonists. The mountian tracts which intervene between the Indo-Afghan boundary and the administered territories of British India are inhabited by sturdy tribes who raise large families on barren hillsides, and are consequently under constant temptation to raid the settled districts, just as the Highland clans of Scotland raided the Lowlands until thj eighteenth century. They spread over into Afghanistan ; they are fiercely resolved to maintain their independence; and, though they are not averse from receiving favours from the Government, they give little in return for them. Three methods of dealing with these people have been advocated—a "torward” policy, involving the disarmament and direct administration of the whole region up to the Durand Line which senarates India from Afghanistan; the “close border” system, which would hold, the frontier of the administered territory in great strength and leave the tribes to their poverty, and their blood feuds; and the present compromise, the gradual and if possible pacific penetration of tribal territory by roads, garrisons and fortified eamps. Sandshoes for Soldiers. Germany realises that boots still hold an all-important place in the equipment of the fisrhting forces, despite the fact that motor transport has promoted the humble "foot-sloggere” into carriage folk. Now the discovery has been made that the German army boots worn by Nazi Guards, Storm Troopers. Labour Corps and Hitler Youth, are ruining the feet of young Germany. Careful observation has led to the alarming conclusion that 50 per cent, of young Germans have abnormal feet. Many of us must have noticed the prevalence of “outsize” feet in the ranks of German marching regiments, and may have ascribed it to the generous outline of the German boot, that tubular affair of the “Wellington” or “Blucher” pattern. Now we learn that this boot, lavishly garnished with hobnails. is responsible for much spinal weakness among German youth. That boot, therefore, says the experts, must make place to light footwear, sandshoes for ' choice, in which the young may freely disport themselves. This aims a deadly blow at the traditional “parade” step of Prussia, for how can you produce the necessary resonance with sandshoes? Will this be welcomed by the German fighting men?