THE PENSIONERS AT CHELSEA

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 50, 27 August 1924, Page 6

THE PENSIONERS AT CHELSEA

FOUNDER'S DAY

[ A PICTURESQUE LONDONvCEEEkv1' ■•■' /''.,-■'" ■ MONY. ■','■'..-' .; | • "•:. (FROM OUR OWN. CORRESPONDENT.) . I;? :-,.-'V-^ -t;' v -LONDON,:3rd .June.. .i,._".Several.New,,Zealanders availed'them's elves "of the opportunity of witnessing the picturesque1 proceedings in connection with Founder's 'Day at Chelsea Hospital last week;.among ..these.- being Sir George and Lady Fenwick'arid Mr. =aiid Mrs. ■. Wyhdliam' Hopkins."' Royal . Oak "Day, which is the anniversary .of the Battle of ■ Worcester,: is. commemorated at the ; old:-soldiers'. home," and special significance is given to'the oak-tree, ■ for it was upon- that day that Charles 11. escaped capture by taking refuge iii an oak . tree. Persistent ...tradition: credits Nell Gwynne with having .suggested "to King Charles, the foundation of the hospital, and; though-this is,unsupported by evidence, the old pensioners like to .feel that they , are ,indebted to, her for Ihe haven of rest they are privileged to 'enjoy in their declining years. The statue of King Charles, which stands in' the main quadrangle,: was completely covered by oak foliage, on Founder's Day, and plum puddings, which are the special, luxuries for Christmas and: Founder's Day, were decorated with sprigs of oak. Many of the .visitors,..too, wore oak leaves as & -button-hole. ." . . N . •"■'...

The. ceremony, is-very simple, merely an inspection 'and march past, but it is .a particularly picturesque proceeding.. It is one of those few occasions .when the 600, veterans put on their-very best scarlet uniforms and 'wear the three-cornered hats of Charles the Second's time, and everyone, of course, displays his medals. There are several old men left, in the home who are entitled to' weafthe Maori War. Medal, and it. is interesting to find that several ■ newcomers, are wearing the medals' of j the Great War. One man, a farrier, 'now"72.'years of; ajre,,. dyed "his hair, and officially reduced his age, and so entered the" army again in 1915, and served faithfully throughout the .war. Chelsea Hospital is one "of the most 'beautiful places in the spring and early summer. The building, ; itself" is placed on three sides of a green : quadrangle. Steps lead down to another lawn some six acres in extent and well wooded, and just beyond is the Thames.' Other' gardens, many acres in extent,; surround the hospital and make a. particularly .pleasant break in the view, from a river, steamer/ ..;■ ■-.•■■•..■■■■■•• . .-

The pensioners were drawn up on three sides of the square, and stood firmly to attention when the inspection' was bein<* made by Lieut-General Sir' William D. Pulteney, who was received by the' Governor,', General Sir; Neville' Lyttelton, and, by the Lieutenant-Governor* MajorGenei'al H. C. Sutton. Tlie very'old and feeble were accommodated with seats in a supernumerary .rank.." After the inspection the pensioners'marched pasli in slow time to the strains of "Whore Are the Boys of the Old Brigade?" played by'the Royal ■Artillery^.''Band: They Were then- formed up-, ■facincc'. King Charles s statue,.-and--we're briefly, addressed'by''the inspectinp. general, who, after presenting, the Challenge Cup and' prizes for the best cultivated gardens,, congratulated the men on .'their "smart appearance, and- on the j.ivay in which they had weathered the storms und battles of life. •In a reference'to "the l)eautifu\ surroundings in which their lot was cast: Sir-W.-.-P. Pultoney said that,-it might be said of W ren i,j" reearc | to that hospital, in the words of.his noble'epitaph' at St. 'Paul's: "If you. seek a monument look around you." The inspection ended with 'cheers --.heartily [riven by the. assembled veterans.'

-. . While worlung :nt Miramar this, morn--111 q a married' man, aa;ed: 58, " named Daniell■Maeplierson/ who"-resides'at 23, Home street, had' JusMe^ 'caught between a boat and a tug. He was admitted to .the. hospital at 10.20 o'clock with'his left foot -badly ' injured. '■ Clover " a thoroughbred horse., holds tie record -of-being, the oldest horse m the world. He is 53 years old, and his homo is on (he /arm of -a paslor near tMa\vissa,.]?o., U.S. • Born in 1871. ho is still g-oiiig good." and receives a pension l.roni a New York jockey, club.