EMPIRE REMEMBRANCE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 11

EMPIRE REMEMBRANCE

PKINCE AND THE T.C'S

ALBERT HALL FESTIVAL

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright.

LONDON, 12th November,

Drenching rain and a gale did not deter thousands who waited about the Albert Hall to participate in the British Legion's festival of Empire remembrance. Within ten minutes of the op ning of the doors the building was packed out. The greatest ovation was accorded ih» Prince of Wales, the holders of the Victoria Cross, and a grand patriotic fantasia in which were representatives of the Empire. The Prince, with Lord Jellicoe and Lady Jellicoe, occupied a box which resembled a beautiful bower of Flanders poppies. , The Prince and Lord Jellieoe wore lounge suits and smoked cigars. _ The Prince of Wales 's entry was the signal for an ear-splitting demonstration, the audience rising and waving the programmes. Sections commenced "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow," till the organ took it up. The building reverberated when the holders of the Victoria Cross appeared on the stage agpd marched to the aisle. The audience's vociferousncss was unbounded. There were poignant scenes as comrades met. There were many handshakes, and one ex-serviceman from the body ■of the stalls rushed up to a Victoria Cross winner and embraced him French fashion. MESSAGE FROM THE KING. ■ The Prince read the following message from the King: "Please convey to the ex-servicemen and women my sincere thanks for the loyal terms o"f the, message addressed to me on the eleventh anniversary of the Armistice. I am touched by the kind way they referred to my recovery. I hope on some future occasion that it .may be possible for me to again be present at this great festival, of which I retain most stirring recollections." The Prince said: "I know, old comrades, how sincerely we hope that His Majesty will be able to attend a similar gathering in a year's time. While Armistice Day was once a day of relief and rejoicing, it has now became a day of remembrance, full of inexpressible thoughts which will be with' vs1 each successive anniversary till our days end." The Prince concluded with* an appeal to support the British Legion's sick, destitute and unemployed members.

The Prince waved cheerily to the Victoria Cross winners, who reciprocated. _ Then the audience again joined in terrific applause. As the evening progressed the festival adopted a concert aspect, which rather wearied a section of the audience. Slight interruptions marred the solos. This contrasted with the community singing of war-time favourites. The audience demanded encores, which the massed bands rendered splendidly. SOLEMN SILENCE. The last section of the festival dynamically contrasted with the first part, the entire procedings adopting a cath-edral-like dignity and solemnity. The- silence was almost felt when Colonel Kobert Loraine recited "They Shall Grow Not Old," after which one milliori\ poppies were showered on the audience, each poppy memorising the Empire's dead. The festival was strikingly democratic. When the Prince of Wales and Lord JeHicoe walked from the platform to tlie aisle ex-servicemen shook hands with, both and slapped them on the back, whilst the assemblage roared appreciations. The V.C.'s devoted the interval to appeasing hungry autograph hunters, who included many Scouts and Guides who participated in the pageant for' the first timjj. REUNION OF COMRADES. The consensus of opinion of Legion officials is that .the festival is becoming more informal year by year. " Tonight the audience wore no uniforms and no evening dress. One official epitomised the sentiment of the gathering as "The greatest reunion of old comrades, relatives, and friends, with just one touch of solemnity characterised by the last line of the poem, 'We will remember them.' "