ROYAL MARINES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 86, 8 October 1935, Page 4

ROYAL MARINES

ON GUARD AT PALACES

The Royal Marines completed their first guard at Buckingham Palace and St. James's Palace on August 26, when they were relieved by the Ist Battalion, Scots Guards, says "The Times." Then the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards, were to take guard duties, and they, in turn, wpuld be succeeded by the Royal Marines. ■■.■..., :'•; ; :

. Fair weather attracted a: large :Crowd| of people to see the: guard-changing ceremony, which, in. the absence of the King from Buckingam Palace, took place at St. James's-Palace. The Royal Marines have been watched with critical eyes by spectators : familiar with the precision arid march discipline of the Guards, and they, appear to have emerged from this public ordeal with credit. When they'mounted guard rain necessitated the wearing of greatcoats. However,, as. they marched to Chelsea barracks as the "old guard," they were able to. show off their distinctive dress to advantage and they presented a very smart appearance. Outside St. James's Palace the spectatprs had waited in pouring rain for over an hour. The Royal Marines relieved the Coldstream Guards, and the guard-changing was carried through with precision. The Guards band played, appropriately, the "Sailpr's Hprnpipe" and "A Life on the Ocean Wave."

This was the first time in their 270 years' history that the honour, of providing the guard at the Royal Palaces, the Bank of England picket, and the guard over the Hyde Park Magazine had fallen to the Royal Marines. Their ancient privilege of marching through the city with colours flying, drums beating, and bayonets fixed was to be exercised before they left Londpn, and the Lprd Mayor was to take the salute at the Mansion House.