GUARDING THE PALACE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 111, 12 May 1937, Page 9

GUARDING THE PALACE

DOMINION TROOPS

ORDEAL IN RAIN

ENDURED ADMIRABLY

(Received May 12, 12.30 p.m.) .LONDON, May 11. Bad weather dogged the Australians in their historic task' of guarding the Palace after rain which fell all night. The ceremonial of dismounting the guard took place in a steady downpour and was watched by a thin' line of spectators with umbrellas. A band played the New Zealanders to the Palace, where they took over guard at noon. Messrs. Savage, Jordan, and Nash and other New Zealanders arrived to watch their countrymen mount guard. The New Zealanders appeared sharp at noon from the guard room. The crowd was disappointed when the full ceremonial was not observed. Owing to the rain, the men merely marched around the railings replacing the guard. Small knots of spectators surrounded each man, staring embarrassingly at his face and equipment, but the men endured the ordeal admirably. AUSTRALIANS CONGRATULATED. War Office chiefs and other distinguished militarists attended this morning's ceremony, and everyone was impressed with how splendidly the Australians stood up to the ordeal after twenty-four hours of continuous guard. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr. J. A. Lyons) sent for the officers and personally congratulated and thanked them. "You are a credit to Australia." he said. "We are proud of you. We were well'repaid for standing in the rain." Mr. Lyons told the Australian Press agency: "The magnificent achievement of today's ceremony compensated for yesterday's unfortunate cancellation."