THE DRUMS COME HOME

Northern Advocate, 5 February 1934, Page 10

THE DRUMS COME HOME

A DRAMATIC MOMENT GERMANY’S FINE GESTURE. i ,■■■■•-■ i I j “ENVOYS OF AMITY AND | PLACE” 1 j I United Press Association —By liflectr*' Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received 9.30 n.m.l LONDON, February 4. Sailors from the Bremen, on arrival t at Southampton, carried ashore the faded .and split drums of the Second Battalion Gordon Highlanders, which were left at Ostend by the battalion when it removed to Antwerp, early in the Great War, and which were last week handed over to General Sir lan Hamilton in Germany. As Iho sailors left the Bremen, the ship’s hand played a march. Sir Tan Hamilton, on disembarkin':, waved his hand, and shouted, “Deutschland auf Wiedcrsohen,” and the sailors responded with cheers. An escort from the Gordons met the drums at Farnborough, and marched to Aldershot, where they were received by the battalion on parade, including three ex-servicemen who carried the drums to Ostend in 1914. Sir lan Hamilton, addressing the parade, said: “T. have brought back your drums which once set young and generous hearts beating with thought,-; of war. They are, now returned a:.envoys of amity and peace.” Colonel McChmtock. read President. Hindenburg’s message, emphasising his pleasure at returning the drums. Thereupon drummer boys picked up the drums and trooped them down the parade, the pipe bands playing the regimental march, “Cock O’ Til’ North.”