THE "KING'S SERGEANT."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15646, 27 June 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE "KING'S SERGEANT."

BEST-MOUNTED MAN IN LONDON,

It was by the title of the " King's Sergeant" that Sergeant A 1 Albert Goldswain, who for nearly 20 years headod every public procession of Royalty, and who recently retired from the London police force, was known. As a young man Sergeant Goldswain served in the 15th Lancers, and his perfect seat and wonderfullygroomed horse always attracted attention when he appeared in the street. Indeed, on tlirco occasions he has boen prizewinner at tho International Horse Show at Olympia, in the class for tho bestmounted policeman. Sergeant Goldswain had his share of exciting experiences before he left the army for the police force, and recalls as one of the most memorable events in his career the time when ho acted as one of the escort for the body of Lord Cavendish when it was carried from the Vico-rogal Lodge to North Wall, where it was embarked for England. A dense, surging crowd of hostile people lined the route, and Mr. Goldswain describes the ride as one of the most trying ho ever had. His first month in the police force, in 1883, however, was marked by an amazing incident. One night he was patrolling one of the roads in Notting Dale when he was suddenly attacked by a madman at halfpast two in the morning. After an exciting struggle he managed to secure his assailant sustaining no more injury than a, dislocated thumb. It was in 1896 that a vacancy occurred in tho A Division for a mounted sergeant, and Mr. Goldswain was seleoted from 32 applicants. Since that time he has headed practically every Royal procession in London and the provinces, and has also accompanied the Crown jewels on their journeys to and from the Tower. Sportsmen, too, will remember Sergeant Goldswain by his appearance at Goodwood, when heading the Stato procession, and at Ascot and Epsom, when he cleared the way for the late King Edward, to lead is bis two Derby' winners.