ROYAL PAGEANT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22498, 15 August 1936, Page 10

ROYAL PAGEANT

'COLOURS PRESENTED KING AND GUARDSMEN GAY SCENE IN LONDON THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS! [from our own correspondent] LONDON, July 25 New Colours were presented to six battalions of the Brigade of Guards by the King in Hyde Park on July 16, in the presence; of Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family. It was a splendid military spectacle, full of dignity and colour, and the weather, after a day of drenching rain, was on its best behaviour. Unfortunately another memory will be associated with this presentation, namely, the incident in which a revolver landed on the roadway at the feet of the King's horse. A gay and colourful scene greeted the King on his arrival at the parade ground. A vast square was ringed by stands, and in the centre was a low dais draped in dark blue and red, upon which rested drums and the new Colours. It faced the Royal box, decorated on the outside with dark blue and red, and inside with light blue and gold. Across the ground, facing Queen Mary, who arrived a quarter of an hour before the King, accompanied by the Princess Royal, the Duchess of York and the two little Princesses, was a sea of black bearskins. About fire thousand men were standing easy, their scarlet jackets contrasting sharply with their blue trousers and the white slings on their rifles. Greeted With Sunshine The stands, which seated several thousand, were draped in pale blue. Green leafy trees provided a softenias frame. In front of the men, nine officers sat on their horses. Three of tlieii mounts were white, three bay and three black. As eleven o'clock was heard striking the parade ground was suddenly bathed in bright sunshine. The first intimating of the King's coming was the appeai ance of the Household Cavalry. Her. was another sharp contrast, for even horse was jet black and the sun caughi the bright steel of the soldiers' trap pings, which glittered and twinkled a> they rode. Then the King appeared on a bay with three white stockings Behind him rode the Duke of York, as his personal aide-de-camp, and foui officers, followed by another troop ol the Household Cavalry. After saluting Queen Mary, the KJij}> turned and faced the battalions on the other side of the ground. It was a signal for the Royal Salute. The ordei to present arms was given and soupded clearly through "the microphones. Alone, the 5000 men moved their bayoneted rifles, and their officers, lined in front of them, lowered their swords. The massed bands of the three regiments, the Grenadier Guards, the Coldstream Guards, and the Scots Guards, played the National Anth&m, the opening bars slowly and quietly, before continuing to a rolling crescendo which throbbed and vibrated round the hushed square. Old Colours Farewelled Then followed the inspection, the King leading his officers, riding slowly past the front rank while the Household Cavalry filed away from the parade ground. The inspection completed, the drums sounded a drummers' call, and the officers took post with their companies. Then out marched the leading company of each battalion to form opposite the old Colours, which were on their last parade. They watched them presented to the ensigns before marching back to their former •position in slow time. The ensigns. unescorted, movi?d steadily from the parade ground, and dipped the Colours when they filed past the King and Queen Mary. .As they disappeared from sight the massed bands played "Old Lang Syne," which, was hushed to a faint murmur as the last of the ensigns left the ground. Their disappearance was the signal for the procession of chaplains, walking slowly toward the dais to perform the consecration of the new Colours'. After they had taken their places the King who had dismounted, followed them, preceded by a staff officer and accompanied by the colonels and lieutenantscolonel of the three regiments,. It was a short consecration service, dignified and sincere. The King's Address Then the King spoke. Every word ■was uttered precisely and was heard by the thousands in every corner of the ground. His Majesty said: "Grenadiers, Coldstreamers and Scots Guardsmen: It is with mingled feelings that I address you on this solemn occasion. I am glad, so soon after becoming Colonel-in-Chief of your respective, regiments. | to entrust new Colours to your charge. | "But when I know that it was hi> ! late Majesty's, my father's, wish in the : closing months of his reign to give them i to you himself, my heart is full of rev-, j erent remembrance of the great exI ample which he set us all. and of griitij tude for his constant interest in the : Brigade of Guards during the eventful quarter of a century in which he held the position that I do to-day. "These Colours recall great actions of the past and splendid feats of arms recorded for ever in British history. Almost everything changes as the centuries pass; but the oldest regiments of 'the British Army, Guards and Line i alike, embody a tradition of discipline i and devotion unbroken by the shocks of 250 years, unequalled in duration, and not surpassed in fame by any other military units now. surviving in the world. i Scroll of Glory "Your Colours not only represent n scroll of the past with all its glories, but to-day and for the future they are emblems of all that stands fot* tlio honour of a soldier and the honour o votir regiments as much in years peace as on the fields of war. Only a lew of us on parade this morning hHJ<? known the awful weight of war, with i all its horrors, and yet its comradeships, during the world struggle of * rears ago. "With all my heart I hope, and indeed I pray, that never again wdl <" ir age and generation be called upon to face such stern and terrible dcijs. Humanity cries for peace and the | surance of peace, and you will find in | peace opportunities of duty and scr\ice as noble as any -that bygone battleno s can show." j The conclusion of the address W< I (he signal for the Colour parties to march to the dais to receive tlieir new Colours. "When nil the Colours had nrosented, two to each of the six '<< • lions, the Colour parties marched i slow time to join their battalions, bands playing the National ArithemAfter the King had remounted he took the salute from the 24 companies a. i they marched along to the tune or I British Grenadiers."