EMPIRE’S HEROES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 November 1929, Page 11

EMPIRE’S HEROES

REMEMBRANCE FESTIVAL DEMONSTRATION IN LONDON CROWD’S GREAT OVATIONS

DIGNITY CATHEDRAL-LIKE

By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 5.5 p.m. London,; Nov. 12. A drenching gale did not deter thousands who waited about Albert Hall to participate in the British Legion’s festival of Empire remembrance. Within ten minutes of the opening of the doors the building was packed. The greatest ovation was accorded the Prince of Wales, holders of the Victoria Cross and the grand patriotic fantasies in which were representatives of the Empire. The Prince, with Earl and Lady Jellicoe, occupied a box which resembled a beautiful bower of Flanders poppies. The men wore lounge suits and smoked cigars. ,

. The Prince’s entry was the signal for an ear-splitting demonstration, the audience rising and waving programmes. Sections commenced “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” till the organ took it up. The building reverberated when the holders of the Victoria Cross, appeared on. the stage and marched to the aisle. The audience's vociferousness was unbounded. There were poignant scenes as the heroes met comrades. There were many handshakes and one exserviceman from the body of the stalls rushed up to a Victoria Cross winner and embraced him in French fashion.

MESSAGE FROM THE KING. • ( The Prince read the following message from the King: “Please convey to the ex-servicemen and -women my sincere thanks for the loyal terms of the message addressed me on the eleventh anniversary of the Armistice. I am touched by the kind way in which they referred to my recovery. I hope on some future occasion it may be'possible for me again to be present at this great festival of. which I retain most stirring recollections." °

“I know, old comrades, how sincerely we hope His Majesty will be able to attend, a similar gathering in a year’s time,” said the Prince. “While A-misticc Day was once a day of'.relief and rejoicing it has now become a day of remembrance full of Inexpressible thoughts which will be -with us each successive anniversary till our days end.” ’

The Prince concluded with an .appeal for support of the British Legion’s sick, destitute and unemployed members. Undoubtedly the Victoria Cross holders though heroes are thoroughly democratic, and they devoted an interval to appeasing hungry autograph hunters, who included many scouts and guides who participated "in the pageant for the first time.

The‘concensus of opinion of the legion officials is that the festival is becoming more informal year by year. Tonight the audience wore no uniform and no .evening dress. One official epitomised the sentiment of the gathering as “the greatest reunion of old comrades, relatives and friends, with just one touch of solemnity characterised by the last line of. the poem, ‘We will remember them.’”

The Prince waved cheerily to the Victoria Cross winners, who reciprocated. Then the audience again joined in 'terrific applause. As the evening progressed the festival adopted a concert aspect which rather wearied a section of the audience, and slight interruptions marred the solos. This contrasted with the. community singing of war-time favourites. The audience demanded encores which the massed bands rendered splendidly. The last section of the festival diametrically contrasted with the first part. The entire proceedings adopted a cath-edral-like dignity and solemnity. The silence was almost felt when Colonel Robert Loraine recited “They Shall Grow Not Old,” after which 1,609,000 poppies were showered on the audience each popy memorising the Empire’s dead.

The festival was strikingly democratic. When the Prince and . Earl Jellicoe walked from the platform to the aisle the ex-servicemen shook hands with both and slapped them on the back, while the assemblage roared appreciations.