BLIND HEROES

Taranaki Daily News, 22 September 1931, Page 13

BLIND HEROES

ROYAL HANDSHAKE. SCENE AT HOLYROOD. Edinburgh, July 12. There was a touching ceremony at the Palace at Holyroodhouse morning. The King and Queen, returning from St. Giles’ Cathedral, were greeted by their guests —blind sailors, soldiers and airmen, who had lost .their sight in the war. In the Inner Court of the ancient palace under the weathered stone arches the men, forty-seven in all, were drawn up in tw’o lines to await their’Majesties. They came from Newington House, an institution similar to that ■ of St. Dunstan’s run by the Scottish National institution for Blinded ' Siilors - and Soldiers. Dr. Thomas-B.urhsp the president of the society, had conducted them to Holyrood. ■ As their Majesties -entered the Court the word was passed to the sightless men, and all came Smartly to attention. All of them wore their medals and decorations, and the tie of■ the Newington House colours —blue: with gold stripes. While Dr. Burns read out the men’s names and record of service, the King and Queen walked down the ranks shaking hands with each man and saying a word or two to him. There was pathos in the sight as the hands the men were guided by an official to meet those' of their Majesties. At the close of the little ceremony of reception the King said to the men: “I am very happy to welcome you here to-day. I am very deeply interested in your welfare, and I give' 1 you my

very best wishes for your future happiness.” Dr. Burns expressed the thanks of the men for the “signal honour of being entertained at dinner in the ancient and historic Palace at Holyroodhouse.” That Royal action, he said, was more than an act of kindliness and hospitality—it was a message o the country at large that to the men whose lives had been marred, whose faculties had been destroyed and whose bodies had been maimed—they were still with them in their thousands—consideration, kindness and employment were called for even more than twelve years aco. A photograph., tvas then taken. The group ..was -first;, formed with/;the> men

in a long line with the King and Queen, the Duke and Duchess of York and Dr.Burns in the centre, but the King told the men to gather more closely round and form a semi-circle.. Before the Royal party left for their own apartments the men spontaneously sang “God Save the King” in rousing fashion. They were guided to the first floor of the Palace, where as the King’s guests they sat down to luncheon. Beer and mineral waters were served to them and cigarettes handed round afterwards. “It is a red-letter day in our lives.” said one of the blinded men afterwards. “The King’s action has touched our hearts. It is good to know that we are not forgotten-”