In The Camps of London.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXXVII, Issue 11756, 6 October 1902, Page 7

In The Camps of London.

HOW THE KING'S SOLDIERS PREPARE FOR CORONATION DAY.

The "Daily Express," in its. issue on the morning of the Coronation had the following:— Muddy subalterns were hurrying through the grass, and the landscape was partially littered with camp-kettles, Soyer stoves, and washing tubs. An Alder-shot -clock, nailed to an elm tree, ticked placidly in the rain, and just acrcss the road--once fa* hionabla driveway—grim n nd very lrasiaesslike hospital ambulances were drawn up in a row.

Near by a grimy, coiporal of the Seaforth Highlanders was -mapping out the duties of o, detail in-broad Scotch, ond as far as one coul.l seethe broad expanse of green was dotted with. white tents, fluttering flags,. ai>'d incoherent staff officers who were ex: tremely busy giving orders. And this is Kensington Gardens, '.-visually trim and exclusive. The stage management of a Coronation has .transformed it into a busy and very workmanlike military camp, regarded by pessimistic park guardians as a fell plot, of the War Office- to ruin one of London's prettie * breathing spots, but gazed upon with admiration by certain military gentlemen who delight in the picture—mud and all. Other London parks have Wen bandei over to the Army—Lambeth. Battersea. and Regent's Park among them—but at Kensington Gardens, where are encamped five composite battalions of troops you get the best effect of tha campaign life in the heart of a city.

FULL OF INCIDENT

Five minutes' walk from the quiet residential neighbourhood of Lancaster Gate or Bayswater Road will bring you into n camp as full of life and action as any field force under canvas in South Africa. Minus the wounded and plus a few medals, the Kensington Gardens picture is just as vivid end full of incident.

Over twenty regiments are represented in the five composite battalions now. imder canvas in Kensington Gardens. From Glasgow to Guernsey the military forces of the kingdom have been drawn upon, and the details thrown together in such manner that the wearers of the plaid, such as the Royal Scots Fusiliera, Royal- Highlanders, Seaforth Highlanders, and Cameron Highlanders form one battalion; the Yorkshires, Staffordshires, North and South, and Lancasters "another; the Leicestershires, Lincolnshires, Berkshires, and Welsh Fusiliers another; the Royal Garrison Artillery, Army Stervice Coripsi, Medical, Ordnance and Pay Corps, and the Jersey and Guernsey Militia another; and the Gordon Highlanders, Derbyshires, and West Yorkshires still another. ;

Hundreds of invested spectators lined the drive-ways and ventured as close io the rope-enclosed rows of tents yesterday as the vigilant sentries would permit. From the arrival of the Royal Lancaster Regiment at Addison-road at 6 a.m. until tbe tired but cheerful Welsh Fusiliers detailed from Jersey marehel into camp at 7.7,0 p.m., tha brigade enclosure- teemed with life and incident.

POPULAR PIPE-CLAY

Weather conditions might have been better. Camp making on a well-soaked plain is no joy, even, for the seasoned Regular, who has learned to take the weather as he finds it. Mud there has been in plenty, and if tha Kensington Gardens colony is not as spick and span as it might be. blame the Meteorological Office.

Pipe-clay was a popular article ye-^ter-~day, and an edifying exhibition of industry was to be observed in many tents, with jpjipe-elay and a soiled belt a 8 two important factors. .

The kits brought by Coronation details are not burdensome. All Regulars, and Militia carried review orderd ress, great coat and kit-bag packed not to exceed lOlbs m weight. The Imperial Yeomanry and Volunteers brought their review order dress and great coats, haversacks, and water bottles.

Although the majority of details will be cut of London by sunset to-night hurrying back to their stations, the camps are complete and well established this morning as though a month's or a year's stay was contemplated. N "Despite the rain and mud and clamp, this camip within the city is infinitely relished by its temporary tenant®. They would rather live in Kensington Gardens than Aldershot, and the visitors, from the Channel Islands .could not say enough in (praise of the site. Regulars and Volunteers alike welcome park life, if for no other, reason than the great rush of visitors'. You' could find more housemaids in Kensington Gardens yesterday afternoon than in any of the residential districts near by. and every bench was in commission. Most of the visitors accepted the homage paid them quite as a matter of course1, as. for instance, the stoical sergeant of the Gordons, who sat between two pretty girls near the Broad Walk, and impartially embraced one after the other with a regularity that made the Aldershot clock ashamed of itself.

THERE ARE DRAWBACKS

"Still, there are drawbacks," said a Welsh Fusilier, as he scattered a fresh litter of straw over the damjp turf in his tent. "Rheumatism will he more than one man's souvenir of this camp. Some of the tents were badly flooded by the recent heavy rains, and more than one chap had to turn put in the middle of the night rather than sleep in two inches of water. That is all right ait the front, but it IS a 'bit thick' for city camp. ('A man who hankers after the hardships of war can get 'em by talcing the Tube to Queen's Road, and walking down here. v It's been the hardest kind of work keeping trim and smart. Still. Are don't mind if the rain only keeps off to-morrow, so that we can make a good showing." Starvation is certainly not one of the drawbacks to campaigning -vyithjn the city. The grocery ration as drawn up yesterday and to-day is quite liberal and varied. The breakfast menu includes tea, condensed milk, corned beef, brawn, or German sausage. Dinner issue includes potatoes, Julienne, meat, and a pint of beer per man, and tea includes bread, butter, milk, jam, tea and sugar. The camp at Regent's Park includes mix composite battalions, collected for the most (part; from stations in Ireland. At Lambeth the Royal Marine Brigade, Royal Naval Brigade, and four composite battalions, representing the Roval Engineers., the Sussex, Leihster, North Lancashire, Dubr lin Fusiliers, East Kent, Connaught Rangers, and others'. At Battersea are three composite battalions, representing Cheshire, Middlesex, South Lancashire. Gloucestershire, Highland Light Infantry, Wales Borderers, and other regiments.