VICTORY DAY FOR EMPIRE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24897, 10 June 1946, Page 5

VICTORY DAY FOR EMPIRE

Impressive Parade In London king reviews his FORCES <N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, June 8. K 01 "*!’ snd5 nd wea » olls which flowed dowM the Mall past the King to-day was a mighty demonstration of Empire solidarity. Separate columns of marching men and unbroken lines of vehicles came together before they reached the Mall, where representatives of almost every race and colour, and products of every kind of the inventiveness that helped to win the war gathered for the parade’s most magnificent moment —before the saluting <base. The crowd had been densely packed since early morning along the route. They were representative of all of London and expressive of London s mood and atmosphere. The gay crowd was in unshakeably good humour. It was a family at an intimate festival, welcoming- many foreign guests but primarily concerned with its own family—the Empire—which perhaps is closer to its heart than ever before. All through the night crowds celebrated in front of Buckingham Palace, singing, cheering and swinging rattles. A huge stream of people reinforced them from 6 o’clock onwards until there seemed no room for more, but thousands still poured in. It was the same story from every popular gathering place where onlookers before the dawn joined those who waited all night

“Reveille” sounded at 5 a.m. for mechanised troops encamped in Regent’s Park and for the others in Kensington Gardens. Both camps were soon bustling with life as the troops washed, breakfasted and put the finishing touches to their uniforms and equipment.