MECHANISED COLUMN

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

MECHANISED COLUMN

Excitement in the Mall reached a crescendo as the mechanised column wept into the Mall and roared past the saluting base. All commanders flood up in their cars, saluting as they Pffed the Royal Stand. The senior o&er or non-commissioned officer in each vehicle saluted the King with the remainder of the crew at attention, reads and eyes turned to the left. ine procession included the transport of former civilian services— Police, fire brigades, civil defence, Mnbers of the land army on farm transport, and London buses, and then W the colossal parade of Army Wing service vehicles. rae marching column received an Jen greater reception as, to the tunes j-. many* bands, they marched in per<t precision 12 abreast down the MUI and past the saluting base. The was Band led, followed by Amerigo Chinese. and French troops, and other Allied nations in alphabetical <w~all the World War Allies exX Russia, Poland, and Jugoslavia. next section contained Dominion *^*7-C ana da, Australia, New ZeaAfric a. Rhodesia and NewJwaland—in that order. They were Wen a tremendous reception, as were Indians who followed them. Next ® De the contingents from the colonies SEWjout the world, of which the in turbans and shorts "fracted most attention. Even the ■■“•st colonies, such as Seychelles "J 3*. Helena were represented. second contingent of civilians, Jr as railwaymen, bus conductresses, representatives of every branch ■ industry followed. Ifliai OI S es ’ Con ti n gents from every -x. Force command and group, their own bpnd, preceded hne of British Army conCifS?’ headed by the Household u } h e Life Guards being followed jJr n Ari ? oured Corps, Royal Engiftoyal Corps of Signals, the BriZfufyuards, English, Scottish. Irish Sf? infantry regiments, glider r and parachutists.

i All other Army services were rep-' i resented, including Home Guardsmen, - and the nursing service. The A.T.S., with their own band K brought up the rear of the Army contingent. Rain began to fall a few minutes before noon while the procession was ! still passing the saluting base. It soon increased in intensity, but the King, standing unsheltered on the dais, took no notice as he continued saluting the marching troops. The rain did not cause the marchers to lose any of their magnificent preand did not dampen the spectators’ spirits, but by 1 p.m., although the fly past was still to come, many spectators were swiftly moving away seeking shelter and food. The rain, which stopped after halt an hour, began again before the fly past started. The machines, headed by a Battle of Britain Hurricane, flew at a height of 300 to 600 feet. Millions of people perched on rainswept rooftops, stood in the soaked streets or leaned out of windows to see the magnificent spectacle which the Royal Air Force and the Fleet Air Arm carried out in spite of unfavourable conditions. The leading Hurricane, flown by an unknown Battle of Britain pilot, waggled its wings as it passed over the saluting base, and then, in per* feet formation, came 307 other aeroplanes including all the types -which became familiar during the war. The King and Queen remained to watch the fly past, and altogether stood for 108 minutes. Then they entered a waiting motor-car,, the hood of which was lowered, in spite of the rain, on the King’s order, so that people could see Their Majesties and the Princesses as they returned to the Palace. Some of the best views of the parade were obtained by thousands of people miles away from the great crowds—those using television sets. All the highlights of the scenes in the Mall were televised.