HATS OFF TO THE COLOR.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1919, Page 4

HATS OFF TO THE COLOR.

TPIE KING’S BIRTHDAY

PARADE. London, June 4. Something ,of former .military splendour was recaptured in Hyde Park yesterday at the Trooping of the Colour—the principal ceremonial in honour of the King’s birthday. The massed bands of the Brigade of Guards in scarlet and bearskins, and the Household Cavalty baud, all gold and silver, once more gladdened the hearts of thousands of Londoners with their stirring martial airs. In the private enclosure it was no less an outstanding occasion. For the first time in five years generals who had been used to meeting on the dusty roads of France now stand side by side, with their ladies, watching the timehonoured pageant with critical eyes.

Many, perhaps, were thinking of the last time the colour was trooped and of the tradition of four years of battle the Guards had stored away since then. The banners that were honoured yesterday stood for more Guardsmen dead. Perhaps, in the circumstances, the setting of grey clouds were more in harmony with things than sunshine and the slow marching to slow music the appropriate feature of the day. j

NEW OFFICER TYPE. In effect, this victor}" celebration of the King’s birthday struck rather a note of solemn reverence than of triumph, despite the playing of modern swinging airs such as “ The British Grenadiers ” and “ St. Patrick’s Day.”

Remarkable, too, was the differ- ! 1 euce in type between the young ■ ! chevroned officer of 1919 and his ; 1 older prototype of before the war. 1 ; The central figure in the pageant, 1 the young subaltern who carries tire . colours of the infantry, who had to march round the vast square, slow 1 time, could not have been over : twenty. As the colours came by every man, from the King downwards, either saluted or bared his head, while the ladies present rose ' from tlier chairs. At tile close of the ceremonj" Eady Patricia Ramsay and .Sir Douglas Haig came in for special cheers from the great crowd present. j While the King was taking the salute at Buckingham Palace during a march past of the troops after the

parade, the Queen, Princess Mary, Prince Albert, and Prince Henry, and other members of the Royal Family, came out on to tbe balcony over the central gateway and bad a great reception from the spectators.

FIRST SALUTE SINCE 1914. The King’s birthday was observed at Portsmouth by the royal salute fired from the warships. A similar salute was fired from the battery of the Royal Yacht Squadron at Cowes.

To a telegram of good wishes sent on behalf of the City of Loudon by tbe Lord Mayor, the King replied : *■ I rejoice that we are emerging from the long years of war into those of a victorious and, please God, a lasting peace. I confidently believe that, guided by a spirit of mutual trust, sympathy, and courage, we shall gradually secure that restoration of prosperity, happiness, and contentment which, in the terms of your kind message, you anticipate.—George R. 1.”

Four men and four women iaug Chertsey’s historic bells yesterday in honour of the King’s birthday. The famous teuor bell associated with the poem “ Curfew must not ring to-night” was rung by a woman.