AT A SERGEANT’S “SMOKER.”

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1920, Page 4

AT A SERGEANT’S “SMOKER.”

LONDON, January 28.

The Prince of Wales had what he described as a- “real merry evening’ at the sergeants’ mess of the Ist Battalion of the Welsh ■ Guards at Wellington Barracks, on the occasion of a sergeants’ mess smoking concert. According to the “Daily Mail,” the Prince entered the mess without any formal introduction, just as a Sergeant was singing “Love Me and Pile World is Mine.” The singer paused, hut the Prince said cheerily, “Carry on,” and tlie sentimental song, which was loudly applauded continued. ~ The Prince sat at a ' table between the O.C. of the battalion, and an R.S.M. According to custom, ho took beer with the sergeant-major. It is quite customary for officers to receive hospitality at the hands of the n.c.o.’s although it is against military etiquette for n.c.o.’s to receive hospitality from officers in the sergeant’s mess.” There is no formality on these occasions, everyone being on the same footing, and this added to the Prince’s enjoyment. He is an old friend of tho Welsh Guards, and a colonel of tho Regiment, and saw a good deal of them during the Passehendaele battle of 1917 when he was a staff officer in the Ypres sector. He chatted with a number of tho sergeants during the intervals of singing. During the evening, wellknown music hall artiste dropped in and gave tnrni.