ALDERSHOT TATTOO

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1931, Page 6

ALDERSHOT TATTOO

A REMARKABLE SPECTACLE. ROMANS IN BRITAIN. . „ LONDON, June. 15. If the troops of Homan soldiers win assembled on the grounds at Aldersli-t during the nights of the famous Search light Tattoo last week were true to life then the dress parade of a 11 email army iOOO years ago was almost as spec tacular as a modern military prated . The Homan episodes were probably the most interesting in a brilliant -programme. ' Many New Zealanthv.sitors went down to the great arena each night, and they were well rewarded. The drive through the counties on a summer evening is in itself a delightful experience. Captain Pirani (New Zealand Travel Bureau 1 made a special feature of taking New Zealanders by the Gui’idiorjd route and along the great spur known as the Hog’s Back, from which may be gained one of the finest views of the southern counties. The approximate number of persons who attendee! the Tatoo, including th \ night rehearsal, was 322,000, and the approximate amount received from : d mission and from the car path wa< £OI,OOO. Quite apart from the display, itself, visitors from overseass j opportunity of witnessing a rpiece of organisation, in which England is tlio greatest master. When some 80,000: people concentrate ’on a few acres ini the country and all .approach in mot'r; veliicles along four or five roads, or-; ganisation is taxed to its utmost to deal with them. The business has been ; bought, to such a fine art, however, that seldorrt is there a hitch of anv kind. The seven or eight thousand cars and motor poaches are .lined up with military p decision, and no one lacks a guide in the person of a Bov Scout or a soldier) to show him to his seat. ,

The military events included the heating of Tatt o by the mu sed dr ms and fife hands of thirteen, battalions, displays 1 y the Hoval Horse Artillery and Cavalry, anti a pehformanc v by mounted bands. The charge of the cavalry was a very fine sight, but one could’not help thinking what a pathetic sight a couple Of wel’-placed machine guns could make of a cavalry line to day.

Massed pipe bands combined with the Queen’s Own Cameron H gh’anders who after advancing in review order gave a demonstration of the o’d ma u I bn’-onet exercise fo the music of the pipes. The scene closed with an effective retirement of the pipers to the woods, which glowed with coloured fires. The lights dimmed and th' mush; 'faded to silence in the clif.tb.n~e . RETREAT TO CORUNNA! A boom of distant guns opened the episode illustrating the retreat of Sir John Moore’s army to Corunna. The search'ights showed a portion of the retreating column and their 'engagement with the enemy, and the darkening of the arena preceded an impressive scene representing the burial of Sir John Rays o>f light were focused on : drummers of the Norfolk Regiment carrying the body, and amid a deep sil once the voice of Mr Henry Ainhy, reciting Wolfe’s -poem; “Th Burial of Sir John M'ocre,” was amplified a d heard all over the grounds. , A thousand performers in the massed bands, the brilliant searchlights r fleeted from their instruments made a brave show, Then 'followed old-ti ne, engines •of war, beginning with the Roman perid, and then as a contrast a moden battle with all the latest mechanised machine guns, anti-aircraft guns, mechanised artillery, tanks, and an armoured lorry containing the commander and his staff end srpp .ed with wireless apparatus. B OAI ANS IN TIB ITAIN The next three scenes were devote ! I to a representation of the Romans i i j Britain, and they formed an episode in which stagecraft preduc.es many t r 1 ing incidents. Rays of light indicated the rising sun over a temple where 'Druids were-assembled, and Roman gd leys were seen approaching. The second scene illustrated Boadcea’s ebellimi, and included the burning of a Roma ncity, which could le seen ablozi in the distance. The ddfeat of the. Britons and the flight of Bondi ea ended the scene, and this was folk wed by a display of military pomp in a triumphal precession of the Roman army. In i club swinging demonstration a picturesque event was introduced bv tin 2nd Battalion, the Bedford hire arid Hertfordshire Regiment. -Hie movements were made to musical a c mpaniment and the clubs, made c'f nliuniriuin alloy, reflected the coloured rys from searchlights. In the “Grand Finale” the Tatt <> "cached its greatest splendour, hi tlii« ; the 0000 performers were grouped i i ordered array, the Roman army hist as splendid as the modern Highlanders. The massed bauds played a verse q p the h ymn “Ab de 'With Me,” and im- I nediately the arena was darkened, and the. only lier-h-t* visible'was that of an illuminat'd Cross, which shone brgfrfch — in the distance. A second verse of th • hvmn was played, and the Roman cit • of a previus episode was outlined in light. Then a profound silence was broken by the massed bugles sounding Last Post, and, when the final note ha 1 ceased to echo, the arena was nasi" flooded with light and Tattoo ended wit-lithe National Antin''m.