ALDERSHOT TATTOO

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1933, Page 6

ALDERSHOT TATTOO

MANY THRILLING SCENES EPISODES OF CENTURIES LONDON, June 13. Practically all New Zealanders A'isiting England at this time of the year tke the opportunity of seeing that finest of pageants—the Aldershot Tattoo. The first public performance was on Saturday night, Avlien the Queen, accompanied by the Princess Royal and the Earl of HereAvood, Avas present. All the AA'eek England had been favoured Avith record heat for early June, but by Saturday the temperature had fallen by 10 degrees or more, and rain had been predicted and seemed possible. Nevertheless, 66,000 people took, the risk and went by various means of transport to the great Aidershot arena, and they were reAvarded for their,confidence. Some 8600 motor vehicles Avere duly parked Avithout the slightest apparent trouble. The staff work in regard to transport has long since been brought to a state of' perfection, and-to those who have never attended the tattoo before this masterly handling of traffic is a feature of the shoAv which calls fur Avonder and admiration.

Every part of the arena Avas linked by Joud speakers so that the announcements made by a tiny figure on. a moval>le platform on the ground AA'ere plainly heard. This little figure Avas toe

NeAvs .Chronicle song-leader, Air Thomas P. Ratcliff, Avho conducted his -great choir of 66,000 people for half an hour, and everyone wh 0 had a voice to sing joined in the weil-knoivn choruses, “Bovs of the Old Brigade.” “John Brown’s Body,” “Pack Up. Your Troubles,” “There’s a Long, Long Trail,” and “Love’s Old Sweet Song.” A remarkable effect was produced by OA'ery member of tke vast audience raising his programme above his head on special occasions. 'Such an occasion Avas Avlien the Queen arrived to take her seat in the Royal Box. THE QUALITY OF LOYALTY

Immediately opposite the main stand

on the far side of the arena Avas a castle with its toAvers, its chapel, its long Avails and its great gateway through which the battalions passed. Nothing could have been more realistic in the evening light, and Avlien the searchlights Avere played upon it during the programme it needed imagination to appraise it for what it was—a line of canvas, lathes and paper. Those responsible for this year’s tattoo selected for the motif that ran through the brilliant scenes the quality (v f. loyalty. It Avas poAverfuliy expressed in the desert story of .General Gordon’s great loyalty to his mission' of peace to the Sudan, his noble death and the beneficient results that follcAved his self-sacrifice to Ike enslaved tribes of the North African desert.

The pagentry began Avlien the massed drums and the fifes of 14 regiments entered the arena from the castle gates to sound the Retreat .This was a thrilling moment and as .thrilling was the beating of Tattoo that immediately folloAved. It was a- still more thrilling moment Avlien the Highland regiments entered, The Gordon Highlanders Ai'ere on the left arid the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders oil the rirlvt. ' SUDAN AND ACINCOURT

The representation of the episodes relating to Gordon and the Sudan took one back to that fateful day, January 26, 1885, Avlien a Dervish assault on Khartum at last succeeded, and Gordon AA'as seen killed ; on the steps of his house. Thirteen years pass, and the British gunboats again sight Khartum. These are depicted in the distance. In •the meantime Kitchener’s Army is formed up for the battle of Omdurman" The Avhite robed hordes of Dervishes rush out and fling themselves against their foe.’ It is an uneven contest. They SAA'eep shouting across the open space in a disordered mass. The steady fire from the British, Egyptian and Sudanese troops mows them down by hundreds, until all the ground is flaked Avith Avliite heaps. Before there is any collision of the opposing sides the last of the fanatical band has fallen. Finally there Avere two scenes designed to illustrate lioav Avar as Henry V. kneAv it differs from war in these days. As the arena is lighted up a group or archers is seen practising 0 n a village green. Near by is an old-fashioned inn and a smithy Avhere the yeomen quaff their black jacks of foaming ale. On i the left of the arena is a party of the’ nobility returning front a day’s sport, suddenly enters a messenger with the -alarm of Avar. King ITenry V. is approaching and all local troops are summoned. From all sides pour in the knights Avith their retinues, and the country gentlemen with their hired levies, men-at-arms, bowmen, hillmen and archers—in all colours of soft tones. There is the scene when Henry passes sentence on the three knights charged \vith treasonably conspiring to : murder the King. Pages step fonvard td remove the knights’ Spurs, their SAvords are broken, and they return to the castle.

The Bishop and representatives of the Church for a small white-gowned party Avho come forward to bless the troops. Thus, in a blaze of pegeantry, the army of Henry V. sets forth to those battles Avhicli Avi.ll be for eA’er remembered by Englishmen—Harflenr and Agincourt. In the distance one could see part of the fleet of small ships Avhich is to carry, the army across the Channel.