The Stars and the Guards

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 880, 25 January 1930, Page 18

The Stars and the Guards

Actresses Ridicule Military Ban On Wives From Stageland

RHEN a Guards officer falls in love with an actress, is it right that—if he decides to marry her — he should have to resign his commission? That this old unwritten rule is still rigidly adhered to is shown by the resignation of Mr. Francis Francis, a young millionaire subaltern in the Royal Horse Guards, whose wedding to Miss Sunny Jarmann recently took place in London. He prefers to break his Army career rather than break his romance. To an interviewer he said that he preferred not to discuss an Army custom. Miss Sunny Jarmann Miss Jarmann, the musical comedy comedienne, who played in “Hold Everything,” at the Palace Theatre, said to a newspaper representative: “It is not for me to criticise that Army law. Whether I think it stupid or not does not matter. An Army order is an order, and some traditions are more imperious than an order. “I understand the one which prohibits a Guards officer from marrying an actress must be held inviolable. That being so, I shall marry an exGuards officer at the end of my run at the London Coliseum, when I shall leave the stage. Nothing more need be said.” But the ruling, which has in previous years compelled many Guards officers to take to civilian life, was the subject of ridicule and condemnation from other members of the theatrical profession. Miss Norah Blaney Miss Norah Blaney, in private life Mrs. Philip Durham —her husband was formerly in the Scots Guards —laughed heartily at the ban, and declared that if she dared she would like to be flippant about it. “I mustn't be tactless,” she said, still laughing, “but I must say it-is the most ridiculous ban I have ever heard of. “After all, Guards officers make excellent husbands for actresses. They are much tidier than the ordinary man; they are more particular about their clothes being well brushed; they are always punctual—which is not a common virtue among men and

they have heaps of other recommendations.” According to Miss Blaney, the profession does not take the ban seriously. “Believe me,” she said, with enthusiasm, “actresses do not care. They laugh about the matter as something too silly for words.” Mr. Philip Durham said: “During the general strike my wife was asked to have dinner with the officers of the Scots Guards at the Tower of London. The invitation was sent to her by Sir Victor Mackenzie, of the Scots Guards, who was my old colonel. My wife was asked to entertain the troops there, and she gave her services, yet when a Guards officer marries an actress he is expected to leave his regiment.” Miss Zena Dare 'Miss Zena Dare, whose husband, the Hou. Maurice Brett, resigned from the Coldstream Guards, asks: “Why should this old-fashioned ban be allowed to live? "Actresses,” she added, “are not what they were when the ban was first imposed. During the war the ban was lifted. Why should it be reimposed? Frankly, I am puzzled. “I suppose there are social codes and rules to be observed, but it certainly seems that the usefulness of this particular ban ceased to exist years ago. Now it is a real danger if it drives a man to abandon a career so splendid as the Army.” Miss Marie Studhoime Miss Marie Studhoime, who married the son of General Borrett, said: “I cannot understand what the objection is today. Dukes’ daughters and all sorts of titled people are on the stage; society is glad to be connected with the stage, and the profession has as fine women in it as are to be found anywhere. So why ban them? “I don’t know the little lady in this case, but it does seem a pity that romance is treated so shabbily.” Miss Sybil Thorndike Miss Sybil Thorndike’s opinion was that “the custom must go back to the time when no respectable woman had a profession. It is the only possible explanation or excuse for its existence. But today it is too ridiculous for words. It is prehistoric and one cannot argue about it seriously.” Falkland for £244, and had obtained judgment, but he was not aware at that time that a bankruptcy notice had been served on Lady Falkland in respect of that matter. Mr. Birkett; Was that the reason why the solicitors tried to get Lord Falkland to pay your bill? —That encouraged them. So far as your knowledge was concerned Lord Falkland had nothing to do with the arrangements for the ball? —Yes. Mr. Rendell said that the hotel management knew nothing about the financial position of Lord and Lady Falkland or whether Lady Falkland had any private income. He knew that they were respectable people. The hearing was adjourned. Lord Falkland, who succeeded his father in 1922, was deputy-governor of Wandsworth Prison from 1910 until the outbreak of the war. He then rejoined the Grenadier Guards, and served with them until the Armistice, receiving the Legion of Honour. In 1904 he married the daughter of the late Mr. E. W. Catford, of Twickenham. Lady Falkland was one of the first of society’s shopkeepers. She had for many years a little establishment in Knightsbridge, where she sold hats and gowns.

Poked to somebody in Lord Falkland's household—to the parents responsible for the daughter—for payment for the ball.

Mr. Rendell said he read in a newslaper that Messrs. Debenham and Company, the drapers, had sued Lady