Welcomed in False Colours

New Zealand Listener, Volume 4, Issue 81, 10 January 1941, Page 5

Welcomed in False Colours

|] HE date was November 9. 1914, the day of the Lord Mayor’s Show. All the guests were marshalled in the Guildhall prior to the banquet, and awaited their turn to be presented to the Lord and Lady Mayoress. Enthusiasm was running high as the war was only about three months old. The Prince of Wales was present, so also were all the dignitaries of state, the Sea Lords, the War Lords, and also Mr. Asquith and Mr. Balfour. Ambassadors, too, were well in evidence. My eyes watched everything and everybody. My ears missed little too. The usher would announce for instance, "His Majesty’s First Lord of the Admiralty." He would take his place between black and white rods in waiting and march up to the dais amidst applause. These escorts depended on the rank and status of the person concerned, diminishing in number as the seniors were disposed of. I said my ears missed little, but they very nearly did, as I suddenly came to my senses by a dig in the ribs. The usher was announcing, "The Officers Commanding the Newfoundland and New Zealand Expeditionary Forces." Unescorted, the two of us advanced somewhat like "sidesmen" taking up the collection plate in church. We both blushed vigorously. My friend commanded at the time an advance guard from his country of fifty men, and I had 250 New Zeulanders in camp who had been recruited in England. The very sincere weleome given to two very small fry from overseas on that occasion showed clearly how much the Old Country appreciated the help so freely offered in those days. History is repeating itself again in a similar way at Home.-(" Just Welcomes," by Major F. H, Lampen. 3YA, Decembe~ 26.)