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THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.
NAVAL AND MILITARY
REVIEW.
A BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.
AN INTERESTING CEREMONIAL.
It is seldom that a ceremonial parade
of the metropolitan troops of the Com
monwealth military forces of Western
Australia is hled, and that which took
place on the Esplanade on Saturday
afternoon in honour of His Majesty the
King was anticipated with more than
usual interest by soldier and civilian
alike. The weather was gloriously fine,
the warm rays of the sun being temper
ed by a southerly breeze, much appre
ciated by the general body of troops
and the thousands of spectators, but
irritating to the officer carrying the
King's colour. More than the custom
ary interest was lent to the occasion by
the presence of 134 bluejackets and ma
rines from H.M.S. Cambrian, the for
mer bringing with them a field gun.
At about half-past 2 o'clock the first of
the troops marched on to the parade
ground, and shortly before 3 o'clock
all were drawn up in line under the di
rection of Major D. Persse White,
C.S.O., who was assisted by Captain
E. A. Wisdom. On the right flank,
facing the city, were the bluejackets
and Royal Marines from H.M.S. Cam
brian, and the line was extended by the
No. 1 Squadron 18th Australian Light
Horse Regiment (under Lieutenant
Ogilvy), the No. 1 (W.A.) Battery Aus
tralian Field Artillery (under Major
Hobbs), the No. 2 (W.A.) Company
Australian Garrison Artillery (under
Captain Hearder), the 11th Australian
Infantry Regiment (under Lieutenant
Colonel Strickland, V.D.), C, D, E, and
F. Companies Western Australian In
fantry Regiment (under Captain
Wood), W.A. Garrison Ambulance (un
der Captain Wilson). and Corps of Sig
nallers (under Captain Wilson). The
cadets, to the number of nearly 300,
under Major Andrews, were formed up
facing the west.
The muster of the troops was very
satisfactory, when it is remembered
that many of the men were compelled
to take their holiday to-day. while the
attendance of the general public was
remarkably good. The scene on the Es
planade was a brilliant one. The com
bre khaki uniforms were relieved with
breast lines and aiguillettes. while the
blue of the artillery and a few scarlet
tunics were brighter by contrast. Then
the ladies, who attended in large num
bers. were attired in summer array,
and, as the sun shone brightly, the
spectacle was kaleidoscopic. Among
those present at the saluting base were
His Excellency the Governor and Lady
Bedford and suite. Captain Vaughan
Lewes. D.S.O., commanded of H.M.S.
Cambrian, and staff, Lieutenant-Colonel
Campbell. the senior chaplain of the
forces (his Lordship Bishop Riley). the
Premier (Mr. N. J. Moore). the Colo
nial Treasurer (Mr. Frank Wilson), the
Minister for Mines (Mr. H. Gregory),
the Chief Justice (Mr. Justice Parker).
the President of the Legislative Coun
cil (Mr. H. Briggs). the Mayor of
Perth (Mr. Sydney Stubbs). Hon. Lieu
tenant-Colonel Z. Lane. Major White,
P.M.O., Major Sherwood. Chaplains the
Rev. E. Makeham and T. Bird. and a
number of veterans, including Captain
Cassell, late 16th (Oueen's) Lancers,
and Captain Armstrong. R.N. With
the bluejackets and marines, there were
933 of all ranks on parade. The parade
state was as follows:
Offi- Other
cers. ranks. Tl.
,Headquarters Staff ... 2 0 2
Bluejackets. H.M.S.
Cambrian ............ 6 99 105
Royal Marines, H.M.S. Cambrian-
Officer: - Other Ranks: 29 Tl.: 29
No. 1 Squadron, 18th A.L.H.-
Officer: 1- Other Ranks: 32 Tl.: 33
No. 1 (W.A.) Battery A.F.A.
Officer: 4- Other Ranks: 46 Tl.: 50
No. 2 (W.A.) Company, A.G.A.-
Officer: 3- Other Ranks: 38 Tl.: 41
11th A.I.R.- Officer: 13 Other Ranks: 206 Tl.:. 219
W.A.I.R. - Officer: 11 Other Ranks: 114 Tl.:.125
Instructional Staff - Officer: 1 Other Ranks: 8 Tl.: 9
Signallers - Officer: 1 Other Ranks: 8 Tl.: 9
A.A.M.C. - Officer: 1 Other Ranks: 8 Tl.: 19
Cadets- Officer: 10 Other Ranks: 282 Tl.: 292
Grand totals ...... 53 880 933
Shortly after half-past 2 o'clock the
District Commandant (Lieutenant-Cole
nel Le Mesurier), who was attended by
Lieutenant R. R Garland. A.L.H. as
A.D.C., rode on to the parade ground
to await the arrival of His Excelency
the Governor. Half an hour later Sir
Frederick Bedford, accompanied by
Captain Sketchley, Captain Hankey,
Lieutenant. Bedford. R.N.. and Lieu
tenant Willis, R.N., drove up to the
saluting base, and was received with a
royal salue. The brigade then sloped
arms, and the various units were in
spected by His Excelency the Gover
nor, the 11th A.I.R. Band meanwhile
playing a slow march. The inspection
concluded, bayonets were unfixed, the
artillery fired a royal salute of 21 guns.
and the infantry at intervals of seven
guns fired a feu-de-joie at the conclu
sion of which the men presented arms,
and the band played the first part of
the National Anthem. Bayonets were
again fixed, and a royal salute given.
Colonel Le Mesurier then gave the or
der for the removal of head dresses,
and called for three cheers for His Ma
jesty the King. a call enthusiastically
responded to by the troops and the
spectators. Invariably, an interesting
ceremonial, the march past on this oc
casion was particularly so. The place
of honour was given to the cadets, and,
as they swung past His Excellency at
the saluting base they presented a
splendid appearance and were loudly
cheered. Then came the bluejackets.
with a detachment hauling a field gun.
The "'handy men" made a brave show,
and they too. were rewarded with
hearty cheers. The other units march
ed past in the order previously men
tioned, all receiving recognition at the
hands of the spectators. Line was again
formed facing the saluting base, ofi
cers and colours in front, and the
whole advanced in review order, a sa
lute terminating the review. Before
leaving the parade ground His
Excellency the Governor inspect
ed the veterans at the sa
luting base. and expressed to Colonel
Le Mesurier the pleasure he felt at the
highly successful manner in which the
review had been carried out. To Ma
jor D. Persse White. C.S.O. who di
rected the operations prior to the re
view, great credit is due for the grati
fying success, with which the ceremo
nial was conducted, as not the slightest
hitch occurred.
Headed by the Police Band the naval
men and troopers marched through the
city, the route being along Bazaar-ter
race. Barrack-street. St, George's-ter
race, William-street, Hay-street, Bar
rack-street. Beaufort-street, and to the
district headlquarters. The streets were
thronged with spectators, and the ubi
quitous small boy represented in his
hundreds, trotted along beside the
troops. The march was a fitting close
to one of the most successful ceremo
nial parades held in Perth.
PRESENTATION TO LIEUT.-COLO
NEL CAMPBELl,.
PARADE OF VETERANS.
At the conclusion of the advance of
the troops in review order, His Excel
lency the Governor presented Lieut.
Colonel J.A. Campbell. who was for
merly Commandant of the West Aus
tralian forces. and who has served
through several campaigns, with the
insignia of an honorary associate of the
Grand Priory of the Order of St.John
of Jerusalem. Lieut.-Colonel Campbell
was born in Ireland on October 26
1844. and the particulars of his military
career are as follows: -He served
in the Indian Campaign with the 79th
Highlanders, including the passage of
the Gogea at Fyzabad, capture of Ram
pore, Russia, and subsequent opera
tions in Oude across the Gogra and
Raptee Rivers, and for his services in
that campaign received a medal. In
1882 he served with the Queen's Own
Cameron Highlanders throughout the
Egyptian war, and was present at the
battle of Tel-el-Kebir, being mention
ed in despatches and receiving medal
with clasp and medal for distinguished
conduct in the field. Lieut.-Colonel
Campbell was appointed Chief of In
structional Staff. -Western Australia,
1884- Chief Staff Officer. 1886; was
Camp Commandant and Chief Instructor
ar Karrakatta, 1899-1902, and Acting
Commandant of Commonwealth Mi-:
tary Forces in this State from August,
1901. to September, 1902, when he re
tired.
In making the presentation. His Ex
ccllency said:-"1 have very great
pleasure in presenting to you the insig
nia of the Grand Priory of the Order of
St. John of Jerusalem, which has been
conferred upon you by His Majesty the
King for your valuable services in this
State. I hope that you may long he
spared to take the interest you have
always taken in ambulance work in
this State." His Excellency then
amid applause fastened the insignia to
the breast of Lieut.-Colonel Campbell's
uniform.
His Excellency next proceeded to in
spect a contingent of 23 army veterans,
who during the review were stationed
on either side of the saluting base.
They comprised 15 who had served with
the land forces and eight who had been
attached to the navy, and most of them
had taken part either in the Crimean
campaign or the Indian Mutiny. On
some the weight of years had plainly
told its tale, but others were surpris
ingly alert, and erect in their bearing.
As His Excellency passed down their
ranks he addressed a few kindly words
to each, manifesting the keenest inte
rest in the medals and clasps which
most of them wore as proof of their ser
vices to the nation. Two or three of
the veterans, however, were conspicu
ous from the fact that they wore no
decorations. In answer to His Excel
lency, they stated that they had lost
their medals, and appeared extremely
pleased when Sir Frederick Bedford in
formed them that on making proper ap
plication to the authorities they could
obtain new cnes.
THE OLD VETERANS.
COMPLIMENTARY DINNER.
Acting under instructions received
from the Military Board the District
Commandant (Lieut.-Colonel Le Mesu
rier) entertained a number of Crimean
and Indian Mutiny veterans at a din
ner in the Esplanade Hotel on Satur
day night. The private dinineroom
used for the occasion was tastefully de
corated with flags, the Union Jack pre
dominating, while the main approaches
were similarly brightened. The table
decorations were carried out in red,
white and blue, and presented a very
artistic appearance. The invited guests
were: -Lieut.-Colonel J. A. Campbell.
Captain R. R. Armstrong, R.N., Cap
tain H. T. Rowe, Captain H. Passmore.
Lieutenant J. B. Needham, Colour-Ser
geant T. Minorgan, Corporal J. Hodges,
D. Carty, C. J. Woodward, and J.
Craig, Lance-Corporals T. S. Joy, J.
Bulley, and C. Hunt. Privates W. Gil
bertson, R.. Shemelds, H. F. Barfield, J.
Lynch, R. C. Reistrel, D. O'Connell,
E. Daniels, J. McMahon, W. Under
wood, and James Holloway. On their
arrival the old veterans, the majority
wearing their hard-earned medals, were
received by Colonel Le Mesurier, who
was accompanied by Major D. Piesse,
White, C.S.O., and Lieutenant Gar
land, A.L.H.
The District Commandant occupied
the chair, and Lieut.-Colonel Campbell
the vice-chair. The dinner was ex
cellently served, and passed off most
successfully. The old soldiers thorough
ly enjoyed the function, which gave
them an opportunity of fighting their
battle o'er again, and of singing some
of the old songs popular with them
half a century ago. Though nearly
all over the allotted span, yet not one
of them was feeble, the constitution
which enabled them to survive the pri
vations of the Crimea and the Mutiny
evidently standing them in good stead
even now.
After the usual loyal toasts had been
heartily honoured, Lieut.-Colonel
Campbell thanked the Commonwealth
Governement for the splendid enter
tainment provided for the veterans. It
was pleasing to know that the present
generation had not forgotten the deeds
of those old soldiers he saw round him.
There were present men who had gone
shoulder to shoulder up the slopes of
the Alma and endured two dreadful
winters in the Crimea. Some of them
went from there to take part in the
suppression of the Indian Mutiny, a
change from fearful cold to a burning
sun. He briefly referred to the seige
of Delhi and some of the attendant
incidents and exploits of the British,
it was refereshing to know that the
Commonwealth Governement had not
forgotten the old soldiers resident in
Australia. He could only hope and
trust that the younger generation were
equal to the old, and he had every
reason to believe that they were. (Ap
plause.)
Captain -Armstrong expressed the
pleasure he experienced at being pre
sent at the dinner, and said that he
was delighted with the manner in
which the review had been conducted
by Colonel Le Mesurier. The Com
monwealth Government paid a great
compliment to the veterans of the Cri
mea and the Mutiny by entertaining
them so handsomely. It was with the
greatest pleasure that he proposed the
toast of the District Commandant.
Lieut.-Colonel Le Mesurier, on behalf
of the Commonwealth Government,
which inaugurated the dinner, and on
behalf of his brother officers and com
I rades. returned thanks for the cordial
manner in which the toast had been
honoured, because in doing so they
were drinking that of the Common
wealth military forces. He had listen
ed to some very interesting speeches
and reminiscences-more interesting to
him, perhaps, as he belonged to a mili
tary family. and he had a young soldier
son who wore three medals. (Cheers.)
The scenes so graphically pictured by
Colonel Campbell did not occur in
South Africa, nor would they again, as
soldiering had become a serious busi
ness in the old country. Though the
navy was the first line of defence, yet
it was recognised by British statesmen
that there must be an expeditionary
force ready to strike anywhere. and at
any time. (Applause.) This force of
something like 200,000 was thoroughly
equipped, especially in regard to sup
plies and medical services. On behalf
of the Commonwealth Government he
warmly greeted the old veterans with
all honour and respect and trusted
that their children and grandchildren
would do their duty in the same noble
way in the future. (Hear. hear.) He
looked to the cadet movement to gra
dually dissipate the apathy shown to
towards the defence of Australia. (Ap
plause.) He concluded by proposing
the toast of the old veterans, which
was drunk by himself and his staff.
Colonel Campbell briefly responded
and the garthering dispersed after sina
ing the National Anthem and Auld
lang Syne, each of the old soldiers
personally thanking Colonel Le Mesu
rier for the manner in which he had
been entertained.
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