Tidworth Tattoo, 1938

borne him to the base of the cloud and departs in search of others. In this way cross-country flights of great distances can be accomplished. The world's distance record for sailplanes stands to-day at over 400 miles, and was set up by Rastorguzev in Russia. Thermal flight is the ambition of every hill soaring pilot. As long as he is a hill soarer he is confined to beating up and down above his hill, and he wants to be free to wander, instead of 500 feet high, at 5,000, where.he has a much greater range. The rising air of the hill must therefore be regarded merely as a spring-board from which he can find the thermals which can set him free. On days when there is too little wind to hill soar, or if it is blowing in the wrong direction, it will be realized that the soaring pilot has to find some other means of obtaining the initial height to look for thermals. Aeroplane towing is just becoming commonplace in this country, and as a means of getting soaring craft into the air is most successful. A 300 foot length of 3/16 in. steel cable is attached to a quick release in the aeroplane tail. The other end is attached in the same way to the nose of the sailplane. The aeroplane takes off, tows the sailplane behind it, and at 2;000 feet or so the sailplane pilot disengages his end of the tow cable and begins to study his variometer.

He finds his thermal, and up and away he goes. Aeroplane towing is surprisingly easy, and a comparatively inexperienced pupil may be launched quite safely by this means.

There is little to compare with the joy of thermal flying. To climb in graceful circles, in a good machine—watching the variometer as if your very life depended on it—playing a sort of blind man's buff with the column of rising air—has to be experienced to be believed. There is only the whistle of the wind for company, and only a little instrument plus your own skill in using it, to enable the flight to be prolonged. The patch of ground from which you have taken off has shrunk to the size of a postage stamp and you are rubbing shoulders with the clouds. Surely this is a thrilling enough goal for anyone with a little imagination to aim at? Why not join a gliding camp and make a start next summer?

J. S. Sproule. TIDWORTH TATTOO, 1938.

Before the commencement of the Tattoo there was a march past by men of the South African War Veterans' Association, the salute being taken by Major-General W. G. Tindsell, D.S.O., O.B.E., M.C. 32

The Tattoo itself started at 9-28 p.m., when the Tattoo trumpeters sounded " Fanfare for a Ceremonial Occasion." While this was being sounded the massed drums and fifes entered the arena and the " Retreat " was sounded. They played several popular tunes before making their exit.

Next we were given the privilege of seeing a modern circus, in which some most peculiar " animals " took part: among them were elephants, whose native home is Candahar, performing horses (Mark IV) and some ponies bred in the Austin ". stud." The spectators were advised to stand between two Belisha beacons if any animal broke loose !

At 9-48 the massed bands, drums and bugles of the Southern Command made their first entry, and their magnificent uniform looked impressive under the glare of the strong searchlights. They played various selections from well-known musicians.

We then witnessed a display of physical training by No. 2 R.A.F. Depot, Cardington. There were about 200 participants and not a single one of them was even out of time when doing the various exercises. It is wonderful to think that these men only joined up in May of this year (1938), and that they had not been specially picked.

At 10-16 p.m. there was drill display by the Earl of Bath's Regiment (1685). The men taking part were meant to represent the 10th Foot of this regiment. The battalion was divided up into the three companies—Grenadiers, Pikemen and Musketeers, and they first of all did a little weapon training with their respective weapons. After having formed up to receive their Colonel, the battalion prepared to receive a cavalry charge, which was done in the following manner. The battalion formed a square, into which went the standards and the officers, the pikemen lowered their pikes, the grenadiers delivered their grenades, and the musketeers discharged their muskets. The battalion formed up again and, headed by the Earl of Bath, returned once more into the shades of the past.

At 10-28 p.m. there was a humorous item entitled " The Bombardment of Toytown," accompanied by the Laurel and Hardy signature tune, " Fanfare Toyland." The pirate fleet entered the arena and sunk a pleasure boat, after which they commenced to bombard " defenceless " Toytown. Toytown was not defenceless, however; the Toytown navy engaged the pirates and sunk every pirate ship. Captain Hook was hanged and the other pirates were made to walk the plank. The item ended with a scene of rejoicing in Toytown, which gradually gave way to the calm of the fade-out. 33

The next item commenced at 10-41 p.m. with the second entry of the massed bands, drums and bugles of the Southern Command. A few more selections from well-known musicians were played.

At 10-56 there was an item entitled " A Frontier Incident." War had broken out between the states of Gunfiro and Mechano, and the latter state was anxious for the safety of an outlying town of Tyro. A company of tanks were despatched to protect it, but as the scout tanks approached Tyro they came under heavy fire from the Gunfiros, who had captured Tyro. This necessitated bringing up the fighter tanks to quell the enemy's fire, so the scout tanks wirelessed back to the fighter tanks, who hastened to the scene and heavily bombarded Tyro. This drove the Gunfiros from Mechano's important town.

At 11-5 p.m. we were once again taken into the past, when we were privileged to see the siege of Namur which began early in July and ended on the 26th August, 1695. We only witnessed the closing stages of the siege. On each flank of the arena a British battery was in action and the Ordnance Regiment were constructing chevaux de frise. All around these, turnpikes and musketeers were firing their pieces, while in the centre some musketeers were seen constructing a sap. King William III and his staff entered from the left and were followed by four companies of grenadiers and two companies of pikemen.

An attack was ordered, in which two companies of musketeers and one of pikemen dashed forward under cover of artillery and musketry fire. However, this failed, and the attackers had to retreat with heavy loss. In a second attack, one company of pikemen and all the grenadiers made an assault on a breach in the wall which was made by the artillery. This was too much for the French, who at last surrendered.

All William's troops drew up on either side of the road from the castle and William himself was at the end of the avenue formed by these troops. A French trumpeter sounded a call and the castle gates opened. Marshal Bouffleir followed by his staff and troops marched from the castle and surrendered with all the honours of war—colours flying, drums beating, and bullets between their teeth. As the French staff passed the English staff the officers of each raised their hats and bowed. The English colours were lowered in salute.

At 11-20 there was a Lantern March and the Grand Finale. The massed bands played " The Vanished Army," 34