PEARLS
M A N found his first gem not in
the earth but i n the sea. H e
called i t the G e m made o f Dew.
And h e t o l d its legend; h o w a t
certain seasons o f the year, in the
early morning, t h e pearl-oyster
rises t o t h e surface o f t h e sea,
opens its shell, and drinks in a drop
of dew, which the breath of the air
and the warmth of the sun slowly
change into a milky- glowing pearl.
The pearl has a longer story—
and a more romantic one t h a n
any other jewel i n the World. Its
pedigree goes b a c k beyond the
birth of Rome, Athens or Nineveh;
reaches further into the past than
recorded h i s t o r y i t s e l f . I t w a s
prized by prehistoric man ; buried
with t h e m u m m i e s o f earliest
Egypt ; s u n g b y H o m e r ; a n d
ONLY O N E
ADDRESS
THE QUEEN'S OWN GAZETTE.
1
2
9
of
GREAT PRICE
carried i n t o battle b y medieval
princes. I t was fashionable in the
days o f Cleopatra. I t i s fashion-
able today. O r rather, i t stands
above fashion.
Pearls c a n b e w o r n morning,
noon o r n i g h t . T h e y suit every
woman ; e v e r y shade o f c o m -
plexion o r h a i r ; e v e r y style o f
dress. T h e y b l e n d w i t h e v e r y
colour. Artificial l i g h t can never
change them as it can a coloured
gem. T h e y are correct for every
occasion. And, more perhaps than
any o t h e r j e w e l t h e i r b e a u t y
heightens the beauty of the woman
who wears them. Ti m e and place
make no difference to the ' right-
ness ' of pearls.
Almost all the finest pearls are
fished in the Persian Gulf.
(7,1ig GOLDSMITHS &SILVERSMITHS
COMPANY LTD.
112. REGENT STREET,
LONDON • WA.
TELEPHONE
REG. 3021
130
T
H
E
QUEEN'S OWN GAZETTE.
A D A Y W I T H T H E N A V Y
There i s o n e d a y i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e B i t . t h a t I a m
sure w i l l b e i n d e l i b l y i m p r e s s e d i n t h e m e m o r i e s o f 4 6
members o f o u r c o m m u n i t y w h o b r a v e d t h e u n k n o w n t o
spend a d a y a t sea w i t h t w o ' F r i g a t e s ' o f t h e R o y a l N a v y.
The a d v e n t u r e o p e n e d b l e a k a n d c o l d a t t h a t ! u n h e a r d -
of' h o u r - 5 . 3 0 a . m . I T h e r o a r o f 3 - t o n n e r s a n d P. U . c r a s h e d
upon t h e m o r n i n g a i r a s t h e c o r t e g e s t r e a m e d o u t o f Case-
mates S q u a r e b o u n d f o r H . M . S . " C o r m o r a n t . " O n a r r i v a l
at t h i s t e r r e s t r i a l v e r s i o n o f a g r a n d o l d s h i p , w e h e a r d
snatches o f a vaguely f a m i l i a r n e w language. " 'Eave 0 , 'Eave
0, 'Dave 0 , l a s h u p a n d s t o w " — t h e N a v y w a s s t i r r i n g . A f t e r
a s h o r t w a i t o n t h e j e t t y w e b u n d l e d o n t o a w a i t i n g t e n d e r,
almost c a p s i z i n g i t i n a f r a n t i c e f f o r t t o g e t o n b o a r d . " L e t
go f o r ' a r d , " c l a n g c l a n g , " L e t g o a f t . " a n d w e w e r e a w a y,
bound f o r — w h e r e ?
T h e F r i g a t e s " C a r d i g a n B a y " a n d " S t . A u s t e l l B a y " w e r e
lying c a l m l y o u t s i d e t h e p o r t a s w e s l i t h e r e d a l o n g s i d e e a c h
in t u r n , d i s c h a r g i n g h a l f t h e p a r t y o n e a c h . O n c e o n b o a r d
we w e r e s p l i t i n t o s m a l l p a r t i e s a n d a l l o c a t e d t o d i f f e r e n t
messes t h r o u g h o u t t h e s h i p , w h i c h w e r e t o b e o u r respective
homes f o r t h e n e x t 2 4 h o u r s . A t f i r s t w e w e r e a m a z e d t o
see t h e c r a m p e d l i v i n g space b u t v e r y s o o n g o t u s e d t o i t .
As t h e r u m b l e o f t h e e n g i n e s increased a n d t h e a n c h o r
was weighed w e steamed s l o w l y a n d s i l e n t l y f r o m t h e " R o c k . "
Steaming s t e a d i l y E a s t w a r d w e p a s s e d s c h o o l u p o n s c h o o l
of p o r p o i s e — t h e r e w e r e h u n d r e d s o f t h e m s l i t h e r -
ing a n d s l i d i n g a r o u n d e a c h o t h e r, a n d occasionally j u m p i n g
clean o u t o f t h e w a t e r, t o f a l l b a c k a g a i n w i t h o u t a splash.
D u r i n g t h e m o r n i n g t h e G u n n e r s o f b o t h s h i p s c a r r i e d
o u t G u n n e r y exercises, u s i n g R o c k e t P a r a c h u t e t a r g e t s , i n
the absence o f t a r g e t a i r c r a f t , t h r o u g h b a d w e a t h e r. T h i s
first d e m o n s t r a t i o n b r o u g h t f o r t h m a n y a f r i e n d l y a r g u m e n t
as t o w h e t h e r A r m y G u n n e r s o r N a v a l G u n n e r s w e r e t h e
better.
To w a r d s d i n n e r t i m e w e w e r e a m a z e d t o see t h a t b o t h
ships w e r e s t e a m i n g a l o n g s i d e e a c h o t h e r , n o t m o r e t h a n
20 y a r d s a p a r t . T h i s w a s t h e b e g i n n i n g o f a n e v o l u t i o n
by w h i c h a b a d m e d i c a l case c o u l d b e t r a n s f e r r e d f r o m o n e
ship t o a n o t h e r w i t h o u t t h e d a n g e r o u s necessity o f s t o p p i n g
b o t h s h i p s . A v e r y t h i n l i n e w a s s h o t across o u r b o w s f r o m
the o t h e r s h i p , b y m e a n s o f a s p e c i a l l y d e s i g n e d r i f l e . B y
t h i s l i n e h e a v i e r a n d t h i c k e r h a u s e r s w e r e h a u l e d a c r o s s .
To t h e t h i c k e s t o f t h e s e , a s t r e t c h e r w a s a t t a c h e d b y p u l l e y
and w a s h a u l e d b a c k across t h e i n t e r v e n i n g w a t e r space b y
the s m a l l e r l i n e s . T h e w h o l e exercise t o o k n o t m o r e t h a n
ten m i n u t e s t o c o m p l e t e , a n d o n e f e l t l i k e c l a p p i n g a n d
cheering a s i f i t w e r e a w e l l p e r f o r m e d a c r o b a t i c s t u n t .
There i s l i t t l e o r n o t h i n g t o r e c o r d o f t h e a c t u a l j o u r n e y,
apart f r o m o n e o r t w o exercises, s u c h a s t h r o w i n g a l i f e - b e l t
overboard a n d r e c o v e r i n g i t w h i l s t s t i l l u n d e r w a y, u n t i l t h e
evening w h e n w e r a n i n t o a " L i n e S t o r m . " I t a p p e a r e d i n
the f a s t a p p r o a c h i n g distance a s a b l a c k l i n e o f c l o u d s , j u s t
above t h e h o r i z o n , a n d s t r e t c h i n g r i g h t across w i t h l i g h t n i n g
j u m p i n g a c r o s s t h e g a p b e t w e e n t h e c l o u d s a n d t h e s e a ,
b r i l l i a n t l y i l l u m i n a t i n g t h e w h o l e a r e a b e l o w, b u t n o t above.
As w e p a s s e d u n d e r t h e c l o u d s t h e w e a t h e r c h a n g e d f r o m
c a l m s e r e n i t y t o a r a g i n g s t o r m i n a second. T h e r e w a s a n
incredible d r o p i n t e m p e r a t u r e , t h e w i n d h o w l e d a c r o s s t h e
bows a n d t h r o u g h t h e r i g g i n g , a n d t h e r a i n f e l l w i t h t h e
force o f a w a t e r f a l l . T h e l i g h t n i n g w a s b l i n d i n g , a n d i t
was q u i t e f i v e s e c o n d s a f t e r e a c h f l a s h b e f o r e o n e ' s e y e s
became a c c u s t o m e d o n c e m o r e t o t h e d a r k . T h e a m a z i n g
p a r t a b o u t t h i s p h e n o m e n o n w a s t h a t t h e s e a r e m a i n e d a s
Maidstone's Safest Milk !
PEDIGREE GUERNSEY
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TkinikeSe R a t E a:Vate8
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Infants and Invalids
EGGS & CREAM
P
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2610
calm a s b e f o r e t h r o u g h o u t t h e s t o r m . T h e s t o r m s t i l l r a g e d
as w e t u r n e d o u r t h o u g h t s t o b e d a n d sleep.
We a w o k e n e x t m o r n i n g t o f i n d o u r s e l v e s t i e d u p a l o n g -
side i n G i b r a l t a r a n d w e r e t u r n e d t o t h e A r m y t o t e l l
everybody t h a t e v e n t h e t h o u g h t o f b e i n g .sea-sick h a d n e v e r
entered o u r heads.
Trang.
No. 1 3
HOLDING B AT TA L I O N
The l a s t m o n t h h a s seen s o m e r a t h e r r a d i c a l changes I n
the o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h i s B a t t a l i o n _ A c c o r d i n g t o t h e u s u a l
h i g h l y r e l i a b l e r u m o u r s w e were d u e t o m o v e t o m a n y places,
amongst t h o s e m e n t i o n e d b e i n g S h o r n c l i ff e , Colchester, M a i d -
stone a n d G u i l d f o r d .
T h e f a c t remains t h a t we are s t i l l a t Gravesend, t h e powers
t h a t b e h a v i n g decided t h a t t h e 1 2 H o l d i n g B a t t a l i o n s h o u l d
move f r o m S h o r n c l i ff e a n d j o i n u s h e r e .
The U n i t i s n o w a H o l d i n g B a t t a l i o n f o r F o u r Regiments,
namely B u f f s , Queen's, E a s t S u r r e y s , a n d T h e Q u e e n ' s O w n .
Everyone seems t o h a v e s e t t l e d d o w n a n d a t t h e m o m e n t a
casual o b s e r v e r w o u l d t h i n k t h a t w e h a v e a l w a y s b e e n t o -
gether here.
T h e f u t u r e s h o u l d see s o m e v e r y k e e n i n t e r - R e g i m e n t a l
r i v a l r y, especially i n t h e f i e l d o f s p o r t .
Lt.-Col. W . M . K n a t c h b u l l i s s t i l l i n C o m m a n d o f t h e
B a t t a l i o n , b u t d u e t o t h e a m a l g a m a t i o n M a j o r A l l f r e y h a s
handed o v e r t h e d u t i e s o f 2 l i c a n d P. R . I . t o M a j o r Grierson,
East S u r r e y R e g i m e n t .
The B a t t a l i o n has been reorganised i n t e r n a l l y o n t h e basis
of R e g i m e n t a l C o m p a n i e s a n d N o . 2 C o y, i s a l m o s t e n t i r e l y
Queen's O w n personnel, s t a ff a n d Holdees.
M a j o r J . W i n s t a n l e y, M . C . , w h o c o m m a n d e d t h i s C o y. ,
has n o w l e f t f o r C i v v y S t r e e t t o r e s u m e h i s s t u d i e s f o r t h e
medical profession. W e w i s h h i m t h e b e s t o f l u c k a n d f e e l
sure t h a t h e w i l l b e a s p o p u l a r w i t h h i s p a t i e n t s i n t h e
f u t u r e a s h e w a s w i t h u s here.
Owing t o t h e n u m b e r s o f T h e Queen's O w n personnel t h a t
pass t h r o u g h h e r e o n t h e i r w a y t o c i v i l i a n l i f e , space w o u l d
n o t p e r m i t m e n t i o n i n g i n d i v i d u a l s , b u t w e w o u l d l i k e t o w i s h
the v e r y best t o Capts. M a t t h e w m a n , Cleverdon, Lieuts. Logan,
Webster, H a l l a n d S e a b o u r n , u n t i l r e c e n t l y m e m b e r s o f t h e
p e r m a n e n t s t a ff , o n t h e i r r e t u r n t o c i v i l i a n l i f e .
Numerous P y t h o n P a r t i e s h a v e t u r n e d u p h e r e r e c e n t l y,
amongst t h e m b e i n g a l a r g e c o n t i n g e n t f r o m t h e 4 t h B n . W e
extend t h e m a v e r y h e a r t y welcome, e v e n t h o u g h m a n y w i l l
leave u s soon. W e were v e r y s o r r y t o h e a r t h a t t h i s Bn., a f t e r
h a v i n g a t t a i n e d s u c h a s p l e n d i d f i g h t i n g r e c o r d , s h o u l d b e
disbanded.
Several members o f t h e Bn. have been selected t o represent
the R e g i m e n t a t t h e f o r t h c o m i n g V i c t o r y P a r a d e i n L o n d o n .
We c o n g r a t u l a t e t h e m a n d f e e l s u r e t h a t t h e R e g i m e n t w i l l
get a special m e n t i o n o n t h a t d a y.
I n c o n c l u s i o n w e f e e l s u r e t h a t a l l w h o k n o w h i m w o u l d
wish t o j o i n w i t h u s i n c o n g r a t u l a t i n g o u r Q u a r t e r m a s t e r —
Capt. Blake, M.B.E., o n t h e b i r t h o f a son a n d h e i r. C . R . H .
•
ARMY OFFICERS' A R T S O C I E T Y.
The A r m y Officers' A r t S o c i e t y w a s f o u n d e d i n 1925 f o r
the purpose o f b r i n g i n g t o g e t h e r Officers i n t e r e s t e d i n A r t , a n d
of p r o v i d i n g t h e m w i t h f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e e x h i b i t i o n and disposal
of t h e i r works. I t has h e l d f i f t e e n E x h i b i t i o n s since t h e n , b u t
had, t o close d o w n d u r i n g t h e w a r.
T h e S o c i e t y i n t e n d s t o re-open w i t h i t s S i x t e e n t h E x h i b i -
t i o n early, i n 1947.
I n a d d i t i o n t o O ff i c e r s o f t h e A r m y a n d o f t h e R o y a l
Marines, t h e S o c i e t y w e l c o m e s a s E x h i b i t o r s Officers o f t h e
Royal N a v y, t h e R o y a l A i r F o r c e a n d o f t h e several A u x i l i a r y
Forces connected w i t h t h e s e Services.
A n y Officer i n t e r e s t e d i s i n v i t e d t o c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h t h e
Hon. S e c r e t a r y, C o l o n e l L . N . M a l a n , 1 0 , B l e n h e i m R o a d ,
London, N.W.8, w h o w i l l s e n d a l l p a r t i c u l a r s .