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REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY-THROUGH THE REUNIONS

he sands of time had slowly ebbed, and the curtain was

T coming down on another Reunion. The trains pulled out
with their loads of pensioners. Farewells were said, embraces
exchanged and tears shed; eyes were hazy and hearts full. To
the younger lot there are always more Reunions to come, but a

few elderly wondered if, this was the last time that they would
meet their earthly colleagues.

In the Centre the arches came down, the illuminations

went dark, clamor was stilled… and all that remained was
happy memories and cherished nostalgia.

Memory of those grizzled old faces, bemedalled chests, faded

uniforms; remembrance of the pride of mien, the voice of
experience and the solemnity of age. To us of the modern
generation, otherwise engrossed in the trivialities of daily
existence, these contacts compel the weight and impact of

tradition and help realise the vital importance of Espirit-de-
Corps. The Reunion showed everyday life in contrast with the
customs of the past, so that we could build on the edifice these
veterans founded and offer new inspiration to posterity. It was

a reawakening of ideals.

And the bugle might blow in the misty morn, or
rhapsodies in the still nighty, and the wide field lie bare and

vacant or be filled with swarms of recruits, but oft and again
we will tear ourselves from these present day realities, and
nostalgia will fill our hearts, as with Lamb, we too will say
“All, all are gone, the old familiar faces”.

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