In aid of Military Charities
By kind permission of Lieut.-General Sir ARCHI. BALD A. MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERG, K.C.B.,
K.C.M.G.
THE word ' Tattoo' dates from the Reorganization of the British Army by William III. It is derived from two Dutch words — ' Tap ' -an alehouse, and 'Toe' — to close. The signal for troops to return to Barracks was the sounding of ' Taptoe,' when the alehouse closed and men returned for the nightly muster. The modern ' Tattoo ' is the time elapsing between the first and last Posts.
This year's Southern Command Tattoo includes a large number of magnificent spectacular items, such as the musical drive in full dress uniform by ' D ' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery; a landing from a cruiser of a detachment of the Royal Navy, who will be supported in a fight with native tribesmen by a number of light tanks; the famous trick-riders of the 16/5 Lancers, and the Historical Pageant of the Royal Scots Fusiliers with its inspiring culmination in the holding of the ' Barrier' at Inkerman in the Crimean'War.
Unfortunately, such items are too much even for the Microphone. But listeners will be enabled to hear, and their imaginations stimulated to visualize, the entry of the Massed Bands of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, and of the Infantry Brigades of the 3rd Division; the Great Counter March by the Massed Bands of the Southern Command ; the Entry of Massed Drums, Fifes and Bugles, and the Grand Finale.