Item 04: Memoirs of a Colonial Boy by Robert Joseph Stewart, ca. 1971 - Page 25
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[Page 25]
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crowded, and colourfully beflagged, route from Government House to Centennial Park. They were preceeded by units of mounted or foot soldiers in gaudy full-dress uniforms, interspersed with inspiring military bands. But there was considerable disappointment and dissatisfaction amongst the general public because many people had not been able to get a look at Their Royal Highnesses: the high banked seats along the whole route had been monopolised by the wealthy and influential citizens.
So it was advertised that for the benefit of the common people, the Duke and Duchess, on a certain afternoon, would drive along the route again, and around the roads within Centennial Park. But it so happened that the very first motor car had arrived in Sydney recently, and had received much newspaper publicity. Almost at the moment that the Royal carriage entered the main gates of the park, this solitary motor car chugged noisily through the Lang St entrance on to the lower parallel road, farther down the hill-slope. A swelling cry went up "The motor car", "The motor car", the cries became a vociferous roar, and as Their Highnesses began their progress along the upper road, they were confronted by the backs of a huge crowd of people rushing wildly down the slope to get a close view of the wonderful car. Few ran faster than my own Mother, dragging me along with her.
The Duke and Duchess must have been considerably mystified by this scurvy reception, and probably not in the least amused if they learnt, later, the reason for this unseemly flight from their presence.
On the 31st May, 1902, the Boer War officially ended and our remaining soldiers returned home as heroes, though Typhoid fever had killed more British soldiers than bullets, and battle casualites were not remarkably great.
Public patriotism had been considerably aroused by the Boer War, despite its unpopularity in some foreign countries, and voluntary weekend soldiering became a prevalent pastime with the returned warriors and other young men. National regiments were formed such as St George's Rifles (English Redcoats) the