The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 (extracts)

370 strong, under Drum-Major F. C. James, blew the advance, and the drums and fifes immediately followed with a march. Across the angle of the great central expanse, from Block MM to the south-western corner of the running-track, the scarlet uniforms of a line of non-commissioned officers of the Irish Guards and the Grenadier Guards stood out against the vivid green of the turf and served as a directing line for the advancing athletes. Over the four prize-tables on the cycle-track, beneath the Royal Box, pre– sided the Duchess of Rutland, the Duchess of Westminster, Katharine Duchess of Westminster, and Lady Desborough, assisted by marshals chosen from the British Olympic Council.* During the distribution of these awards the band of the Grenadiers played a selection of national tunes and folk-songs, and by half-part three the first part of the day's proceedings was over. Just before four o'clock the rise of the Royal Standard in front of the Royal Box gave the signal for the National Anthem as the Queen came in with Princess Victoria and the Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden, attended by Lord Desborough, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, Colonel Balck, Baron de Tuyll, and others. The numbers had hardly been hoisted at the end of the Relay Race which gave the Americans the privilege of seeing their national flag the last one to be hoisted on the pole beyond the swimming-bath, when the winners of the gold medals began to assemble along the cycle-track at the east, and the Grenadiers' band played "See the Conquering Hero Comes." Immediately its notes had died away the bugles of the Irish Guards sounded the advance, and the victors of the Olympic Games of 1908 began to move along the scarlet– lined passage that led them towards the Royal Box, marching to the lilting strains of the Irish drums and fifes. The Queen stood in a square space built out from the Royal Box, and well in view of the many thousands of spectators, as the line of men slowly came up to her in all the various costumes appropriate to their different victories : the boots and cords of the polo player, the khaki uniforms of the rifle shots, the neat white tunics of the fencers, the shorts and jersey of the runner. They were led by the winner of the Hundred Metres (the event which happened to come first in the printed programme), and the cheers that greeted Walker, of South Africa, gave echoing promise of the shouts to come. As the rest followed him one)fter another, the spectators realised that they were looking at the finest procession of athletes which had ever passed before a Queen. When the gold medals were all distributed, an addition was made, by * The names of all who assisted are given in the "Daily Programme," m the Appendix.