Berkshire and The War: the "Reading Standard" pictorial record. Volume 4. p 921

RETURN OF THE 4th BATT. ROYAL BERKS (T.).

Enthusiastic Welcome Home from Italy.

"When the boys come home", that well-worn phrase, constantly reiterated by countless thousands during four years of agony, is now being translated from a fervent hope into an actual fact. But hitherto the fact has been so very matter of fact and so shorn of glamour - there was more of a note of pageant when our Army marched off to war than when they came home singly from dispersal centres often in the middle of the night. Consequently when that tiny "cadre", or remnant of the 1/4th Battalion of the Royal Berkshires, consisting only of four officers and forty three men, came marching through the streets on Monday, March 31st, the welcome accorded them by a grateful and joyful crowd was all the more enthusiastic for having been pent up.

It was, too, but a hasty welcome, for very short notice was given. Not a whisper of their home -coming was heard about the town until close on mid-day, but in that magic and inexplicable manner in which a crowd always collects, by two o'clock, when the warriors' train arrived, the streets were thronged. Very properly the reception came, not only from chance spectators, but also in an official form from the Mayor and Corporation, together with many of the leading townsmen. Amongst many others waiting on No. 4 platform at the G.W.R. station were the Mayor (Mr. S. Hayward), the Deputy Mayor (Mr. F. A. Sarjeant), the Deputy Town Clerk (Mr. C. S. Johnson), and, representing the Town Council, Messrs. R. J. Tyrrell, F. A. Cox, E. O. Farrer, C. G. Field, L. G. Sutton, A. H. Bull, A. Newbery and Dr. Hopkins Walters; Colonel R. G. Walsh, Colonel A. F. Poulton, Colonel A. F. Ewen, Major M. L. Porter, Capt. Blandy and Mrs. W. C. Blandy, Capt. J. S. Henderson (Chief Constable), Mr. J. A. Brain, Mr. A. S. Cooper, Mr. F. A. Simonds (who no doubt was reminded of his own return from the South African War under similiar conditions), the Rev. F. J. C Gilmor, Mr. Cyril Tubbs, Mr. C. E. Hewett and Mrs. Bull. The band of the Royal Berks Regiment was drawn up on the platform under Bandmaster C. White, and Sergt.-Major Trinder superintended the organisations. Shortly after two o'clock the train steamed in and the band at once struck up. It was significant of the stress and strife through which they had been living that as the gallant fellows jumped out of the carriages and marched out on to the station square, carrying full equipment complete with rifles and tin hats, the snow began to fall. Outside the station, where a large concourse had by this time assembled, a halt was made, and the Mayor, having shaken hands with the C.O. of the 1/4th, Colonel H. F. Whitehead, D.S.O., addressed a few words to the men.

Welcome by the Mayor.

"As Mayor of this town,"€ he said, "I have very great pleasure in welcoming you back to the town. We are proud of the way in which you have conducted yourselves in France and in Italy and we shall never forget the services you have rendered to your country and to the county of Berkshire."
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After three ringing cheers had been given, Colonel WHITEHEAD, who apologised for not being a great speaker, thanked the town for its welcome, which, he said, was much greater than they had expected. The country, he continued, was welcome to their services. The Royal Berks Regiment was one of the best and had stuck it through thick and thin, and during the time he had been with them he had formed a very high opinion of them. He then referred to the gallantry displayed by the battalion in the storming of Monte Catz, a most difficult and trying task for which they had only been given two hours and which they carried out with conspicuous success.

Then the parade again moved off in the direction of the Barracks. Cheering crowds lined the route, and the plaudits of an admiring public coupled with the triumphant strains of the military band must have made that short journey one of the most memorable of marches in the history of the travel-stained warriors. Jokes and badinage were freely interchanged, but in the hearts of many the feeling was one of sober thanksgiving and the quiet joy of relief rather than uproarious hilarity. Few could tell by scanning the immobile features of that soldierly, well-disciplined column what thoughts were passing through their minds, but it was easy to imagine the intense pleasure they must have experienced at returning once more to their native town after long wandering and cruel suffering. Friends were recognised and hailed on the way up. One elderly soldier on a passing car was loudly greeted by one and all, for he was the battalion's former quarter-master, Q.M. Borton, and "one of the best",€ as they told each other. Just before arrival at the Barracks three more resounding cheers were given, then the forty and seven passed out of sight of the general public into the parade ground inside the Barracks, where Colonel Walsh welcomed them to quarters in the name of General Dixon of the 1st and 2nd Batts, of the Regiment.

Major PORTER also spoke. He said he had been asked by the president and members of the Berks T.F. Association to give the men a most hearty welcome on their return home. They all fully realised and appreciated the magnificent work they had done both in France and in Italy, and they were proud of them.

[photo, crowd, exterior] SETTING OUT FOR THE BARRACKS. [Photo by C. E. & A. May.]