As a result of the Corps' expe ence during the recent hostilities.
was decided to form all four, companies into a Regiment, so that, {although they are not all at present! Fequipped similarly, they would be able to co-ordinate their drill and training and maintain the essen ally Russian character of the The next step was the decision to grant a distinctive colour to the Regiment, and yesterday's ceremony was the happy outcome.
The official announcement, couched in a Special Order issued on Thuraday by Col, N.W.B.B. Thoms, Commandant of the Shanghai Volunteer Corps, reads as follows:
Granting of Colours to the Shan Russian Regiment:—Regimental Colour is hereby 2uthorized fo be carried by the 'Shanghai Fussinn Regime "The Colour will consist of horizontal stripes of even. width of White, Blue and Hed, superimposed by_a badge bear. ting as' eight-pointed Star in gold within which, ion circle inscribed with the. words "Shanghai Rassian Resi ment." Within the. circle a Rbiclis on a white ground, bear asx of the original. matio cupying the Settlement, and also. the words. in. Chinese characters "Kono Pah chu.
"The Colour will be consecrated, a 12.15" pam. on Sunday, April 3,_ 1992 In'the presence of the Regiment:
The troops formed up at the Raccourse and the ceremony _commenced "in overcast but, rainless 'Then, suddenly, a few stray' drops of rain' descended, while the sun struggled hard to come Throughout the second half of the ceremony rain spattered the gathering, albeit slightly, This, according to Russian lore, is a lucky omen} for any ceremonial gathering, as for instance, a. wedding, or ami tary. event' such as' Sunday's. Thus the Russian Regiment and its colour start their existence under the best of auguries.
"The paride formed up at noon fon the Police football ground.
front of the Race Club stands, with the Band of the Ist Bu. The East Lancashire Regt. on the right. Next regular to the band came No, 1 Company and No. 2 Company of the Russian Detach-mont, under Capts. panischoff and M. 1 Marhinin res ely Next in line was No. Company (Russian Volunteer Ca.) under Capt. C. P. Saveloff, and the left was No. 4 (Afililtia) Com: pany under Capt. M. M. Sokoloff. Under Capt. 8. D. Ivanoff, the second in command of the Reeiment, the troops marched off to th ground chosen for the ceremonial, at the Widow's Monument, shortly Major H. H. Thieme, commanding officer of the Russian Detachment fand now of the Russian Regiment, called the parade to attention. On a flourish of Major Thieme's sword the troops gave a Russian cheer as the Commandant and the Corps Adjutant, Capt, J. W. Hinchelift 2 approached. Then the troops stood at the present as the Commandant, accompanied by the Major Thieme
parade.
a Capt, Hincheliffe, inspected the After the inspection two officers marched forward to a position £0 yards in front of the saluting base, In front of them a table was placed, carrying the equipment of the priest, the Rev. Sergius Borodin, who'came on parade to con-secrete the colour.
Carried by Company Sergeant Major Sergieff and escorted by Lieut. Hapanoviteh, with his hand Jat the salute, the colour, remark ably attractive with its white, blue red and gold, appeared on the parade for the first time. In slow time was carried to a point behind the field altar, With Major Thiemo facing the altar, with two other officers of the Regiment, and the Commandant and the Adjutant to the right of the altar, the cere-many started after the Regimental choir had taken their places on the left.
With a remarkably fine drill movement the parade removed headdresses, and the priest commenced to. intone his prayers, the choir in beautiful harmony singing the respenses. The priest's prayers were of The Russian Orthodox ritual, and were for the wellbeing and welfare of the Regiment and its new colour, a short mass being incorporated into the service, Many onlookers were obviously moved by the scene, the Svorld and the music, coming sO unexpectedly and strangely in this country of exile. Then came a Yeading from the scriptures, during which the priest removed his clerical hat, Prayers and responses followed, after which the priest sprinkled holy water on the colour and on the, ollicers and choir grouped near the altar.
The consecration ceremony completed, "and. the next item was presentation, Col. Thomas: advanced to the temporary colour party behind the altar and took over the colour. Carrying it to the front of the altar, he presented it to Major Thieme, who received it on bended knee, and then stood upright to attention, After the trooping the Regiment marched past in column of half companies. After this the Regi ment hed past again, this time column of fours, and then marched off the ground.
ceremoniously the rill Hall the cot the officers fallen out and the Regiment given orders to dismiss under its N.C.0s, Following this the officers of the Regiment, the Commandant. and Adjutant' and one or two friends took tiffin in the Rassian style at Central Camp, Foochow" Road,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.