The summer of 1997 was one I remember for i's rain, its rain and sometimes its rain. As I picked my way through the puddles and sheltered under umbrellas it seemed like we'd never see the sun again. But now, a few months have passed by, and as ever the bad memories fade. When I think of the summer now I find myself casting my mind back to the time when, just for a few days, I was transported back to the very zenith of Victorian splendour - the celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

In the summer of 1897 the streets of London were packed to bursting point as hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic revellers descended on the capital for a gli~npse of what was to be the high-water mark of Victoria s reign. One hundred years later English Heritage decided to mark this historic centenary by inviting Victorian reenactors from all around the world to visit Britain anc take part in a series of commemorative events, bringin history alive in the process. And what a gathering it was from Australia, Canada and Malta they came, to join on home-based groups.

So it was to Wrest Park in Bedfordshire, Richmond Castle and Brodsworth Hall in Yorkshire as well as St. Paul's Cathedral in London, that the scarlet and blue of Victoria's soldiers, along with just a little khaki, would march once more. It was the largest gathering of Victorian re-enactors ever seen in this country. And like their forefathers who had made the same, although somewhat slower trip, one hundred years earlier, these "Sons of Empire" enjoyed every minute of it, despite the rain. English Heritage should be warmly congratulated on their tremendous efforts in bringing everyone together for this unique celebration of Empire. It will be sad if we have to wait another hundred years for their return. PHOTO CAPTIONS

1: The skirl of the pipes and the beat of the drums resound as the 78th Highland Regiment march past. The Highlanders made the journey from Nova Scotia in Canada to take part in the centenary celebrations and was the largest unit taking part in the events, with almost fifty members present. The uniform is that of the 78th Highlanders when they were based in Nova Scotia between 1869-1871. The level of authenticity of the Highlanders is remarkable. Years of research have been carried out to ensure the uniforms and equipment are as close to the original items as possible. 78th Highland Regiment. The unit is based at the Halifax Citadel and is manned throughout the summer months by a select group of university and high school students who have to undergo rigorous testing before they are accepted into the unit. Those who are successful tend to serve on average for three seasons, which enables the high standard of drill to be maintained. Each man carries a Snider-Enfield breech-loading rifle and wears a feather bonnet, doublet with buff facings and a kilt of MacKenzie tartan.

2: A close-up view of the 78th Highlanders. Unfortunately due to the rain that dogged the events the Highlanders were forced to abandon their feather- bonnets at Wrest Park. The rain had caused the dye used on the feathers to run and stain the doublets! The standard of drill displayed was faultless and must surely be unparalleled amongst re-created units anywhere.

3: Troopers of the 17th Lancers about to begin their display. These Lancers were one of the British contingent's taking part in the events. Uniformed in the full dress of the 1890s the Lancers are the result of a collaboration between English Heritage, The Troop (a multi-period cavalry re-enactment group) and the Queens Royal Lancers who are the modern day incarnation of the l7th Lancers.

The Lancers are of course famous for their role in the Charge of the Light Brigade and at Ulundi in Zululand. The uniform and equipment of a trooper of the 17th Lancers Display Team. The dark blue tunic, based on the Polish Kurtha, has a reversible plastron front, showing white or blue. The facings on collar and cuffs are white and there is a double white stripe down the outside trouser seams. The Polish influence on lancer uniforms is also shown in the Chapka, the square-topped helmet. The troopers are armed with a 9 Ft bamboo lance, 1885 pattern sword and .303 Martini-Metford carbine.

4: Troopers of the Victorian Mounted Rifles in uniforms similar to those worn when the V.M.R. took part in the 1897 Diamond Jubilee parade. The unit also wore these uniforms in South Africa where they formed part of Australia's first contingent of soldiers for service in the Boer War. This group, who are members of the Victorian Re-enactment Society, travelled all the way from ustralia to join their fellow re-enactors. It is interesting to contrast the khaki of the V.M.R. with the bright blues and reds of the British home service uniforms. As a precursor of what was to follow the V.M.R. had already adopted khaki as their sole uniform colour.

5: A sergeant of the Diehard Company, 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment, mid 1880s. The Diehards are one of the British groups and are the Victorian Military Society's own re- enactment group. Although only formed about four years ago the tremendous progress they have made can clearly be seen in the quality of the uniform and equipment. The uniform is that worn following the reorganisation of the army under the Cardwell Reforms of 1881. All the English line regiments lost their distinctive coloured facings at this time, replacing them with white.

6: The Diehard Company, 1st Battalion Middlesex Regiment - Shoulder Arms. The Diehards are wearing home service uniform but really the only change encountered for active service, particularly in Africa, was the replacement of the blue cloth helmet by a white foreign service helmet. The belts are the 1882 Valise pattern with each of the pouches on the waistbelt containing 40 rounds of ammunition.

7: The Portsdown Artillery Volunteers. The P.A.V. are uniformed members of the Palmerston Forts Society and represent a volunteer gun crew c. 1890. Volunteer artillery uniforms differed from the regulars by the replacement of all brass insignia with ones of nickel silver and yellow cord decoration with red. They were joined for the centenary by the Heritage Interpretation Group of Malta, who wore the uniform of the Royal Malta Fencible Artillery. Two 16pdr R.M.L. field guns and a complete four horse team and limber were crewed by the two groups. This was the first time a full team and limber had been used at a re-enactment in this country. This project was completed as a result of co- operation between the Royal Armouries, English Heritage and the King's Troop, RHA.