The Roman Holiday
In August 1944, the most ambitious show ever was put on. An extravaganza involving Roman
Legions, Ancient Britons, Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, it had taken six months to prepare.
Helmets and armour were made out of flattened tin cans from Red Cross parcels. Togas were 'borrowed'
bed sheets. Two white horses from a field next to the camp were also 'borrowed' to pull Mark Anthony's
chariot. The procession, led by the band, left the British compound and proceeded down to the
open common ground. After the band came an elephant, Nubians, dancing girls and legionaries. The
procession arrived at the Coliseum where Julius Caesar ( Padre John Ledgerwood) was crowned and the legionaries
fought the Britons.
Even the Camp Commandant, Hauptmann Steiner, enjoyed the show and was persuaded to buy a program
with real money although he well knew that this was forbidden.Hauptmann Steiner
buys a program
Each man who came to the show was handed a
post card and asked to write to his Regimental Paymaster authorizing the transfer of funds to the
British Red Cross. In all, £32,000 was raised on that one day.
Click on any picture for a larger image.
Many thanks to John Gregory for some of these pictures and to Michael
Moore and Greg Buchanan for the latest additions.
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