Presenting Shamrocks to Troops in Britiain #FolklorePhoto

Photo courtesy The Rooms Provincial Archives.

On St. Patrick's Day, 1944, D.J. Davies, Newfoundland's Trade Commissioner in London, presented shamrocks to officers and men of the 59th Heavy Regiment. Behind the officer carrying the box of shamrocks is the C.O. of the Regiment, Lt.-Col. R.C. Longfield.

The ceremony demonstrated in these photographs was held on St. Patrick's Day for Newfoundland troops in Britain. Newfoundland troops, who had been in Britain for nearly four years at the time, were inspected on St. Patrick's Day in the South Eastern Command. These troops were not part of the Canadian Forces in Britain but were a section of the British Army. Most of the men are of Irish descent and after the inspection were each presented with a piece of Shamrock to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Officers of the Newfoundland Regiment were also present at the inspection.

Photo courtesy The Rooms Provincial Archives.