Mystery is abloom at British Consulate // `Minden' roses delivered again

Six red roses were delivered to the British Consulate onschedule again yesterday, and the mystery of the anonymous sender isas dark as ever.

The roses started coming more than 25 years ago on Aug. 1, theanniversary of the Battle of Minden, an almost forgotten Britishvictory over the French that took place 227 years ago.

The envelope is always marked, "In memoriam."

The unsigned card, with minor variations, always reads:

Minden Day, 1 August, 1759.

They advanced through rose gardens to the battleground anddecorated their tricorn hats and grenadier caps with the emblem ofEngland.

These regiments celebrate Minden Day still, and all wear rosesin their caps on this anniversary in memory of their ancestors.

The card also lists the outnumbered British regiments that, withtheir German allies, routed 60,000 French troops during the SevenYears War at Minden, in what is now West Germany.

The units - all of which still exist - are the Suffolk Regiment,the Lancashire Fusiliers, the Royal Welch Fusiliers, the King's OwnScottish Borderers, the Royal Hampshire Regiment and the YorkshireLight Infantry.

Caroline Cracraft, spokeswoman for the consulate at 33 N.Dearborn, says, "We assume that the donor had an ancestor who foughtand fell at the battle of Minden, or that he himself served in one ofthe regiments.

"We should like to thank our anonymous donor. Is there anychance that we might thank him in person for paying honor every yearto the men who fell on Aug. 1, 1759?"

Although Minden Day is not generally remembered any more, evenin Britain, the six battle units still celebrate their past on Aug. 1by wearing roses in their uniform caps.

In 1984, the sender added to his note what looked like clues tohis identity - the number 168 written under the list of regiments,and a cryptic quotation, "He was,`95 always on the right."'

But if they were clues, the British have so far been unable todecipher them.

Even McMahon Florists, 729 S. Dearborn, where the roses arealways purchased, haven't been able to help.

They've told the consulate that every year about two weeksbefore Aug. 1, a man calls and asks how much it would cost to deliversix roses to the British consulate.

A few days later, the florist gets the exact amount in the mail,in cash.