What is the naval officer thinking at the end of Golding's novel,"The Lord of the Flies"?In other words, is there anything significant about the...

In William Golding's allegorical novel, "Lord of the Flies," there is a final irony in the rescue of Ralph from the savagery of Jack and the hunters.  For, this rescue is effected by a warship with a naval officer arriving on the island.  While, on the one hand, this officer represents the discipline and order of a civilized society, he also, on the other hand, represents war with its accompanying brutality and savagery. 

This officer looks "down at Ralph in wary astonishment"; he wonders what has occurred on the island, while at the same time he is cautious of this apparent savage. 

In the background, with bows [that] hauled up and held by two ratings.  In the stern-sheets another rating held a sub-machine gun.

With his gilded cap, gilt buttons, epaulettes, and revolver, the officer represents a decadent society that is, perhaps, not so civilized either. The officer's astonishment extends to his disapproval of the boys' lack of discipline as he looks at the painted faces of the boys:

I should have thought that a pack of British boys--you're all British, aren't you?--would have been able to put up a better show than that--I mean--

Without realizing the import of his words, the officer has called the boys "a pack"--much like wolves who also are bloodthirsty--and used a Britishism "a better show" which here contains an ironic meaning. For, while the officer means "appearance" the suggestion within the context of the situation is that he himself puts up "a show" of civilization with his gilded uniform, but he is, ultimately, a soldier of war, just as the boys are in battle with Ralph.