DEATH OF KING GEORGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 84, 21 January 1936, Page 5

DEATH OF KING GEORGE

EMPIRE-WIDE MOURNING ft PASSING OF A GREAT SOVEREIGN MOMENTOUS REIGN ENDED AT MIDNIGHT BELOVED BY ALL SECTIONS OF THE NATION I • : \ . , ■ HIS MAJESTY’S SHORT ILLNESS AT SANPRINGHAM V* - *

His Majesty King George V. passed away at Sandringham Palace at 11.55 o’clock last hignt, after a short illness. His Majesty suffered a severe attack of bronchial catarrh, complicated by cardiac weakness. He had been in indifferent health for only a few days, but his illness took a serious turn on'January 17, and bulletins were issued, his condition giving rise to some disquiet. Men and women of every creed and every colour, rich and poor, though divided by differences, political and economic, and separated by the seven seas, to-day mourn the death of a beloved monarch, one of the most outstanding figures, as leader of the British nation, in recent history, a leader who did not look upon his position as a mere formality but brought wide initiative, sympathy and human understanding to bear on the nation’s problems, in the solving of which he played no small part. ' While the thrones of monarchs the world over toppled as a result of the Great War, King George cemented even closer the ties of loyalty that have always bound the farflung Empire to the throne, and the feelings of his subjects were amply demonstrated in May of last year, when their Majesties celebrated the Silver Jubilee of their coming to the throne. Deep sympathy goes out to the bereaved Queen, who has always been of the greatest assistance to King George in his kingly duties.

LIFE MOVES PEACEFULLY TO ITS CLOSE.

THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT. MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY PRESENT. V THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER ABSENT. THE 'LAST SCENES AT SANDRINGHAM. United Press Association-‘Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.47 p.m.) LONDON, This Day. It is officially announced that his Majesty King George V. died at Sandringham at 11.55 last night. The official bulletin reads: “ Death came peacefully to the King at 11.55 p.m. in the presence of her Majesty the Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent.” It was signed by Sir Frederick Wilians, Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson of Penn- ' A bulletin issued at 9.30 p.m. stated: The life is moving peacefully toward its close. This bulletin was signed by Sir Frederick Wilians, Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson. * All members of the Royal family were present hut the Duke of Gloucester. ROYAL FAMILY AWAITS THE END. PRINCESS ROYAL COMFORTS HER MOTHER THE QUEEN’S UNWAVERING FORTITUDE. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.25 p.m.) LONDON, January 21. Sandringham House was hushed into silence when the fateful bulletin was issued. The Queen, her sons and the Princess Royal dined later than usual, as they were expecting reports from the doctors assembled in tbe room near the bedchamber to await tbe end, which, it was realised, was not far distant. The Princess Royal comforted her sorrowing mother. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the King’s old friend, murmured words of consolation. Everyone was anxious that the Queen, who had borne the strain of the last few days with unwavering fortitude, should rest as much as possible, so that the strain should not be over-much for her health.