LAID TO REST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 74, 8 January 1941, Page 8

LAID TO REST.

MR NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN. % SCENE AT THE ABBEY. LONDON, November 18 The fpneral of Mr Neville Chamberlain in Westminster Abbey has been described as “the first secret public funeral that has ever been held in the Abbey Church.” The greatest secrecy was maintained lest the Abbey should be bombed by the Germans while the service was in progress. Only the Cabinet, the Diplomat -; • Corps, and the Press were informed. All passes to the Abbey were marked “Secret.” The service paper contained the following notice':— . • “Should it be necessary to take cover during the service, (1) tiie Boyal representatives and members of the Cabinet would be conducted to the crypt of the Chapter House; (2) the' Diplomatic Corps would be conducted to the Pyx Chapel; (8) members of the family ■and of the two Houses would be con ducted to -the Norman Undercroft; (4) other members of the congregation . would be accommodated in the Dark Cloister, so far as space allow.-.’.’ Arrangements were made with a Government office that in the event of air raid danger, a Whitehall “Jim Crow” would give the alarm in time for the mounws to take coyer. A warning did actually sound while the casket containing the ashes was borne to the High Altar from the chapel where it had rested overnight, but the “raiders passed” sounded as the first df the mouthers arrived.

Mrs Chamberlain, ini deepest black, was accompanied by her daughter. The first part of the service was held in the choir and was conducted by the Dean-of Westminster; the second ■part took place in the south aisle of the nave, where a stone had been removed next to the grave of* Bonar Law.

The Ajrclibishop of Canterbury, in rich vestments of purple, stood at the graveside; opposite stood the sad figure of Mrs Neville Chamberlain. Behind her stood the ID'uke of Gloucester, and to one side, near the coffin, were the pall-bearers, led by Mr Winston Churchill.

Two vergers, opening a door in the foot of the coffin, withdrew a small casket of polished wood and a bunch of arum lilies. Casket and flowers were reverently lowered into tine grave as the Archbishop pronounced the commitment.

The small group containing, perhaps two' hundred! people, most of them men who had come straight from Ministries and Departments of State in their ordinary work-a-day clothes, was surely the least formal gathering that has ever attended an Abbey funeral. Mrs Chamberlain was one of the last to leave the Abbey. Before she went she took from her handbag a yellow chrysanthemum and stooped to .place it beside the casket in For a few moments she , remained looking at-the flowers and the casket. Then slowly she left the Abbey.