ETONIAN GUARD OF HONOUR AT MR GLADSTONE'S FUNERAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 177, 29 July 1898, Page 3

ETONIAN GUARD OF HONOUR AT MR GLADSTONE'S FUNERAL.

ONE OF SIR GEORGE GREY'S

GREAT NEPHEWS PRESENT

A former resident of Auckland writes: —'It may perhaps interest some of your Auckland readers to know that though their 'Grand Old Man' of New Zealand —from his great age and ill-health—could not attend the funeral of Erigla md's 'Grand Old Man,' on May 28th, at Westminster Abbey,,,yet one of his (Sir George Grey's) great nephews did—helping to form the guard of honour to the great statesman —which same 'guard' was formed by the Eton College Rifle Volunteers, 380 strong. At 7.45 a.m. the corps paraded with muffled drums, at Eton, and then marched in mournful silence through the quiet streets to Windsor, taking train there .for Waterloo station, which was reached at 9.30. Again they reformed and marched with their silent band at their head to Westminster Abbey. Along York Road they went and across Westminster Bridge; the crowd great, but a quiet and silent one, which silence deepened as they approached the Abbey. The Abbey reached, and once in position, the E.C.R.V.'s in their neat and quiet uniform of grey with pale blue facings were drawn up so as to form three sides of a hollow square, the band forming up inside the Abbey railings, and so formed the 'guard of honour' to one of England's greatest statesmen,' and what was nearer to those boy soldiers' hearts, to a great Etonian and 'old boy' of their beloved school. 'Mother Eton,' as Mr. Gladstone had himself called it on his last visit to his old school. There they stood, resting on arms reversed, and never a word and never'a movement from those youthful soldiers. As one who was there said of them, 'When movements had to be done, they were done smartly; when, it was necessary to stand still, the steadiness was unbroken.' Then they catch sight of a quiet private carriage with Mrs Gladstone in it; and she, the widow .and faithful wife of so many years, receives the first salute. Then Soon afterwards comes the long procession, and winds on through a gap in the ranks of No 2 Company, and so on into the Abbey. As the coffin—which holds the great statesman and one of Eton's sons—is carried past, the 'guard of honour' once again salute. Then, when all have passed, into the old grand Abbey, those tired . frames of school boys can 'stand at. ease' and so rest awhile. A long, long wait, and they can catch some of the music ot the service within the Abbey, as now and again the west door is opened. Then they hear distinctly the grand roll of the organ, and the drums and trumpets .as Handel's grand 'Dead March in Saul' thrills through the Abbey and out into the square beyond — what, a grand soul-stirring march it is—and so proclaims that 'all is over,' and the great man is laid to rest. Once more the corps stand steady at their post, and give royal salutes to the various members of the Royal Family. Then the bells of St. Margaret's ring out a peal, and the corps form up. and march off to the station. The band'is now playing a quick and lively march, and at 2.30 p.m. the boys are back at Eton, and feel that one of the most memorable days in their lives is past. All feel a just pride in having been called on to pay a last respect to so great an Etonian, and so great a man, and the simple solemnity of the occasion touches them much; and Sir George Grey's youthful nephew, a most loyal Etonian, wrote a manly feeling letter about it, and spoke of it—tbe funeral—'as a most impressive sight,' and one that he should always feel a pride in. having taken a share in—'Floreat Etona.'