TOLL OF THE SEA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 276, 21 November 1928, Page 7

TOLL OF THE SEA.

Last Sad Rites For Lifeboat Heroes. BYE HARBOUR DISASTER. (Australian and N.Z. Frees Association.) (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, November 20. The fifteen Rye Harbour lifeboatmen, who lost their lives hi the wreck of the craft, were buried in one grave in the village churchyard, the sea not having given up the remaining two victims. An enormous crowd was present, trains and motor cars bringing thousands of mourners. Thirteen clergymen of all religions headed the funeral procession. PATHETIC SCENES. RUMOUBS TO BE PROBED. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. At the funeral of the crew of the Rye Harbour lifeboatmen, men of the British Legion dug the grave and legionaries were among the pallbearers, who were mainly lifeboatmen. A band played funeral marches. Because of the press o fthe public, the service wae held in the graveyard, and not in the church. Crews of many other lifeboats along the coast were present. Nearly every family in the little hamlet of Rye Harbour had lost someone in the disaster, and the scenes at the graveside were pathetic in the extreme. Mr. H. G. Williams, Under-Secretary of the Board of Trade, stated in the House of Commons that hie department has decided to hold an inquiry into all the circumstances of the disaster. The inquiry would cover certain allegations that had been made regarding the defects in the lifebelts worn by the dead lifeboatmen.