MEMORIAL SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume L, Issue 7966, 21 April 1922, Page 3

MEMORIAL SERVICE

TO AUSTRALIAN AVIATORS

Sr Teleirarh—t'resi Assocnctnn -v-oiunw .UKiisiißU nui.l N.Z. Cable Association Rec. April 21, 8.55 a.in. London, April 20.

One of the most beautiful and most impressive services in Loudon for years was that held at St. Clement Danes, in the Strand, in honour of Sir Ross Smith and Lieutenant Bennett. Outside the. church a large crowd, opposite Australia House, was unable to obtain admission to the church and stood' beneath half-masted Southern Cross, Union Jack, and Royal Australian Air .Force Hags, fluttering against a cloudless sky in glorious sunshine, it was such a dav as marked the Brook-lands tragedy. The interior of the church was picturesque, with its Italian characteristic star red ceilings. 1 1 was in direct contrast to the atmosphere created by the presence in the gallery of the Royal Air Force Band, which provided several moving selections. Before 1 lie service the mourners entering the church were struck by the bells pealing joy alternating with the muffled tones of sorrow. This note was preserved throughout the service, in which the sober voice of the organ was inrerpersed with the full band's triumphant selections, ranging from Mendelssohn's Pilgrims’ March and Handel's Largo to Bach's Prelude and the Choral Fnyue. The fact that the band placed the majority of the hymns provided a dominant eii'cet in tins memorial service. After the lesson was re ail by R t-v. Henrv Howard, of South Australia, an address was delivered by the Rev. Viener. Chap-lain-General of the Royal Air Force, who maintained an appropriate note of exaltation overshadowing vOinov.