THE BURIAL SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 20613, 13 October 1930, Page 9

THE BURIAL SERVICE

MOVING scenes LONDON, October 11. The funeral train bearing the victims from Euston Station also carried a great company of relatives and others, to whom the last sounds as the station receded from view were the strains of ‘ Rock of Ages/ played by the Royal Air Forte Band, while Mr MacDonald, other members of _ the Cabinet, and foreign representatives, including Dr Eckener, were standing oh the platform with bowed heads. Everywhere en route there were signs of mourning. . The train was Diet at Bedford by Lord Ampthill and the mayor. A great assembly of bombers circled overhead while the coffins were removed and the procession formed. It is estimated that 75,000 people were on tho roadside between the station and the little cemetery at Cardington four miles away, blit within sight of the aerodrome, whence the victims set out with high hopes exactly a week ago. Tho coffins were borne by a fleet of-Royal Air Force tenders. The mourners were grouped round a huge common grave in St. Marys Churchyard* which was flanked by the b'lue-clad crew of R 100» in front of whom stood Mr Bell, the sole representative of RlOl’s survivors, bearing a wreath from comrades.

the scene here will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it. One by one the caskets were lowered into the great grave in four rows of twelve each,’ while the church bells were tolling and aeroplanes wore droning overhead, and men and women were sobbing, A simple and beautiful service followed. Church of England, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic clergy stepping forward in turn and engaging in prayers. Finally, as the last rays of the setting sun illumined the scene, came dramatic moments, while three volleys were fired and the trumpeters sounded * The Last Post.’ There Was a brief silence, and then from a neighbouring field the * Reveille ’ rang out. The men in RlOl had come home. Then, as flowers were heaped into the grave till it was nearly full, women and even men gave way to grief unrestrained. The wreaths included one from the Anzac fellowship, and one from the women of Australia. Mr G. W. Forbes sent a wreath to the RlOl victims’ funeral on behalf of New Zealand.

The ‘Sunday Dispatch’ says that since the wreck of the RlOl the Recruiting Department has been overworked coping with the rush of recruits for the Air Force.