R101 MEMORIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 11 November 1933, Page 6

RlOl MEMORIAL

TOUCHING CEREMONY IN FRANCE

“PIONEERS OF PROGRESS”

LONDON, October 31

M. Daladier, Prime Minister of. France, and Air MacDonald, Prime Minister of Great Britain, were present at the ceremony in connection with the unveiling of the memorial at Allonne to the memory of the 48 men who- perished on October 5, 1930, in the airship 11101. The Air Ministers of the two countries, the British, Ambassador, I.C.d Tyrrell, and representatives -of the French and British air services were there, together with the six survivors of the disaster, and many friends and relatives of those who died. About 10,000 people from Beauvais and the surrounding country attended.

The Maire of the Commune' of All-' onne, who made a short speech of welcome, promised that his' people would treat the mdnument with' “respect absolu.” It drew 'fine tribute later from Mr MacDonald, whose praise of what the simple hands and tender hearts of the villagers had done caused a Frenchman tq remark, “Co’mme il parie bien.” The memorial is a simple ' -stone obelisk standing on a square stone base alongside the main road from Beauvais to Paris, at the boundary of the Parish of Allonne. Behind it, a mile uvay across the fields, a smaller stone marks the spot, on the wooden ridge where the 8101 crashed; The names of‘the men who. died in her are carved on the sides of the obelisk, and on tli6 base in hold relief is a suitable inscription.

FRENCH PREMIER’S TRIBUTE M. Daladier, who spoke first, after mealling France’s grief and horror at the tragedy, said:—“Chiefs and men alike, following the tradition of the British sailors who had explored every sea of the world, met their death in an endeavour to blaze a new trail from one end of the Empire .another. Lord Thompson, Minister of Air, Sir Sefton Brancker, Director to Civil Aviition, did not hesitate to join the younger men in this great, adventure. “The quite courage of your air services, founded on the example set by your illustrious Navy, gives a measure of that calm contempt of danger which s the highest form of heroism. In •'aking our natural part in this catastrophe we also share in its lesson and example. It shows that true courage : .s quite and pacific. “Is not the friendship of France and Britain founded on a common will to devote courage, to pacific aims and, on x faith with the same ideals of liberty and human dignity ? If we believe that civilisation obeys other laws than those of a blind fatality we ought so to act that we give pride of: place to those noble efforts consecrated to peace, and which bestow the truest grandeur on the life of. nations.” PIONEERS OF PROGRESS 1 Mr MacDonald:-—“We are. not French, we are not British here today. We are here as men and women to hare our heads before those, who were pioneers of progress, for our. common humanity. lam looking at men. and women who were present on that, terrible night of storm. May future nioneers he blessed in their last moments by help and sympathy such is yours, my friends of Allonne. When the time comes to take them hack to tlieir homes may simple hands, inspired by kindly hearts such as yours, strew them with the wild flowers of the hillsides. My friends, that was a touch of friendship in the fact of sorrow that will never pass away from British hearts. We have come here to see you in your home and in commemoration of death, and we shall take away with us memories of life. “To-day the nations which we are privileged to represent have found a new union, a new understanding. This memorial, erected to the memory of our friends, will have more influence and more effect that scores . of documents. Both olir hearts are there. Thank you, M. Daladier. Thank you, Government of. France. Thank you, people of France. The speeches were followed by the playing of Chopin’s Funeral March, after which a company of .the Ist Regiment of Chasseurs and two companies of the 51st Infantry Regiment, headed by the firemen of Allonne, who worked hard to rescue, survivors from the RlOl marched past and, saluted the memorial. Finally, there was. a thrilling salute by a French squadron of aeroplanes followed by a. similar one from a Royal Air Force squadron.

A memorial service has been held at Cardington, Bedfordshire, besides the graves of the 48 victims, of the disaster. '