SILENT HOMAGE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 239, 6 September 1928, Page 7

SILENT HOMAGE

ILL-FATED CREW. DEAD BODIES FROM SUBMARINE. ARRIVAL AT PORTSMOUTH. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received September 6, 10.30 a.m.—RUGBY Sept. 5. Silent homage was paid to-day. at Portsmouth to the officers and men of tho submarine L 55, which was sunk in Russian waters nine years ago. As is known, the Russian authorities this spring located the submarine lying in deep water near Kronstadt and the bodies were conveyed in the British merchant ship Truro to Iteval and there transferred to the British cruiser Champion, which brought them to Portsmouth. Four submarines of tho H class went out from the headquarters of the submarine flotilla to meet tho Champion. Two of them took up positions on each side, and with their colours at half-mast escorted the Champion to the harbour entrance, where they fell behind her. Tho colours were also flown at half mast by all the naval vessels at half establishments at the port, and on the merchant craft, and flags were lowered on most of tho principal buildings in Portsmouth and in Gosport. The Champion made her way slowly to tho dock and drew alongside the south railway jetty, where she was berthed. The work of. transferring the coffins across the harbour to Fort Blockhouse began at sunset. The bodies will lie in state at Fort Blockhouse until Friday. Then they will be taken for burial at Haslcr cemetery on a gun carriage draped with die Union Jack. Blue jackets and a firing party will accord full naval honours at the funeral.