QUEEN MOTHER’S LAST JOURNEY

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2308, 28 November 1925, Page 9

QUEEN MOTHER’S LAST JOURNEY

IMPRESSIVE SIMPLICITY OF PEOPLES’ FAREWELL

From Sandringham to Westminster Abbey

COFFIN ACCOMPANIED BY EOTAL FAMILY

[By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Auat. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Friday, 7 ,p.m.) LONDON, November 26.

The remains of the late Queen Alexandra were borne this afternoon through lanes covered with snow to Wblferton station, whence it was conveyed by special train to London. Intensely Impressive In its simplicity and spontaneity was the tribute of the country people, many of whom walked miles to participate in the last farewell. Nothing could be more poignant than the sad farewell by Queen Alexandra’s household and the tenantry. The tiny bell at Sandringham Church was tolling when the King and Princes walked across tne snowcovered ground, followed by the Queen in a brougham. The Royal family entered the Church and knelt silently round the coffin, being led in prayer by the Bishop of Norwich.

.After several minutes, they left, when the coffin was borne from the Church by ten giant Grenadier Guardsmen and placed on a gun carriage drawn by four horses mounted by artillerymen. Procession from Sandringham.

The procession left the Church and there followed, with their heads bowed, the King, with the Prince of Wales on his right and Prince Olaf on his left; then the Duke of York and Prince Henry, then members of the household. There were three closed corriages, in the lirst being Queen Mary and the Queen of Norway, the second. Princess Victoria and Queen Mario of Greece, in the third, the ladles in waiting. Then came the clergy of the estate and the parishioners, moslly simple folk In humble clothes. The route lay between pine woods, crowds falling into line as the procession passed. It gradually grew till it numbered a thousand. When it reached the station, there were hundreds of tearful men and women. Seldom has the district seen mare a moving ceremony than the homely passing of Alexandra the loved. When the coffin was lifted from the gun carriage and placed in the funeral fcoach of the Royal train, a company of the Norfolk Guards formed a Guard of Honour and the Norfolk territorials’ band played the “Dead March.” Royal wreaths were placed round the coffin. In the second carriage there was a bewildering profusion of wreaths, which had been brought from the Sandringham ballroom. Their Majesties took their seats in the Royal saloon and the train steamed out to the strains of Chopin’s Funeral March. Then, In accordance with custom, when the train had departed, the band broke into a quick march tune and afterwards “Rule Britannia.”

On arrival at London, the Body was taken to St. James’s Palace,, there to rest overnight. The High Commissioners, on behalf of their governments are forwarding wreaths. Invitations to attend the service include Sir James and Lady Allen, Sir Theo. Chapman, Lady Bell and Mr. T. M. Wilford. MOURNING IN AUSTRALIA. SALUTES OP 40 GUNS AT SUNSET. (Received Friday 9.85 p.m.) SYDNEY, November 27. To-day was recognised as an offltcial day of mourning for the death of Queen Alexandra. All State schools closed at noon, after a morning devoted to lessons dealing with Alexandra's life. Many public schools also held special memorial services. The principal church service was held at Saint Andrew’s Cathedral, and attended by the Governor and other prominent people from all walks of life. At sunset, a salute of forty guns was fired by the Navy, followed by a similar salute by the Army. Services of mourning were held throughout Victoria and salutes similar to those at Sydney fired at sunset. WOMAN’S VIGIL. THROUGH FREEZING NIGHT AT ABBEY DOOR. (Received Friday 9.25 p.m.) LONDON November 27. A woman arrived at Westminster Abbey at 11 o’clock last night determined to wait throughout the night to be first to enter for the services. Others arrived early in the morning, despite the freezing weather. A PEOPLE IN MOURNING. I _ CROWDS LINE ROUTE. (Received Saturday, 2 a.m.) LONDON, November 27. It was a frosty morning, but light fc\jr and bitter cold, turning to a snowstorm, did not deter the black-coated befrocked crowd which early took up Vantage points between Saint James' Palace and the west door of the Abbey. Many, obviously East-Enders, were provided with jugs of tea to keep out the cold. Vendors of black crepe flowers of a shape recalling Queen Alexandra’s roses had a big trade. The King was most anxious to save the nation'unnecessary expense. Those responsible for the therefore, were careful to avoid excessive pageantry! Moreover, it was realised an undue military display was

unfitting, so the troops were confined to representatives of the regiments with which Queen Aloxendrn, as Princess and Queen, had been officially connected. The keynote of the procession was to afford Londoners an opportunity for showing their affection for the Queen Mother, as the service in the Abbey was intended to allow the Court and official world to pay a last tribute to a well-loved mistress.

Throughout th e night, the coffin lay in the Chapel Royal at Saint James, where it was received on Thursday evening by the Bishop of London. Apart from the recital of sentences from the burial sendees, there was noi ceremonial. The chapel had its lovely interior lighted throughout the night. Gold Commission plate was displayed on the altar; beneath the tall candles, the altar vases were filled with white roses and wreaths in rich profusion were placed on and about the coffin, which was watched by the Gentlemen-st-arms and Yeomen of the Guard in the familiar crimson and gold uniform. Four Crowned Heads. King George reached the Chapel Royal from Buckingham Palace at ten forty-five, accompanied by the Kings of Denmark and Belgium. Here, he was joined by the f* -ig of Norway, who spent the night at Marlborough House. The bearers carried the coffin to the Colour court, where the coffin was placed on a gun carriage drawn by six horses, the bearer party marching alongside, accompanied by Queen Alexandra’s equerries. The procession then moved on, marching with arms reversed, headed by two hundred men and officers of the Air Force and two hundred t of the Brigade of Guaroa. Troops, 'in single rank, lined the whole route from Marlborough Gate to the Mall and Horse Guards, massed bands of the Brigade of Guards playing continuously and minute guns booming from a field battery in Saint James Park. The first gun was fired as the coffin was placed on the gun carriage and the last as the coffin entered the Abbey. Order of Procession.

Following detachments of the Air Force and Guardsmen came twenty officers and men of the yacht Victoria and Albert and immediately preceding the gun carriage were 250 bluejackets and marines. Behind the gun carriage, King George walked alone, followed by the Kings of Belgium, Denmark and Norway walking abreast The Crown Princes of Roumanla and Sweden, on either sldo of the Prince ot Wales, followed, then the Duke of York, the Crown Prince of Norway, Prince Valdemar of Denmark and others, including Prince Henry, Prince Arthur of Connaught, Lord Louis Mountbatten, equerries of the King and Princes, with gold sticks and silver sticks and aides-de-camp. The procession was completed by detachments representing Queen Alexandra’s regiments, the fifteenth and nineteenth Hussars the Yorkshire regiment and Queen Alexandra’s Own Gurkha Regiment, who represented the people of India at the ceremony. The Life Guards turned out as the coffin passed Horse Guards Avenue and entered Whitehall.

Queen Mary, the Queens of Norway and Spain and the Royal Princesses drove direct to Dean’s Yard and reached the Sacrariura by the cloister door.

Meanwhile the Abbey was crowded with notable personages. While they were gathering, Mr S. A. Nicholson, the Abbey organist, played a selection ol solemn music, including Stanford’s Funeral March from a’Becker, Parry’s prelude to ‘‘Abide With Me," choral preludes by Bach and Brahm’s a solemn melody by Walford Davies, Grieg’s Death of Ase from the Peer Gynt ending with Tchaikovsky’s funeral march.

In The Abbey.

Arriving at the west door of the Abbey the troops fell out and the procession headed by the choir chapter passed up the nave, the coffin being borne by a bearer party from the King’s Coy. of Grenadier Guards the choir meanwhile singing the sentences to Dr. Croft’s music. The bearers stopped under the lantern and placed the coffin on the catafalque, the King and other mourners standing at the head of the coffin and the Lord Chamberlain and Lord Steward at the foot The Abbey altar was hung in funeral black. The Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the service assisted by Canon Carnegie and the Precentor of .ui Abbey, all wearing purple copes, The service commenced with the twenty-third Psalm. The lesson was' from the 15th. chapter of first of Corinthians verses fifty-one to fiftyeight, then the hymn "Now the Labourer’s task is O’er", the Lord’s Prayer, and collects from the burial service and the anthem from the Russian Liturgy, “Give Rest, O Christ”, followed, the service concluding with the hymn “On the Resurrection Morning.'’ When their Majesties and the Royal family left by the west door, the coffin covered by Queen Alexandra’s Standard, remained under the lantern, watched by the Gentlemen-at-Arms and Yeomen of the Guards. The general public was admitted to the Abbey at one o’clock and continued to enter until late in the evening, entering at the Poet’s Cornet and leaving by the north door. SERVICES AT WELLINGTON. MINUTE BELLS AND SALUTE OP GUNS. [Per Press Association.] WELLINGTON Nov. 27.

Synchronising as nearly as possible with the solemn observances at Westminster Abbey special memorial services in connection with the funeral of the Queen Mother were held this morning in several of the churches, while the Government and municipal and other offices reverently closed for three hours from 10.30 and in accordance with instructions received from Home, a Royal salute of forty minute guns was fired from Mount Cook barracks, commencing at 11 o'clock.

A request for the cessation of traffle for a period of five minutes from

the same hour was partly observed all trams being' stopped. The Mayor issued a request this morning for the shops to close, but the advice came too late to be very widely circulated, and only a few retailers closed their promises. All the Government and municipal offices, however, and many places of business were closed from 10.30 until after lunch.

Memorial services were held at .11 o’clock at St. Paul's Pro-cathedral, where the State and Governmental and other officials attended, and at St. Peter’s and St. Mark’s.

AT THE SCHOOLS.

A brief commemorative service was held at Central School yesterday morning when all the scholars were assembled for the purpose. Addresses were given by the headmaster, Mr L. F. de Berry, Rev. H. T. Peat and Mr H. J. Canton, secretary and chairman of the school committee, respectively. The children sang Kipling’s “Recessional", "Abide With Me”, the Doxology and the National Anthem and also stood in silence for a short while in respect to the late Queen's memory.

In his remarks to the scholars, Mr de Berry referred to the late queen mother as a wonderfully fine example of everything that was best in womanhood. Nobody could have been kindlier or more thoughtful than that gracious lady and he mentioned an incident in her career in which she had demonstrated her unselfishness. Mr Peat in an eloquent . address, stated that the world mourned the death of a good and noble woman; a queen mother who was enthroned in the hearts of the people of the British Empire, where she still reigned a radiant memory. The children assembled were also uniting in this expression of world-wide sorrow. Through a long life of over 81 years Queen Alexandra revealed in her person all the winsomeness of a noble type of womanhood. She combined the dignity of a sovereign with the gentleness and compassion of a true woman. With unwearied effort she sought to make the world happier and better: to inspire her people with lofty Ideals and to inculcate noble principles was her life long task. Mr H. J. Canton referred to the manner in which Queen Alexandra had endeared herself with the nation and urged the children to learn from her the lesson of good citizenship. Brief reference to the death of Queen Alexandra iyas made at the Hokfwhitu school by each of the teachers during alnes lessons. At Terrace End school, the headmaster, Mr G. E. Overton addressed the assembled scholars in the after noon making reference to the noble example that the deceased Queen Mother had set for the women of the nation. After singing the Recessional hymn, the children were dismissed for a short interval. The headmaster of College street School (Mr W. A. Swinbourn) addressed the assembled scholars on similar lines after which suitable hymns were sung.

No ceremony was held at West End, the headmaster (Mr A. W. Thompson) having: made suitable reference'/ to the death of the Queen Mother on Monday last. A brief survey of the life work of the late Queen was given the pupils of the Boys’ High School by the rector (Mr. J. Murray) who referred to the magnificent and whole-hearted manner in which the deceased had entered into the joys and sorrows of the nation.