Last Tributes To Victims Of Canberra Crash

Northern Advocate, 16 August 1940, Page 7

Last Tributes To Victims Of Canberra Crash

MELBOURNE, August 15

With sad dignity and reverence the nation paid its last tribute today to the men who died in the Canberra air disaster on Tuesday. In fitful showers and spring sunshine, the bodies of eight of the ten victims, including those of the three Federal Ministers —Sir Henry Gullett, Mr J. V. Fairbairn and Mr G. A. Street —and the chief of the General Staff of the Australian military forces < Lieut.General Sir Brudeneil White), were borne from the funeral train for a special memorial service at St. Paul's Cathedral. Awed, Silent Crowds, People—still appalled by the extent of the tragedy—crowded in thousands along the approaches to the Cathedral and the Princes Bridge Station, awed and silent. After the service the caskets were borne by train and road to their several destinations for burial or cremation, in accordance with the wishes of the relatives. It is announced from London that a memorial service to the Australian Ministers, members of the General Staff and the crew of the aeroplane will be held in Westminster Abbey next Thursday. Service in Sydney. Synchronising with the funeral service in Melbourne, a similar service was held in St. Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney, which was attended by the Governor (Lord Wakehurst) and State Ministers, as well as a large gathering of leading citizens. Bishop Hilliard delivered an impressive address, and Archbishop IVlowll gave the blessing. The funeral of Aircraftsman Crosdale, another victim, will take place tomorrow near Maitland.

His widow gave birth to a son yesterday. A memorial service for the victims was also held in St. John's Church, Canberra.

The court of inquiry into the crash, composed of Royal Australian Air Force officers, will open on Tuesday. It will be held in private. A cable message from Washing*ton states that the Australian Minister to the United States (Mr R. G. Casey) continues to receive large numbers of letters and messages ol sympathy in connection with the death ot the Ministers who were killed in the recent air crash at Canberra.

The messages include the following, signed by ail members of the newspaper party on board the California Clipper, which reached Auckland this afternoon.

"Ah on board the Clipper are ini expressably shocked at the news of the tragedy in Australia and wish to convey their deepest sympathy to the Commonwealth, which we are all looking forward to visiting in happier circumstances."