AS SCOTTISH LAIRD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 4 February 1928, Page 7

AS SCOTTISH LAIRD

BURIAL OF EARL HAIG NO MILITARY POMP AT RESTING PLACE (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, 2nd Fell, Earl Haig will not he buried as a general who led the British army but us a .Scottish Border laird, all military pomp being left behind at Edinburgh. THIS IS MY RESTING PLACE AT DRYBURGH abbey LONDON, 2nd Feb. Earl Haig will be buried in the family vault at Dryburgh Abbey, within a milo of Bemersyde, hard liy the tomb o! Sir Walter Scott. Earl Haig’s burial place in the north transept is sheltered bv a big fragment of lovely ruins beside the Tweed. Only the Haigs, Scotts, and one other family have the right of burial in the Abbey. After tho annual service in the rums, at which Earl Haig read the lessons, lie sat on the tomb of bis ancestors with a Bible in Ilia hand, chatting with the minister. Earl Haig quietly said to the minister: “Where are you going to bury me?” , . ,

The minister replied : “Westminster Abbey,” momentarily forgetful that St. Paul’s was tho traditional resting place of great soldiers. Earl Haig shook his head and smiled. “No,” he said, “this is my resting place. This has been the Haig’s resting place for centuries.” The War Office at first refused the British Broadcasting Corporation permission to broadcast the Abbey ceremony, despite willingness of the Abbey authorities. Later in the day, however, under pressure, the War Office reconsidered its decision and the entire service, commencing at 12.30 Greenwich mean time, will he broadcast from every station, including SSW, which will send it to the dominions on a short wave length. General Petain arrived from France m mufti, accompanied by a detachment of fifty French soldiers of the first army corps* —in st’eeT helmets. General Petain was driven to the French Embassy, while the soldiers headed by a sergeant of the English Guards, marched through the streets. An enormous crowd met Marshal Foeli at Victoria Station and he had difficulty in reaching a waiting motor car. MEMORIAL SERVICE IN NELSON A memorial service to tho late FieldMarshal Lord Haig will be held at the Church Steps to-morrow morning, commencing at 9.45 o’clock. The service, which will be of brief duration, will be conducted by the ministers of the city, and the Rev. 11. J. Ralph will deliver the address. Cadets, Territorials, the Regiment Band, and the Returned Soldiers will attend.