BURIAL OF EARL HAIG

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 6 February 1928, Page 5

BURIAL OF EARL HAIG

ABBEY CEREMONY

IMPRESSIVE SCENES

(By EloctrJo Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Gablo Association)

LONDON, 3rd February

London to-day awakened as a vast city of mourning. Tho last, great (ri butn to the late Earl Haig virtually began with the earliest work goers. Thousands be-poppied reached the. city early to take up positions along tho route. The bright, cold weather of the early morning later became a typicnl grey London winter's day. Immense crowds assembled in the vicinity of St. .Columba's and saw the family and congregation arrive for the private service at 10.15 a.m. The police carried several disabled ex-service men into tho church. The Rev. Archibald Fleming officiated. "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and Beethoven's Funeral March concluded the service.

In Font street there was an amazing spectacle. Many medals glittered on the breasts of men and women alike. White-plumed officers waited outside the church as the party of Royal Horse Guards arrived, and followed the gun carriage. Then' came Earl Haig's own charger, his boots reversed in the stirrups, led slowly to the side of tho church. A strong foico of mounted and foot police lined Font street. An endless line of cars arrived for the deposition of beautiful poppy wreaths, including the King's and Queen's, simply inscribed "From the King and Queen, Buckingham Palace, 3rd February." The wreaths of the. Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Henry, and other Royalties were likewise all poppies, and others included the King of Italy's. Marshal Foch's and Marshal Petai'n's. The Hungarian military attache placed a wreath on behalf of 'the Hungarian army. The German Embassy had. its flag at half-mast from sunrise to sunset.

PAGEANT WATCHED BY OVER A MILLION PEOPLE

The simple character of the family service was typified by Mr Fleming's prayer: "Almighty God, most heartily we give Thee thanks for Thy good and valiant servant, now mourned for his patience and steadfastness, great gifts as a soldier, simplicity, courage, loyalty, patriotism, constant self-forgetfulness, and care for others. We give Thee thanks that Thou didst raise.him up in the time of the nation's and the Empire's extremity of peril as our leader and deliverer. * Finally, we praise Thee for his constant remembrance of those stricken in war, wherefor he laboured to the last hour, sparing not himself, but ever mindful of them." It is estimated that over a million watched the pageant of poignant memories leave St. Columba's for the Abbey. Mounted men slowly drew the gun-car-riage, the pall-bearers followed, Marshals Foch and Retain in long light blue coats and red and gold- caps, Marshal Foch still- alert and keen-eyed, but perceptibly greyer. Field-Marshal Methuen, despite his 82 years, marched with alert, firm step, though his head was sadly bowed. The Field-Marshals' plumed hats waved in the breeze, and bursts of sunshine gleamed on their swords. Admirals Earl Beatty and Earl Jellicoe were together in naval blue, Sir Hugh Trenchard in Royal Air Force blue. Then came the saddest scene, Sergeant Secrett, leading Haig's old charger, and following sorrowfully in the wake of the gun-car-riage. He walked with military bearing, but clearly this last tribute to his old master was almost unbearable. The Prince of Wales was in the full dress uniform of a colonel of the Welsh Guards, the Duke of York, and Prince Henry followed, then Prince Arthur and other" representatives of Royalty. After them came the. family mourners tophatted. The war veterans, proudly displaving medals and also the poppy, included the Old Contemptibles, who carried a red, white, and blue banner, draped in black. The university representatives, academically robed, were led by officers of ■ three fighting services. The representatives of the colonies followed.

IMPRESSIVE SECTION One of the most impressive sections, was a big contingent of British Legion-; aries, carrying magnificent poppy 1 wreaths, inscribed "For Remembrance." The French detachment wore light blue overcoats, with' grey shell helmets, black haversacks, carrying their rifles reversed. The little Belgians were in khaki with helmets, a striking contrast to the towering Guardsmen in the vivid dress of gold, blue, and red with white gauntlets. The Seventeenth and Twenty-first Lancers, known as the "Death or Glory Boys," led the procession in full dress of dark blue, with white facings and plastrons, Haig's favourite uniform. Meanwhile, within the Abbey, awaiting the arrival of the procession, the scenes were very impressive in dignity and beauty. The reserved areas were filled with the nation's eminent personages and distinguished representatives of foreign Powers in diplomatic uniforms. lifiide the Abbey the vast congregation represented the Empire, and including almost the entire Cabinet, with other statesmen, hundreds of officers and diplomats representatives of almost every nation'on earth. They stood reverently while the coffin was borne past the Unknovvji Warrior's grave amid the strains'" of Chopin's March, toward the choir. The congregation were mostly in mourning black, but a wealth of Haig poppies relieved the sombre hues. The widow with a daughter on either side stood in loneliness at the foot of the coffin, but nearby grouped themselves the Princes, and pall-bearers. The service proceeded with all the beauty associated with Abbey memoriams. The pipers raised the lament from the silenre; then came the bugles. Finally. "Onward, Christian Soldiers," sung with impressive volume, gave the service a concluding note of triumph.

PROCESSION TO WATERLOO

STATION

(By Electric Telegraph-Copyright) (Australian & N.Z Cable Association)

LONDON, 3rd February. When the body of the late Earl Huig left London, the Guards and other regiments lined the route to Waterloo Railway Station, and the procession resumeil the journey while massed bands played funeral marches throughout. When the escort slow marched with reversed arms the troops lining the route, leaned upon their rifles with bowed beads. Most of the journey to the Abbev "'as covered ,<it a quick march owing to the distance. lint from Westminster Abbey the funeral was accorded the impressive and time-honoured Army Ritual. The coffin was borne to the funeral van by eight Scots Guards, under a ser ger.nl, who took up their places as the Princes entered the van and gave tlio Empire's farewell salute. As the train quietlv started out of the station Princes

and pall-bearers saluted, and the band played Chopin's "Funeral March." Two train carriages wen| filled with wreaths. , "MEANEST THEFT IN HISTORY" LONDON, 3rd February. Perhaps the meanest theft in history was perpetrated immediately after Earl Haig's funeral cortege left the house at Stamford Hill. Two men told a maid they had come to get the coffin trestles, and departed minus these, but ransacked the bedroom and took cash and jewellery amounting to £l3O.