THE FUNERAL TRAIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 29 January 1936, Page 5

THE FUNERAL TRAIN

ARRIVAL AT WINDSOR SIGNS OF DEEPEST HOMAGE EVERYWHERE (Received 29th January, 10.10 a.in.) LONDON, 28th January The deep booming of the great Sebastopol bell reverberated through the countryside as the funeral train drew into the platform at Windsor station. The old town has never seen such crowds as were gathered from far and wide to pay their last homage to their beloved sovereign who had adopted the name of Windsor for his family. The green slopes beneath the grey walls of the castle afforded a superb view of the magnificent cortege winding ils slow way up the hill from the station. The streets were draped in purple and black. Sorrow seemed, if indeed it were possible, deeper even than in London, as, like the villagers of Sandringham, the 'inhabitants of the small town of Windsor came to know the Royal Family well and to regard them as personal friends. Inside tile gates of the castle and a great part of the route was lined by members of the Officers’ Training Corps from schools and universities, including Oxford. Cambridge, and Eton. On the way to Windsor the funeral train everywhere met signs of deepest homage. Every station was crowded with people standing in silent reverence, and every building displayed flags at half-mast. The great shunting yards normally noisy with activity were deserted. The cortege moved from Windsor at 1.15. The leading escort were Guardsmen in long red cloaks. The sun glittered on their helmets and drawn swords. The Sebastopol bell continued tolling solemnly 101 times and the booming of guns marked the passage of minutes. TWO MINUTES’ SILENCE The> late arrival of the procession led to a misunderstanding concerning the two minutes’ silence which was arranged to synchronise with the actual moment that the coffin was lowered into the vaults. The minute guns continued and no signal was received that the silence was begun. The olficers commanding the Guardsmen lining the route were forced to make a quick decision and sharply ordered their men to attention. The crowds correctly interpreted this as a sign that the silence had begun and reverently observed it while the procession continued on the way to the castle. A number, however, were not aware that the period of silence had begun.

THE KING A PATHETIC FIGURE

Tlie King looked haggard as he walked ,witli hands clasped and bowed head, and his boots stained with mud. No one could fail to be impressed by tiie pathos of the scene. The cortege entered through the George TV. gateway of the castle, steeped in age and old in tradition, crossed the great quadrangle near the state apartments where King George had entertained so many Ascot parties, and thence passed round the tower where Edward Ills' founded the Order of the Garter in 13*19. When the guh carriage, drew up to the steps of St. George’s chapel two bosuns and eight, bosuns’ mates piped “the Admiral over the side.” The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishop of Winchester and the Dean of Windsor stood by to receive the coffin. “ADMIRAL ABOARD’’ As it was borne across the threshold the - bosuns’ pipes spread the tidings “Admiral aboard.” The faces of many naval officers twitched with emotion at the simple intimation that the King and Admiral was at last at rest. ROWS OF GREAT PERSONAGES The navy’s duty done the church received the coffin which was borne through the nave past rows of great personages. King Edward, limping slightly, looked neither to the left nor the right, except for an occasional glance at his mother, who, white faced but composed, walked on his right hand. Behind them came the King and Queen of Norway, then the Duke of York, the Duke of Kent and the Duke of Gloucester, followed by Princess Elizabeth between the Duchess of York and the Duchess of Gloucester. King George’s grandsons walked with the Princess Royal, both wearing tartan kilts in which their grandfather loved to see them. Foreign Kings, princes and statesmen followed in a close procession which filled the whole nave. ■ ‘‘THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD” The coffin was reverently lowered on to the purple and gold bier, the Royal Standard with the Imperial crown, orb and sceptre was lifted off, disclosing bare wood covered with pure white wreaths. The King took up a position at the head of the coffin facing the altar, with the Queen *t his right, and the Royal Family grouped behind them, standing motionless as the choir began the hymn “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

QUEEN MAGNIFICENT IN HER RESTRAINT

The King glanced now and agai'n at the high fan roof blazoned with badges of bygone kings and knights. __ His eye travelled along the stalls of Knights of the Garter. The Queen was motionless with bowed head, not showing signs oi her great grief. She was queenly magnificent m her restraint. It was on the Queen’s instructions that King George’s favourite hymn “Abide With Me” was included in the service. So the service proceeded until the gentle voice of the Archbishop of Canterbury, clad in a cape of dark purple and silver, intoned, “In the midst of life we are in death.” The King moved forward, touching Ins mother’s arm. Every heart seemed to stop beating An officer of the Grenadier Guards stepped forward and offered the King a silver casket from which he took earth from consecrated ground at the royal Burial place at Froginore and sprinined it upon the coffin. Slowly and silently the coffin began to sink and the King stopped back. Mother and son smiled at each other as though in comfort. Iron though the Queen’s self-control was she was not allowed to stand alone while her son was scattering the earth. The Queen of Norway moved up to her side until her son rejoined her. TOUCH OF MEDIAEVAL PAGEANTRY The Archbisiiop of York prayed for the spirit of the dead King, then with a touch of mediaeval pageantry the Garter Principal King-of-Arms _ pronounced for the last time on earth King George s sonorous titles. Whe'n tlie last echo died he acclaimed the new Sovereign Lord Edward VIII.. concluding with “God Save the King. The service was now almost ended. The choir sang the song of St. Francis

“God Be In My Head,” I he Archbishop of Canterbury pronounced the lienediclion uml slowly and reverently the King escorted his mother, followed by the rest of the Royal family, into the sunlight. Behind rested the remains of King George V. WREATHS FROM ROYAL FAMILY On tho coffin were the colours of the Grenadier Guards, four wreaths—King Edward’s circlet of white flowers, a cross of white and crimson carnations from (he Queen, and tributes from King George’s other children and from the King and Queen of Norway. Tho congregation reverently lowered their eyes as They passed the vault and they too filed into the sunshine away from the last resting place of a monarch, loved by his people and honoured by the whole world.

PERFUME OF FLOWERS The air in the vicinity of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, was drenched in the perfume of flowers which had been sent from sorrowing subjects and foreign rulers and peoples, and were massed all round the inner and outer walls of the cloisters. The service in the chapel was broadcast and reports already received indicate that it was clearly heard in distant parts of tlio Empire, in many of which it was re-broadcast. As the committal words were spoken by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the coffin sank below the chapel floor the sound could be beard of the earth being sprinkled upon it by King Edward.

SIII2NCE THAT WAS OVERWHELMING

As the coffin reached the west door the shrill notes of the boatswain’s pipes sounded the signals His Majesty bad so often heard when visiting the IHeet, ‘’Admiral coming alongside, quickly followed by the leave-taking signal as the coffin was borne off to the west dooi of the chapel on the shoulders of six magnificent Guardsmen, Scottish pipers meantime repeating the lament, “Flowers of the Forest.” The assemblage at the chapel had sprung to its feet and assumed a silence that was overwhelming. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s rich, cultured tones, “I am the Resurrection and the Life” initiated the choral chant at the end of the nave aisle. Then another of those unrehearsed beautiful effecls of song which gave the touchstone to the whole service, the boyish choristers’ voices ag they emerged from the outer spaciousness through the narrow passage into the chapel proper, seemed to triumphantly acclaim, “Yet shall lie live.”

QUEEN MARY AND THE KING Throughout the service Queen Mary stood close to Edward VIII, her gaze fixed on the bier. She bore herself with queen-like courage, though showing traces of a week’s weariness. King Edward showed her the tenderest attention, assisting her up the choir steps and giving Loth hands to steady her steps. When departing it was noticed that the King’s eyes and cheeks were showing signs of the intense strain he has undergone in the space of a few days, but to the last moment his was a mind alert on detail and forethought. in thFchapel A MOVING HALRHOUR REPRESENTATIVE WORLD-WIDE GATHERING (Received 29th January, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, 28th January. The Australian Associated Press special correspondent at tile service says that all that the kingly simplicity of faith about which the .Archbishop of Canterbury broadcast so eloquently and fittingly was invested in the moving half-hour m St. George’s Chapel, when the late King’s remains were committed to the vaults of the House of Windsor. The beautiful nave was filled at noon by probably the _ most representative world-wide gathering that ever assembled for a Royal burial. Every stall in the chapel beneath the rich heraldic emblems 'fas filled with Knights of the Garter, accompanied, by their heavily veiled ladies Indeed the veiling of the ladies and the cloaking of naval and military uniforms suppressed the unequalled riot of colour that would otherwise have predominated. ■ The sun shone unchallenged through the magnificent stained glass windows with almost spring-like brilliance,, taking the glint of colour from the Knights’ banners overhead and shedding a touch of warmth on the gilded royal and purple bier from which later the remains were to pass to the vaults below. RETURN OF ROYAL MOURNERS VAST CROWDS IN STREETS AMBULANCE MEN BUSY (Received 29th January, 11.30 a.in.) LONDON, 28th January. Members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade dealt with 700 cases in the funeral crowd. One' died en route to hospital. Thousands gathered in the vicinity of Paddington station to watch the return of the royal mourners. The train which had taken the remains of King George to Windsor arrived back at 3.22 p.m. The King and Queen Mary were the first to alight and went to Buckingham Palace by car. Other cars took Princess Elizabeth and a succession of royalties and distinguished mourners.

Another vast crowd waited at the Palace and surged, forward for a glimpse of Their Majesties It was noted that King Edward and Queen Mary looked pale and tired. The crowd was sympathetically silent. King Edward shortly after drove out alone to St. James’s Palace. Women and even men wept .without shame during the two minutes’ silence in which London seemed stilled even more impressively than on Armistice Day ..owing to the ten of thousands everywhere congregated. Large crowds assembled outside St. Paul’s. Trafalgar Square was packed with thousands standing shoulder to shoulder. The crowds were so dense outside the Mansion House that it was impossible to move. Similar scenes were witnessed at the Marble Arch and other important points.

WORLD-WIDE MOURNING

SERVICES IN CHIEF TOWNS

STRANGE ONE AT ADDIS ABABA

LONDON, 27th January. Telegrams from foreign capitals indicate world-wide mourning. France closed schools and ordered two minutes’ Silence in theatres. Germany cancelled the broadcasting of dance music, Belgium closed the bourses, Greece closed all schools and mourning services wore generally arranged.

The King of Italy, Signor Mussolini, and King Alfonso, attended a memorial service to King George in the English Church of All Saints’ with Government officials, the diplomatic corps and 24 “cousins” of the King of Italy, namely, members of the Order of Annunziata, of which King George was a member. Two thrones were plac-

] od near Ibe altar for King Victor Em- | nianuel and King Alfonso. I Large crowds lined the route to All 1 Saints’ Church where a battalion of 1 infantry provided a guard of honour and a military band played the English and Italian National Anthems. The. infantry saluted on the King’s arrival with "Signor .Mussolini and Sir Eric Drummond, British Ambassador. Another memorial service was held at a Roman Catholic church. At Copenhagen the mourning was unprecedented for a foreign monarch. The Government permitted the British and Danish Hags to be flown together at half-mast throughout the capital. Ine Queen, Crown Prince and other Royalties Government officials, Diplomats and the British Colony, attended a memorial service in the English Church at Alexandria. Thousands of all nationalities attended a memorial service on the cricket ground behind the British Consulate, the largest available space at Alexandria, where offices were closed and general mourning observed. At Paris, public and private buildings were heavily draped with, black, and British business premises closed. The national network, relayed Sir Jehu Simon’s speech from London. The French described King Edward VIII as “Tho greatest traveller of all heads of States in our epoch. His sentiments o! friendship ’.award France are so well known that there will be. many beyond his own subjects who will repeat ‘God Save the King’ ” At Addis Ababa the black-draped British Legation was the scene of one of the strangest services. Sikh guards stood motionless on each side of the altar as a British pastor conducted the service, which was attended by the Crown Prince, many Abyssinian officials and practically overv member of the British Co 1 -uv'. The service ended wi f .- the “Last Post” and “Reveille.” All Government offices were closed.

OBSERVANCE IN FRANCE

(Received 29th January, 11.40 a.m.) PARIS, 28th Januavr. An eye-witness stationed at Big Ben tower described the procession by radio throughout France, theatres, cinemas and business places all observing the two minutes silence. MEMORIAL SERVICE AT VENICE (Received 29th January, 1.40 p.m.) VENICE, 28th January. The English cherch St. George was especially re-opened for the memorial service, gondoliers serving English families being dressed in black, and the gondolas draped. •IL DUCE ATTENDS SERVICE AT ROME (Received 29th January, 11.40 a.m.) ROME, 28th January ._ II Duce stood throughout the service at which Marshal De Bono was present. A special prayer was called for peace and goodwill throughout the world. KING OF THE HELLENES ATHENS, 28th January. The King of the Hellenes was among the mourners at the English Church. IN GERMANY

(Received 29th January, 11.40 a.m.) BERLIN, 28th January. The ex-Crown Prince and Princess, Prince August Wilhelm and the exKing of Bulgaria, attended a memorial service at St. George’s church. Herr Hitler, General Goermg and Dr. Goebbels were present. A detachment of secret police was seated at the back of the pews and guarded Hitler, whom Sir Eric and Lady Phipps received at the church. Black and brown Nazi uniforms were prominent. Almost the whole of the diplomatic corps, including the Italian and Soviet Ambassadors, were present. The service was broadcast throughout Germany, likewise the detailed broadcast of the London ceremonies. . There were so many official mourners at the English church that only a few members of the British colony were able to fmd places, consequently the service is being repeated later. A flag parade was held in naval liarhours. The British flag was hoisted at the masthead of warships while the German flag was flown at hall-mast. German warships not in’ home waters observed the same ceremony. Ashore the swastika was half-masted on public and private buildings.

SALUTE FIRED FROM CITADEL

(Received 29th January, 11.40 a.m.) ■ CAIRO, 28th January. The funeral brought a lull to the political crisis. A salute was fired from the citadel.

I MINUTE GUNS AT GIBRALTAR (Received 29th January, 11.40 a.rn.) GIBRALTAR, 28th January. Seventy minute guns from the tnaval fortress began the mourning in which Spaniards and other foreigners joined. IN INDIA (Received 29th January, 11.40 a.m.) ■ BOMBAY, 28th January. To-day was eerily quiet. The hubbub of streets and bazaars was silenced, and amusements were closed. (Received 29th January, 11.65 a.m.) CALCUTTA, 28th January. Tlie extent to which the King Emperor was above politics was demonstrated by the orderliness with which rival sects carried out their own ceremonies. Moslem processions through the bazaars were accompanied by mullahs chanting prayers. CALCUTTA. 28tlv January. Memorial services' were held in churches, temples and mosques throughout India Moslems and Hindus gathered in two vast assemblies and prayed according to their respective rites for the repose oi the soul of the King Killperor. SIKHS’ UNUSUAL TRIBUTE LAHORE, 27th January. Sikhs, who have recently been defying Government orders regarding the wearing of swords and daily courting arrest, have suspended activities foi one clay in honour of King George. IN JAPAN (Received 29th January. 11.55 a.m.) TOKIO, 28th January. Prince and Princess Takamatsu, representing the Emperor and Empress, attended a service at the English church. DOMINION OF CANADA (Received 29th January, 1.10 p.m.) OTTAWA, 28th January. Muffled strokes of the great hell of Parliament Hill tower on Tuesday signalled the beginning of the observances throughout tlx Dominion of mourning for King George. Throughout the country all Government and private businesses were stilled and theatres closed, while special religious services and parades and other observances were held. A two minute silence was observed at 1.30 p.m. across the Dominion. At 3 p.m. guns boomed a seventy gun salute. The Governor-General, Lord Tweedsmuir, and the Prime Minister, Mr Mac-

By special arrangement Reuter’s world Service in addition to other special sources of information is used in the enmnilatinn of the oversea* intelligence -MibliolipJ in thie issue sF riJV‘ therein in Australia and New Zealand are reserved.

Kenzie King, led the country in religious services at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, and later at ceremonies of the Canadian Legion.

AUSTRALIAN SERVICES SYDNEY, 27th January. Memorial services were held throughout Australia to-day, citizens in every walk of life paying their last tribute to the dead King. Two minutes’ silence were observed at noon in all States and all forms of traffic ceased. The national memorial service at Parliament House, Canberra, was attended by the Governor-General, Lord Cowrie and Lady Gowrie, Ministers and members of Parliament. A united service, led by Archbishop Mowll and held at the Sydney Domain, drew an enormous crowd. A choir of 400 voices and massed bands participated. GREATEST DAYOF MOURNING WORLD HAS EVER SEEN OR HEARD MILLIONS OF SPECTATORS AND LISTENERS (Received 29th January, 1.10 p.m.) LONDON, 28tli January. This was the greatest day of mourning the world has ever seen or heard, 200,000,000 listeners, apart from millions of spectators whose eyes were dimmed by what they witnessed, learning in many tongues but in one language of the sorrow and reverence of the majestic panorama attending the burial of the King Emperor. The throngs far exceeded those assembled for the funeral of Edward VII and the Silver Jubilee celebrations. Soldiers and constables were actually knocked down at the Marble Arch owing to the involuntary invasion of the fairway by the irresistible pressure of thousands who failed not only to reach their purchased seats but even the route itself. A POIGNANT SCENE Contrary to the earlier reports, the queue at Westminster Hall was not stopped when the Royal visitors entered, thougli the latter were detained as they were using the entrance used by the Royal party. The Queen gave special instructions tlmt the visit should not interfere with the constant (low of general mourners. The Royal visitors saw, the changing of the Guards, and saw the cavalcade of the Empire’s grief. Finally there was a poignant scene as Queen Mary, at the exit, took a last vjew of the catafalque. A few minutes before her arrival Mr David Lloyd George was seen leading a little ■ child by the hand. MANY PEOPLE COLLAPSE By 8 p.m. ever 153,000 people had passed the catafalque since 7 a.m. Despite the drenching rain, the evening queue was not shortened. Many people collapsed owing to waiting for hours without meals. The average time taken from people joining the queue to their entrance to the hall in the afternoon was 4f hours. King Edward will not broadcast tomorrow evening, as was at first thought possible. The matter is still being considered. Sixteen foreign countries will relay the funeral services from St. George’s Chapel and also the English commentator’s story. Six other countries, including Italy and Japan, are sending their own commentators to broadcast in their own languages. Altogether twelve additional countries will be served. EARLY ARRIVALS With intermittent showers of rain falling and a forecast to-morrow of fair weather in the early morning ancl rain towards noon, people were already clustering to-night in Whitehall and along other sections of the route through London to pay a final tribute as King George passes for the last time through the capital. Among the first to take up a position was a woman who had just spent five hours in the queue for the lying in state. The obsequies will be heralded by the boom of Big Ben, which will be tolled seventy times, at intervals of a minute. It will be thus used for the first time since the funeral of King Edward VII. Its strokes will synchronise, with the salute of seventy guns to be fired by the Royal Horse Artillery in St. James’s Park. THE FINAL RITES The final rites will occupy four hours from the time the cortege moves from Westminster Hall at 9.45 a.m. The procession will pass before the Cenotaph, and thence through the Horae Guards, past Marlborough House, and then along St. James Street to Piccadilly, and Hyde Park Comer, which will be reached at 10.45 a.m. Thus the coffin will traverse thoroughfares along which King George frequently drove on State occasions and on many of which lie;saw the triumph of his Jubilee and biiithday processions. The cortege will then! enter Hyde Park and pass along Edgware road, arriving at 11.45 a.m. at Paddington Station, which will also be draped in Ifiaclc and purple.

ROYALTIES AT THE PALACE LONDON, 27th January. The party of Royalties at Buckingham .’Pai.no included, besides Queen Mary, the King and Queen of Norway and'Prince Olaf, the King of Denmark, the King of the Belgians, Prince Axel of Denmark, the Duke arid Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Frederick of Prussia. Prince George and Prince Nicholas of Greece, the Count of Flanders, the- w Crown Prince of Italy, and the Princess ■ Royal and Lord Harewoocl. QUEEN MAKES WREATH WITH HELP OF GARDENER LONDON, 27th January. . The “Daily Telegraph” learns that ,] the Queen herself made, with the help o: a gardener, the first wreath placed on King George’s coffin for the journey from Sandringham House to the church. The Queen lias since sent a new floral tribute daily to Westminster Hall. Yesterday’s wreath was made to the Queen’s design from flowers gathered in the hothouses at Sandringham and Windsor. GREAT OUTBURSTS OF LOYALTY IN SOUTHERN IRELAND LONDON, 27th January. The Cork correspondent of “The Times” says that, the greatest outburst of loyalty in Southern Ireland since before the war was seen when a picture of King Edward VIII was thrown on a cinema screen, all spectators • cheering after having respectfully viewed scenes of the taking of the late King’s body to London. All pictures of Royalty had previously been banned. TYPICAL THOUGHTFULNESS OF QUEEN MOTHER LONDON. 27th Jamiarv. Ou°en Mary found time, in the midst V her <mef to send a message to Mr Kennnrb'v Romford expressing sincere sympathy at the death of Dame Clara Reft. . Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice similarly communicated with him.