ARMISTICE DAY IN LONDON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 15 November 1937, Page 9

ARMISTICE DAY IN LONDON

IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY AX ALBERT HALL THEIR MAJESTIES ATTEND I British Official Wirelessi RUGBY, 12th Novemoer. The Armstice Day celebrations reached their climax with a great Festival of Empire and Remembrance, organised by the British Legion, at the Albert Hall. Their Majesties with Queen Mary were accorded a tumultuous reception by ten thousand ex-servicemen and women. The whole of the audience, including the King and Queen, joined in the singing of choruses popular during the Great War as the Legion standards were borne down the centre of the hall. A long procession epitomising all branches of the services at Home and overseas followed, amid resounding cheers. The proceedings then took the form of a solemn service of remembrance for the fallen. Lights were lowered and following the singing of hymns Polish Your Floors Polish Your Floors With POLIFLOR With POLIFLOR kPOLIFLOR is made by the makers of “Nugget” Boot Polishes—therefore it’s good.

and an anthem the Last Post was sounded. As its Anal note faded General Sir Frederick Maurice spoke Binyon’s lines “They Shall Not Grow Old.” From the ceiling 1,104,894 poppy petals—one for each of the Empire’s dead—shimmered to the crimson floor as the next hymn was sung in hushed tones. An impressive service concluded with the singing of “Abide With Me,” in which the King and Queen and the Queen Mother joined. PARIS INCIDENT CANON DART AND DUKE OF WINDSOR LONDON, 12th November. The Bishop of Fulham has requested a report from Canon Dart, vicar of St George’s in Paris, explaining the Armistice Day incident in connection with the Duke of Windsor. “Apparently,” he said, "Canon Dart’s remarks were meant to be private and therefore 1 do not expect that action or comments from me are necessary.” When it was announced that the Duke was to attend the service in his church Canon Dart was reported as saying: “1 would rather that the Duke of Windsor did not attend the service. 1 am glad of all he did in the war. but the attitude of the Church to divorce and remarriage is very definite. Marriage mly ends before God when it is ended by death. The

Duke comes to my church because he was once on the Throne. I have given him the best seats I can, tut 1 will not speak to him. An official of the British Legion will take him to his seat, and he will go out with the Legion.” Shortly before the service Canon Dart said: “I have informed the Duke’s equerry that I did not authorise the statement attributed to me. If the Duke had attended the service he would have been received by me and the congregation with all the respect due to the King’s brother. The last thing I wished to do was publicly to insult a man unable to defend himself. 1 wish to take his opportunity of apologising publicly to the Duke.” The Duke did not attend.