AIR CRASH VICTIMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21293, 21 September 1932, Page 9

AIR CRASH VICTIMS

IMPRESSIVE FUNERALS

FLIERS' SALUTE OVERHEAD

DECEASED'S FORMER FRIENDS

By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Received September 20, 9.15 p.m.)

SYDNEY, Sept. 20

The funerals took place to-day of Captain Leslie Holden and Dr. G. R. Hamilton, two of the victims of the flying tragedy near Bangalow on Monday. They were most impressive.

A memorial service was held in the Sydney Church of England Grammar School, of which the two victims named were old boys. Many carloads of beautiful wreaths were sent, which later were transferred to the city Cenotaph.

There was an enormous crowd of spectators. Eighteen aeroplanes flew in formation over Rookwood Cemetery, where the cremation was carried out. The pilots of the machines were former close friends of the dead airmen and they all dipped in salute.

The officiating clergyman, Canon Howard Lea, in paying a tribute to the deceased, said: " These two men had beautiful modesty. Captain Holden, in particular, was a very gallant man who had made a wonderful conquest of tho air."

Canon Lea said he remembered Dr. Hamilton once saying: "Yes, aviation is dangerous, but there is no progress without danger." The third victim, Mr. Ralph Virtue, was buried }'csterday at Lismoie, his home town.

There now seeins to be no doubt that the left wing of the aeroplane was badly damaged before the accident. A farmer who saw the crash said he noticed a portion of the wing fall to the ground before the pilot tried to land.

CEEW OF CANBEEBA

ONE SURVIVOR LEFT TRAGEDIES OF OTHERS (Received September 20, 11.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 20 The airmen's funerals to day tragically recalled the fact that of the crew of four (Captain Holden, Dr. Hamilton and Messrs. Mitchell and Stannagc) of the air liner Canberra who found the Kingsford Smith-Win party in north-west Australia in April, 1929, only one'is now alive, namely, the radio operator, Mr. Stnnnnge, who resides at Adelaide. Mr. Mitchell was. killed on June 16 in an experimental flight in a monoplane specially built for crossing the lasman to New Zealand.