EMPIRE PILGRIMAGE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19196, 12 June 1924, Page 11

EMPIRE PILGRIMAGE.

ty; visit the war graves. THE ST. BARNABAS ORGANISATION. ' A ROUGH JOURNEY. ,Teom Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON. May S. Last, week-end 753 pilgrims from all part* of Great Britain set out hi one party to France to visit the gi-aves of their relatives. This is the third such pilgrimage that Inn* been organised by the St. Barnabas Hostels, winch, in lids larger movement is known a* the bt. Barnabas lilgnmage Fund. On thia occasion the object was to attract a great many people front the dominions, but it wa* evident that .‘ominion visitors have the time and tho inclination to make the journey to the cemeteries in greater comfort, tor the representation from overseas was not large. New Zealand, however, was represented by the Rev. Frank Dunnage (Chris-tcliuichl, who had been helping the Rev. M. Ivlullineus, M.C., iu the work of organisation. Mis*. Hanlon, of the High Commissioner’s staff, was one of the 'party lenders. • Even when the .pilgrims assembled on iha Victoria Station it was evident tney wero '. not going to have a happy voyage. ’iho day. had been wet and the wind had been tempestuous. Everything was organised on. military lines by Major H. Cook, and every group of 20 or so who were to visit graves in the same districts were under a leader _whose badge of office was a wend, at the end of which was a, placard bearing the group number, plain for all to see. The special trains leit Victoria about 10 o clock at bight after everyone had been provided with tea and biscuits. On arrival at Folkstono no movement was made until about G o’clock, thus enabling the people to get some sleep. Then the crossing commenced. It was one of the worst that the Channel can provide, but those who had never' been to Fiance before gained some idea of the conditions under which their brothers and sons and husbands went over to the battlefields in tho old day's, Tho majority of tho pilgrims were not eldoriy people and could take no harm from the rough handling they were subjected to. But some were well on in years. Their courage under the unpleasant conditions was remarkable. Five hundred of tho pilgrims were ill, but when they arrived at Boulogne they cheered up wonderfully, and found comfort in a thoroughly good breakfast in the buffet on tire wharf. SERVICE AT TEELINCTHUN. All the motor lorries of Boulogne were in readiness to convey the pilgrims to the ■ Terlincthun Cemetery, on the top of tho Boulogne cliffs, half-way to Wimereux. A detachment of the Royal Engineers, especially detailed from Chatham, was waiting at the cemetery entrance. Colonel Goodland. Deputy-Controller of the Imperial War Graves Commission in France, was also there with many of his staff. The sun was shining fitfully and a strong wind was blowing from the sea-. After entering the cemetery in procession, the pilgrims massed round the Stone of Remembrance to join in a religious service. With shawls and travelling rugs on their shoulders, the congregation stood or knelt among the graves and between the lines of white regimental headstones. The Rev. H. L. C. de Candolo Canon of Westminster, gave an address. Holy Communion was celebrated, and as far a.a possible the communicants were representatives of the different countries of the Empire A message from (ho Prince of Wales was read. These were his words; “It is with feelings of deep sympathy and yet profound satisfaction that I have heard of this first plgrimage of relatives from all parts of the Empire to the resting places of their honoured dead in France and Flanders. V‘ lien I visited the war cemeteries last spring I found a spirit of love and devotion underlying the work of the Imperial War Graves . Commission, of which it is my privilege to be president. “ Tha t is one reason why I am glad that (his pilgrimage has been arranged, for I know that all those who take part in it will find consolation in the atmosphere of peace, beauty, and permanent security in which, the graves are being surrounded.” Some few of the pilgrims found their relatives’ graves in the Terlincthun Cemetery, but the remainder took special trains from. Boulogne and Wimereux, and were conveyed to such centres as Amiens, Arras, and Bethune. Lorries were waiting at. these stations, and the parties were taken to the cemeteries they wished to visit. By the this time rain had settled in, and the day was cold and unpleasant. Nevertheless, everyone of the 753 pilgrims had the opportunity to sec the grave he bad come so far to visit. Custodians of the cemeteries had been prepared beforehand, and were able to conduct the visitors directly to the special graves. ONLY ONE MISHAP. Towards evening the trains bearing tho pilgrims converged on Boulogne again. There had been only one mishap. Five had missed their train at Arras, and by taking a moior car they arrived just before their bout sailed for England, Just before embarking a brief service was held, and an address was' given by an accomplished Parse© gentleman, who is on a lecturing, lour of England. Like so many of his follow-countrymon, he was a master of classical English, and in the five minutes alloled to him he gave an address which was a masterpiece in tho choice of language and substance. The journey back to Folkestone was unpleasant. but tho tempestuous seas had somewhat abated since the morning. At Folkestone the pilgrims boarded well-heated trains, and bed four or five hours of cteep before making the jonriwy up to London. Even to the very end the perfection of organisation was maintained, lor at Victoria a good hot breakfast was awaiting the travellers, and before 8 o'clock on the Monday morning they were all ready to set out on their homeward journeys or to return to work. Some days before the pilgrimage an appeal made by the Duchess of Atlioll was broadcast throughout Grdtit Britain, and had a very satisfactory effect. A newspaper editor of Birmingham, on hearing the appeal, immediately sent a cheque for a hundred guineas, and many 'Others responded with lesser amounts.