THE MEMORIAL SERVICE.
STRIKING SCENES AT FUNERAL. RUGBY, October 10.
Early this morning men of the Royal Air Force took the bodies of their com rades of RlOl from the mortuary to the historic Westminster Hall, and there throughout the day they lay * in state. Silent crowds, in which there were Ministers and ex-Ministers and the p orest members of the community, waited to file past the flower-covered coffins when the hall was opened early in the morning.
LONDON, October 10.
Two hours before the memorial service was commenced at St. Paul’s a long queue waited to gain admission. A dense throng also waited to witness the arrival of the principal mourners. The presence of the Prince of Wales on behalf of his Majesty, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, the members of Cabinet, the dominion delegates to the Imperial Conference, the Ambassadors and other distinguished foreigners testified that the grief was no only national, but world-wide.
The service was broadcast throughout the world, including Germany, by special request.
Thousands of disappointed people remained reverently outside. The traffic was diverted. Mr Forbes, Sir Thomas Sidey, and Sir Thomas Wilford repre-* sented New Zealand.
The service commenced with the National Anthem, and concluded with the “ Dead March.” The “ Last Post ” was: sounded by Air Force buglers. The most poignant touch was a pall draped over the altar. It was the airship’s ensign, which was tattered and charred, but glorious. It had still floated over the shattered skeleton after RlOl plunged to destruction.
The dim light of Westminster Hall, the profound silence, and the motionless figures of the Air Force guar.ds standing' bareheaded with reversed arms combined to make the lying in state of the RlOl victims an impressive scene. Lady Branckcr, one of the first to arrive, passed into the hall with the general public.
The coffins were draped with Union Jacks, and rested almost in a garden of flowers. The hundreds of wreaths included tributes from their Majesties anj other Royalties to the heroes, who lay where the Kings of England have lain in state; indeed, where’ no other commoner but Mr Gladstone has rested. Crowds waited to pay their last respects, the door opening as Big Ben boomed 8 o’clock.
The crowd at Westminster Hall is so great that the authorities are extending the opening till midnight, and may further extend it, as hundreds are still joining the queue, reaching Vauxhall Bridge, Ten thousand people are filing by hourly. Meanwhile the grave diggers are complete ing a grave at Cardington 30ft square.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 26
Word Count
420THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 26
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