OLD SALT’S REQUEST

Southland Times, Issue 21822, 27 September 1932, Page 5

OLD SALT’S REQUEST

UNUSUAL BURIAL PROCEED-

INGS. Melbourne, September 16. Shortly before he died on. August 8, 1929, John Harding, an old sailor, who served with the Victorian Navy, and before that had been bugler to Sir John Fisher (afterwards Lord Fisher) in the Imperial Navy, made a remarkable will. The document has been m possession of the China Contingent Association in Melbourne ever since, and the passage of time now permits it being made public. It is as follows:— “Having passed the allotted span, and feeling that the call will not be long, I forward the following requests to members to carry out after my death: “Do not let any long-faced undertaker grab the last few quid I leave behind. Knock up a box yourselves, and cover with the Union Jack; hire a truck and follow in a couple of taxis, and bury me with my shipmates in our own graves at Fawkner. Stop on the road at the nearest pub and have a drink, for which I leave the sum of £5. I will be waiting outside. Then carry on. When reaching the cemetery ask a sky pilot to say a few words to Our Lord, and ask Him to accept me just as I am. Then when lam secured in the locker get the bugler to sound the ‘Last Post’ as hard as he can, and put another notch in his bugle. 1 leave him £1 for his expenses. After this I request you to proceed back to the club and drink to the memory of your old shipmate and to our next merry meeting on Fiddlers’ Green. (Sgd.) John Harding.” Harding was buried in Fawkner cemetery after his wishes had been carried out to the letter.