BURIAL OF VICTIMS OF CRASH

Southland Times, Issue 23140, 5 March 1937, Page 7

BURIAL OF VICTIMS OF CRASH

SERVICE IN POURING RAIN (Received May 4, 10.30 p.m.) BRISBANE, March 4. In torrential rain which made it difficult for the 24 persons present to keep their feet on the steep mountain slope, the remains of the two pilots and the two passengers killed in the disaster to the Stinson air-liner on February 19 were buried near the wreck. The service embraced the fifth victim, Mr J. G. Westray, whose body still lay in the gorge below. A sister Stinson plane circled overhead and dropped wreaths through the clouds and rain. A police party went to the spot where Mr Westray was killed, and on their return expressed the opinion that it would be too dangerous to attempt to carry the body down and that it would probably have to be buried where it A later message states that the body of Mr Westray will be interred near the spot where it was found. A headstone will be erected over Mr Westray’s grave on behalf of his widow and relatives in England. The centre of the practically undamaged propeller of the ill-fated Stinson will be inscribed and presented to Mr Bernard O’Reilly, who found the wreck. Those who lost their lives in the disaster were:— MR J. WESTRAY, of Lloyd’s (London). MR ROLAND GRAHAM, manager of Cooke’s (Sydney) Ltd., printers’ supplies. MR W. W. FOUNTAIN, architect, of New York. MR REX BOYDEN, captain and chief pilot.

MR B. G. M. SHEPHERD, first officer and relief pilot.