TWO MILITARY FUNERALS

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 6

TWO MILITARY FUNERALS

Burial Of Victims Of Train Accident BOTH CEREMONIES TOMORROW Troops On Leave To Parade With the exception that there will be no firing party at the graveside Lance- • Corporal James Thomas Nelson and Private George Joseph Sheedy, who were killed in the troop train accident at Edendale on Thursday night, will be buried with full military honours' tomorrow afternoon. Lance-Corporal Nelson will be buried at the Eastern Cemetery and Private Sheedy at the Otautau new cemetery. Members of the special military force at present on leave in Southland have been asked to attend the funeral of Lance-Corporal Nelson and to comprise the guard of honour at the church service at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The band of the First Battalion, Southland Regiment, members of the Southland Territorial Companies and returned soldiers will also take part in the funeral. The band, the territorials and the returned soldiers will join the cortege at Racecourse road. The service at St. Andrew’s Church will be conducted by the Rev. E. Gardiner; Major H. C. Mackenzie will be in charge of the parade; and Lieutenant J. L. Napier will sound “Last Post” and “Reveille” at the cemetery. The funeral will leave St. Andrew’s CJiurch about 3.15 p.m. A detachment of the special force will attend Private Sheedy’s funeral .at Otautau. Bugler E. Hunter, of Invercargill, will sound “Last Post” and “Reveille” at the cemetery. An inquest on the deaths of LanceCorporal Nelson and Private Sheedy was opened before the Coroner (Mr R. C. Abernethy) yesterday. Evidence of identification was given by relations of the men and the inquest was adjourned until Tuesday morning. Private William J. Young, the third member of the special force who was injured in the accident and was later admitted to the Southland hospital was last night stated to be in a satisfactory condition.