TOLLING BELLS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 39, 25 January 1936, Page 5

TOLLING BELLS

Large Crowds Line Route of

Cortege.

PARLIAMENT SQUARE TIGHTLY PACKED. Press Association —Copyright. London, Jan 23.

The cortege threaded its way through the unbroken reverent human avenlie, orderly as usual, except at Tavistock Square Gardens, where the assemblage was so dense that the police had to link arms to prevent an overflow from the pavement. Many women were carried out fainting.

The throng was the same all the way to Trafalgar Square, where the scene was unforgettable, being such a contrast to the multitudes usually gathered there on occasions of rejoicing. The hush was absolute, and a solid mass of humanity stretched right back to the steps of the National Gallery.

Appropriately enough, the crowd was thickest at Whitehall, notably around the Cenotaph, where His Majesty so often made his act of homage.

Eig Ben heralded the punctual arrival of the cortege at Westminster Palace Yard at four o’clock, the Royal Standard simultaneously breaking out at halfmast from the flagstaff on St. Stephens’ Tower.

Yeomen of the Guard in mediaeval uniforms and a guard of honour of fifty each from the Guardsmen and Royal Marines were mounted in the palace yard. One entrance was flanked by Westminster school buys with gowned and mortar-boarded masters. Parliament Square has never been tighter packed. Ten minutes before the cortege arrived, the Archbishop of Canterbury attended Chaplains’ Court. Officers entered Westminster Hall and took their stand at the door, attendants lit the four great caudles at the four corners of the catafalque, and a solemn hush fell on the grert assembly, broken only by the tolling of bells and the faint sound of commands from the officers outside. At the Abbey.

The bells of the Abbey were tolling as j the cortege entered the yard, where the king, walked slightly in the rear of the Duke of York and the Duke of Gloucester, glanced around at the crowds. The Guards dipped tire King’s colours as the coffin was lifted from the. gun-car-riage to the door of Westminster Hall, where it, was received by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Earl Marshal the Duke cf Norfolk and the First Commissioner of Works. Mr. W. Ormsby-Gore. The Duke of Norfolk, raising his wand of office, commanded the opening of the doors. The Archbishop of Canterbury put on a purple skull cap and passed through to receive the coffin, which was placed on the catafalque. King Edward, the Queen and other Royal mourners took up a position at the head of the coffin, with heralds standing on either side

It was later disclosed that the vibration of the gun carriage passing through London caused a loosening of the Maltese cross, jewelled with valuable Indian stones, which surmounted the Crown. The cross eventually fell to the road, where it was picked up by an officer in the procession. One cf the Court jewellers was hastily summoned and repaired the damage a few seconds before the service started in Westminster Hall.