MILITARY FUNERAL OF SERGT ARTHUR SCALES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2703, 24 February 1916, Page 9

MILITARY FUNERAL OF SERGT ARTHUR SCALES

If there was dominant"" note 6truck ill the conduct ol' the military fuucral which took piaco in Oxford, when the body of Sergeant Arthur Scales, of the New Zealand Simpers, was laid to rest in Botley Cemelpry, it was, says a \v.riter 'in an English paver, that of Imperialism. The most casual observer could not fail to notice the way in --vhich cons of Britain's hu'-Huntr Umpire gathered "Aether lo render tne last honours to the gallant dead. Tanned .md battlebitten A'ew Zealauders, Australians. Canadians, and others who are recovering from honourable scars, took part in the march from the Base Hospital lo Botle.y In be present at., the solemn and impressive service. The 2Sth Boyal Fusiliers supplied the hand and the escort, and the 135 th and loGth Oxfordshire Heavy Batteries attended at full ilrensth. I have seen only too many funerals leave the Oxford Hospital, but there was something about this latest ono which robbed the usual soene ol' much of its sadness. There was a creat deal that was triumphant about it, a great deal that was' proudly conscious,of patriotism, honour, and Empire, We in academic- Oxford are apt to lose sight of such tilings. On Monday, it was not so, and one felt instinctively that it was common knowledge that we were assisting pt the final rites in honour of ono who had journeyed thousands of miles to fight for King and Empire. It was a clear afternoon with a touch of frost in the air uid under foot. Outside the hospital wero drawn up the escort and Die Band of the 28th 8.P., distinguished from other battalions of tho sumo regiment by tho orange-coloured bars on their shoulder-straps. Coming down the north side of tho I r igh one could hear the rhythmical tread of the .Oxfordshire Heavy Batteries, which look up their appointed liositions facing the great door .of the "schools." The hearse moved into position, and the coffin, covered by the Union Jack, was lifted thereon by bearers, and was followed by a party bearing wreaths from relatives and comrades. Thai, at tiie word of command, the profession moved at slow march up the High, and the impressivo opening chords of the Dead Jlarcli in "Saul" brought a choking sensation to both the onlookers and those who were privileged to take part in the ceremony. But soon a more triumphant anil jubilant note of victory over the grave rang out, and every soldier seemed to me to look proud as the slow march changed into quick, and the long column swung down the hill from-Carfax to Botle.y.

The dead soldier was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Scales, of "Wellington, New Zealand, and ';he nephew of Mrs. A. St. G. Hamersley \rife of the member of Parliament for Mid-Oxon and the raiser of the four Oxfordshire batteries. Sergeant Scales onlisted in the second New Zealand Contingent that went first to Egypt and thence to the Dardanelles. He took oart in the difficult landing at Gallipoli and in the hard fighting that followed. His brother who was with him was killed in action and after many narrow escapes it was ?n attack of enteric fever to which Sergeant' Scales succumbed, at our Oxford hospital, to which he was transferred after a period of what- was hoped was convalescence in Egypt. Another brother, Sapper Atliol Scales, was present on Monday, though only just recovering from a 6orious illness contracted at Lomnos. Other mourn-, ers included Mrs. Millar (aunt), and Colonel and Mrs. A. St. G. Haiuersley. The wreaths were sent by Mr. and Mrs. Ttftta, "Mother n.nd Father," Sisters Matthias, "Vic arid Atliol." His Nurses, Private Campbell, "A Comrade," Undo Alfred and Aunt Maude (Colonel and Mrs. Hamersle.v), Sister and Nurses, Hut 1, 3, and G, and "The Boys et Somervillo," What eloaucnt and fragrant testimonies to the affection and respect in which the dead soldier was held!

And so we came to Botloy, that little burial-placo on the sreen slope of a hill, find the funeral service, majestic ill its simplicity, was reverently recite!!. Soldiers lowered the coffin into the grave, and fired three volleys over tlieir departed brother-in-arms. Then tho buelera sounded "Tho Last Post." The sun flashed out elorionsly for a moment through tho grey clouds that had gathered overhead, and I thought if Milton's lines as I looked on tho stern, proud faces of comrades from overseas:

The Imperial ensign, which, full hieh advanced, Shone like a meteor, streaming to the wind. That was the dominant note—lmperialism. Should any of his relatives read these lines in fnr-olf New Zealand they may be assured that many a lieort beat fast in Oxford last Monday at tiie proud thought that so many of those "down under" had come back to. the Mother Country to aid the Empire in i(s hour of need. So we left him resting peacefully and swung back to Oxford, to a lilting and martial strain.