NEW PLYMOUTH AIR TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 43, 15 November 1920, Page 4

NEW PLYMOUTH AIR TRAGEDY

—: 1 _ FUNERALS OF THE VICTIMS. Br Teleeraita—Pr«?» Assoclatfoa. New Plymouth, November H. Two of the largest funerals remembered in New Plymouth took place this afternoon, when Captain Richard Russell, D.F.C., Croix de Guerre, nnd Mr. JameiClarke, Mayor of Now Plymouth, two' of the victims of Thursday's flying tragedy, were buried at To Henui Cemetery. The third victim, Miss Kathleen Warnock,, was buried privately yesterday morning. From all parts of the province prc~ 'minent people came, and there were many friends from distant parts of tho Dominion. The funeral of Captain Russell was first, followed at a brief interval by that of Mr. Clarke's. Captain Russell's funeral was a military onc ; and' was attended by tho largest gathering of returned soldiers seen in Taranaki, while tliq. Citizens' Band and all the local military units were included. Behind this imposing cortege followed a large number of citizens unknown to tho dead airman, but, like tho wholo coniDjimih-, re ? j gardine his death as deeply personal. Mr. Clarke a funeral was a civic (guv •and' \vas a very long cortege. The graves were situated on the top of a hill"in a. beautiful part of the oemctery, and there waa a joint burial service. At the con-l elusion the soldiers fired volleys, and', the "Last Post" was sounded. In the unavoidable absence of the relatives of the late Captain Russell, the chief mourners wero Mr. Vivian C. Walsh and Pilot G. Goring (representing, tho New Zealand Flying School), Mr., Wally Ross (Captain Russell's mechanic), and Mr. H. Wilson (an intimate friend of tho deceased). The pall-bearers were' airmen from various parts of tho North Island. Captain L. M.lsitt (in charge of the Government machines) and Captain T. M. Wilkes (secretary of the Air Board) jointly represented the Govern-' ment, and the others of the party wero Lieut. J. Coatee, Messrs. H. Molrille 0. • Wamock, C. Harding, and L. J. Tennent (all of Wanganui), Lieuts Hughes and Wildsmith (Levin), and Captain Bliot King, and Messrs. A. Jennings and J. Warnock (New Plymouth). The bearers for Mr. Clarke wero Messrs. R. L. Parkin, W. H. Cook, James M'Lood, T. C: List, J. C. Nicholson, A. L. Ilumphriee, R. George, and G. Saunders. A rasfc number of beautiful floral tributes were received for both funerals. The tragedy was referred to in all the churches here to-day.