DUKE OF KENT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 284, 29 August 1942, Page 8

DUKE OF KENT

Funeral To Be At Windsor BODY BROUGHT TO LONDON (Received August 28, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, August 27. The Duke of Kent’s body, in an oak coffin draped with a flag of air force blue on which lay a single wreath of multi-coloured flowers, was brought to London by train today from the north of Scotland. Aircraftmen guarded the coffin throughout the night at Dunrobin Castle, the Duke of Sutherland’s Highland seat; 4

Two special coaches carried the bodies of the other victims from farther north. The Duke of Kent’s coffin was placed beside them at Dunrobin station, where 30 members of the air force lined the platform and presented arms in a guard of honour. Country folk from the Highlands stood silent and bareheaded, paying their last respects. The Duke's body will lie in the Albert Memorial Chapel, Windsor Castle, till the funeral in £t. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The Lord Chamberlain announced that donations to the naval amenities fund or the army and air force’s comfort funds would be appreciated instead of floral tributes. “The Times” points out that the ordinary rules of succession apply to the Dukedom of Kent, which means that Prince Edward succeeds as the next Duke of Kent. . It is announced from Nassau that the Duke of Windsor is not going to England to attend the funeral of his brother.-

REGRET OF FIGHTING FRENCH

The following message from Monsieur A.-, de la Tribouille, delegate of the French National Committee in New Zealand, has been received by the Act-' ing-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan :— “The delegate for the French National Committee begs the Government to accept his deep sympathy in the tragic bereavement suffered by the Royal Family. His grief is shared by all the Fighting French ho, together with their profound admiration for His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, now fee! the deepest sympathy with Her Royal Highness who was for so long a resident of France.” FLAGS AT HALF-MAST Instructions have been issued by, the Acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, that flags are to be flown at half-mast on all Government buildings throughout the Dominion today on the occasion of the funeral of the Duke of Kent. Mr. Sullivan invites local authorities and citizens generally, where possible, to fly flags at half-mast also.

DUNEDIN MEMBER OF CREW

Temporary Flight Sergeant Edward Francis Blacklock, R.N.Z.A.F., who lost his life in the flying-boat crash that killed the Duke of Kent, was a son of Mrs. J. D. Blacklock, Melbourne Street, Dunedin. He was born at Dunedin in 1912, and was educated at the Christian Brothers’ High School. On leaving school he joined the Railway Department, and for some years was on the relieving staff at Dunedin. lie was afterward stationed at Wellington, Seacliff, Hinds and in several districts in Central Otago. He was living in Dunedin when he joined the Air Force and left for overseas in 1940. He was second pilot of the flying-boat in which thd Duke was travelling.