THE DEAD LEADER

Evening Star, Issue 19782, 4 February 1928, Page 6

THE DEAD LEADER

EARL HAIG’S FUNERAL STRIKING PAGEANTRY SILENT. REVERENT CROWDS (British Official News.) Frees Association—By Wireless—Copyright RUGBY, February 3.. (Received February 4, at noon.) The funeral of Earl Haig to-day may be said to have been marked by three distinctive phases—firstly, the late field-marshal’s family and friends joined at St. Columbas Church, where he had worshipped in the homely act of devotion. The remains were then borne to Westminster Abbey with wonderful military pageantry through silent, reverent crowds of the general public, who must have numbered 1,000,000 persons. The third phase was the service in Westminster Abbey, which .contrasted strikingly with that which had preceded it at St. Colujnhas Church. In the Abbey the last tribute was being paid to Lord Haig, the soldier, by the high officers of the nation’s forces, statesmen, politicians, and distinguished men and women of every sphere of the national life, and representatives of foreign Governments. The coffin was carried into the Abbey by troopers of the Royal Horse Guards. The fourteen pall bearers included Marshal Foch and Marshal Retain (France), General Baron De Ceuninch (Belgium), and Earl Jellicoe, Earl Beatty, Lord Methuen, General Sir lan Hamilton, Air-Marshal Sir Hugh Trenchard, and other eminent officers who had led the British army. Behind the pall bearers walked the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, Prince Henry, and Prince Arthur of Connaught. The service concluded impressively. Behind the altar the kilted men of the London Scottish played oh their pipes u dirge which the Scottish have played for the dead from time immemorial, the 1 Flowers of Forest.’

Bugles high up in the roof sounded the Last Post and ‘ Onward Christian Soldiers,’ which was chosen by Lady Haig, was sung by the great congregation.

THE FUNERAL IMMENSE CROWDS. LONDON, February 3. (Received February 4, at 12.30 p.m.) Earl Haig’s funeral was carried out without a hitch, and according to the programme. Despite the piercing cold the whole route was thronged by immense crowds. VAST GITY OF MOURNING THE LAST TRIBUTES. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, February 3. (Received February 4, at 12.35 p.m.) To-day awakened a vast city of mourning. The last great tribute virtually began with the earliest workgoers. Thousands of be-poppied mourners reached the city early to take up positions along the route, in bright, cold weather, which became a typical grey London winter’s day. Immense crowds assembled in the vicinity of St. Columba’s Church, and saw the family congregation arrive for tho private service at 10.15. The police carried several disabled service men from the church. The Rev. Archibald Fleming officiated. ‘ Onward Christian Soldiers ’ and Beethoven’s ‘ Funeral March ’ concluded the service.

White-plumed officers waited outside the church, as the party of Royal Horse Guards arrived following the gun carriage; then Earl Haig’s own charger, with the dead soldier’s boots reversed in the stirrups, was led slowly to the side of the church. A strong force of. mounted foot police lined Pont street. An endless line of cars arrived for the deposition of beautiful poppy wreaths, including the King’s and Queen’s simply inscribed from the King and Queen, Buckingham Palace. The Prince of Wales’s, the Duke of York’s, Prince Henry’s, and other Royalties’ wreaths were likewise all poppies. Others included wreaths from the King of Italy, Field-marshals Foch and Retain. The'Hungarian Military Attache placed wreaths on behalf of the Hungarian army. The German Embassy flag flew at half-mast from sunrise to sunset. The simple character of the family service was typified in tho Rev. Fleming’s prayer;— Almighty God, most heartily we give Thee thanks for Thy good, valiant servant, now mourned. For his patience, steadfastness, great gifts as a soldier, iraplicity, courage, loyalty, patriotism, constant selfforgetfulness, and care for others we give Thee thanks; and that Thou didst raise him up in the time of the nation’s, and tho Empire’s extremity and peril, as our leader and deliverer, we give Thee praise and glory. Finally, we praise Thee for his constant remembrance of those stricken in war, for whom he labored to the last hour, sparing not himself but ever mindful of them.

It is estimated that over a million watched the pageant. Leaving St. Columbas for the Abbey, mounted men slowly drew the gun carriage. The pallbearers followed, Marshals Foch and Petain in long light-blue coats and red and gold caps. Foch is still alert and keen eyed, but is perceptibly greyer. Lord Methuen, despite his eight-two years, walked alert, with firm step, though his head was sadly bowed. Baris Beatty and Jellicoe were together in naval blue, General Trenchard in the Royal Air Force blue. Then came the saddest scene. Sergeant Secret, leading Earl Haig’s old charger, following sorrowfully in the wake of the gun carriage, walked with military bearing, but clearly this last tribute to his old master was almost unbearable.