EARL HAIG’S FUNERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1928, Page 2

EARL HAIG’S FUNERAL

IMPRESSIVE SCENES. (Australian <fe N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Fob. 3. Earl Haig’s funeral was carried out without a hitch, according to the piogramme. Despite the piercing cold ti:e whole route was thronged with immense crowds To-day awakened the vast city of mourning. The last great tribute virtually began with the, earliest workgoers. Thousands' be-poppied reached the city early to take up positions along the route in bright cold weather which became typical of a grey London winter’s day. Immense crowds assembled in tlie vicinity of St. Columbia s C hiircli and saw tlie family and congregations arrive for the private service at 10.10. The police carried several disabled seivicers from the church. *The Bev. Archibald Fleming officiated. 11 Onward Christian Soldiers ” and Bcethovan's Funeral March concluded the service. In Poilt Street, there was ail amazing spectacle; Marly medals glitteied on tlie breasts of Irien and wotiieli alike. White plumed officers' waiteef outside the Chtlrcit aS ri party of the Royal Hoi-fee Gtinrds arrived; followed by a gun carriage; then Earl Haig’s own charger. Ids hoots reversed in the l stiirtips, was led slowly to the side of tlio Church, A strong force of mounted and foot police lined Pont Street. An endless line ol cars arrived tor the deposition of beautiful poppy wreaths, including the King’s and Queen’s, simply inscribed “ from the King and Queen, Buckingham Palace, l‘obiuai\ 3.” The Prince of Wales’s. Duke ol York’s, Prince Henry’s and other Royalties’ wreaths were likewise all poppies. Others included the King of Italy’s. Marshal Foch’fe. Marshal Petain’s. and the Hungarian military attache, who placed wreaths oil behalf of the, Hungarian Army. 'Hie German Embassy Hag Hew at hail' mast from sunrise to sunset.

The simple character ol the tamily service was typified in the Bev. Moming’s prayer: " Almighty God, most heartilv we give Thee thanks for Iby good and valiant servant, now mourned for bis patience, steadfastness and great gilts, as a soldier, and bis simplicity, courage, loyalty, patriotism, constant self forgetfulness, and care lor others. We give Thee thanks that Thou didst raise him up in the time of the nations’ and Empire’s extremity and peril, iiS out leader and deliverer. \Ve give Thee praise and glol-y. Kinally we praise Thee ini' bis constant remembrance of those stricken fu war, wherefore he laboured, to the last hour, sparing not himself: hut ever mimllul of them.” It i s estimated that over a million watched the pageant, with poignant memories, leave St. Columba’s Church for the Abbey. Mounted nicii slowly drew the gun carriage. The prill bearers were followed by Marshals Foch and Petain with long light bine coats, arid red and gold caps. Marshal Koch is still alert, keen-eyed, but perceptibly greyer. Field Marshal Methuen, despite his eighty-two years, walked alert and with a firm step, though his head was sadly bowed. Field Marshalls plumed hats waved in the breeze, and bursts of sunshine gleamed -on their swords. Earls Beatty and Jellicoe were together in naval blue, and Air CliieiMnrslial Trent-hard in Boyal Air Force blue. Then came tlie sadedst scene— Sergeant Secret leading Earl Haig’s old charger following sorrowfully in the wake of the gun carriage. He walked with military hearing, but clearly tins Inst tribute to bis (lid master Wat* almost unbearable. 'ldle I’rilU-o ol Wales ill the full dress uniform of a Colonel of Welsh Guards; the Duke of York, arid Prince Henry, followed; tholl cabic P’riiicH Al-tlilif iifiti other representatives of Boyaitv, after whom the family inotirners, toil-batted iiitd war veterans proudly displaying their modais and also a popply included; the old contemptililes carrying a red, white ami blue banner draped with black; nniversityites academically robed, led by officers of the three fighting services, Dominion and Colonial representatives. Following ofie ol the most impressive sections, was a big ccihtingrittt of British Legionites, carrying magnificent poppy wreaths inscribed: “ll or Remembrance.”

The French detachment was in light blue overcoats, and grey tin helmets, black haversacks and rifles reversed. The little Belgians in khaki, and tin helmets, were in striking contrast to the towering guardsmen in vivid dress of gold, blue and red. with white gauntlets. .The Seventeenth and Twentyfirst Lancers known as “ the Death or Glory hoys,” led the procession in full dress of dark blue, with white lacings, Earl Haig’s favourite uniform. .Meanwhile within the Abbey awaiting the arrival of the procession, were scenes of very impressive dignity and beauty. The reserved areas were filled by nation’s eminent personages, and distinguished representatives ol foreign powers ill diplomatic uniforms. Inside the Abbey, ii vast congregation represented the empire; including almost the elliire cabinet, other statesmen and hundreds of officers and diplomats, and representatives of almost every nation on earth stood reverently while the coffin was born past the unknown warrior’s grave, amid the strains of Chopin’s Funeral Alareli, towards the choir. The congregation was mostly in mourning and black, hut a wealth of Earl Haig’s poppies relieved the sombre hues.

The widow with a daughter on either side, stood in loneliness at the foot of the coffin, but nearby, grouped by themselves were the Princes and pell hearers. The Service proceeded with all the beauty associated with Abbey memoriams. Pipers raised the lament from silence, then the bugles, ailcl finally “Onward Christian Soldiers,” sung with impressive voluble, gave the service a concluding note of triumph. AleanWhile the Guards and other regiments lined the route to Waterloo Station, As the procession resumed the journey, mossed hands played funeral marches throughout, while the escort slowly nlnrclted with reversed arms, and the troops lining the route leaned upon their rifles with bowed heads. .Most part of the journey to me Abbey Was covered at a quick march, owing to the distance, hut from toe Abbey, the funeral was accorded the impressive and time honoured army ritual. The coffin was hurtle in the funeral van by eight Scots under a sergeant who took up the places of the Princes, entered the van, and gave the Empire’s farewell salute, and the train started quietly. The Princes and pall hearers saluted and the hand played Chopin’s funeral march. Two train carriages were filled with wreaths. AT ED IN BUB GH STATION. LONDON, Feb. 4. There were unforgettable scenes at mid-night, when the body ol Earl Haig was conveyed through the streets of his native city of Edinburgh to St. Giles’ Cathedral, where it will lie in state until Tuesday. Despite the late hour and piercingly cold wind, people of all ages and classes made a pilgrimage to the Princes Street Station, and waited in the frost-cover-ed streets. The approaches to tlie station were impassabe when the special train arrived at 12.7 this morning. Eight artillerymen bore the coffin to a gun carriage, while pipers played "The Flowers of the Forest.” The procession was headed by a battalion of Soots punrds to the Cathedral,

LONDON, Feb. 4. After the service at St Giles’ Cathedral on Tuesday, Earl Haig’s coffin will he entrained to St. Boswell’s, where it will he placed on a farm cart and escorted by Bcrmersyne employees along five miles of tho route to Dryburgh Abbey, where a non-military service will be held.

EARL HATG’S DIABY. LONDON. Feb. 4. The ‘‘Daily Express” reveals that Karl Haig, shortly before his death deposited Ids diary of the war years with the Trustees of the British Museum, wuli a proviso that the seals on the manuscript, wliic-h is now in the stiong-i-ooin. must remain unbroken until 1940. The diary is frank and fearless. l,ut the contents are known only to one intimate friend, outside the family circle. He is a famous racing peer. THOUSANDS PAY RESPECT. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 6. It is estimated that 150.000 men and women passed through St. Giles Cathedral oil Saturday. The lying-in-state continues till Sunday afternoon and throughout Monday. _ Madame F. K. Iveilberg. an English Woman, sent £IO,OOO to tlie British Legion appeal fund as an appreciation for the services of Earl Haig and_ his armies for helping Denmark to recover the Danish pofiioM of Schleswig.