LORD ROBERTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 277, 20 November 1914, Page 6

LORD ROBERTS.

A NATIONAL CREEP. AN IMPRESSIVE RELIGIOUS CEREMONY. MANY NOTABLES PRESENT. PATIENT WAITERS FOR LAST VIEW OF THE COFFIN. [By EIBCTBIC IsmcGHAPH —ObPTBIGH I *} United Press Association. (Received 1.10 p.m.) Loudon, November 19. Next in the procession came the pall-heaiiors, namely; Lord Kitchener, Generals Wood, Grenfell, Methuen, Nicholson, Admirals Seymour and Beresford, Generals Hills-Johnes, Biddulph, Hunter, Gaselee and Agertou. The route was from Northumberland Avenue along the Embankment, New Bridge Street and, Ludgate Hill. It was thronged with enormous crowds. Many old soldiers who served under Lord Roberts were provided with reserved spaces ill, the Cathedral, which was packed, jfhe King occupied a special stall near the catafalque. The congregation included Mr Asquith, Lords Lansdmvne and Crewe, Messrs BonaiyLaw, Chamberlain, Beauchamp, Lawley and Balfour, and other Peers and M.P’s., the Colonial High Commissioners, Ageuts-Generals and several Indian princes. Many officers who served under Earl Roberts were present at the fuperal. All were on active service and wore khaki.. Retired officers wore full dress. One Veteran wore an mfanti’ythhifdi'm of the Indian-. Mutiny period. Doan Inge -conducted the,- service, the Bishop of London read the collects, and the Archbishop of Canterbury gave the blessing. It was a most impressive service, and there were few dry eyes as the Royal Artillery hand played Chopin’s “Dead March.” The'trumpeters . sounded, the “hist post” from a gallery in the dome. After the ceremony the body was brought to the front of the chanc'el gates, the public passed it. The catafalque was the same as used at Wellington’s funeral, the sentries at the corners leaning" on reversed arms. Despite-the wind and rain thousands waited in a queue for hours and then filed by two doors into the Cathedral. For hours the queue included many British solcjiers and wounded Belgians.