Field Marshal's Funeral

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 270, 4 February 1928, Page 9

Field Marshal's Funeral

IMPRESSIVE MILITARY PAGEANTRY Crowd of Million Lines Route DESPITE the piercing cold, crowds which must have numbered at least a million lined the route from St. Columba's Church to Westminister Abbey, along which the remains of the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig were borne with wonderful military pageantry. British 'Wireless—Press Assn.—Copyright

Reed. 12.30 p.m. RUGBY, Friday. THE funeral to-day may be said to have been marked by three distinctive phases. Firstly, the late Field-Marshal’s family aud friends joined at St. Columba’s Church, where he had worshipped, in a. homely act of devotion. His remains were then borne to Westminster Abbey with wonderful military pageantry. through silent and reverent crowds of the general public which must have numbered a million persons.

The third phase was the service in Westminster Abbey, which contrasted strikingly with that which had preceded it at St. Colurnba’s Church. In the Abbey the last tribute was being paid to Earl Haig, the soldier, by high officers of the nation’s forces, statesmen, politicians, distinguished men and women of every sphere of national life, and representatives of foreign governments.

The coffin was carried into the Abbey by troopers of the Royal Horse Guards. The fourteen pailbearers included Marshal Foch and Marshal Petain of France, General Baron De Ceuninch of the Belgian Army and Earl Jellicoe, Earl Beatty, Lord Methuen, General Sir lan Hann ilton, 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 kilted men of the London Scottish played on their pipes the dirge which the Scots have played for the dead from time immemorial, “Flowers of the Forest.” Bugles high-up in the room sounded “The Last Post ” and the hymn, “Onward Christian Soldiers.” which was chosen by Lady Haig, was sung by the great congregation.—A. and N.Z.

AS SCOTTISH LAIRD GRAVE BESIDE THE TWEED LONDON, Friday. Earl Haig will not be buried as tile General who led Britain’s greatest Ai my, but as a Scottish Border Laird. All military pomp will be left behind

at Edinburgh. The burial place is in the north transept, sheltered by a large fragment of the lovely ruins of Dryburgh Abbey, beside the Tweed. Only the Haigs, the Scotts and one other family have the right of burial in the Abbey.

On one occasion after the' annual service in the ruins, at which Earl Haig read the lessons, he sat on the tomb of his ancestors with his Bible in his hand, chatting with the minister. Earl Haig quietly said to the minister: “Where are you going to bury me?” The minister replied: “In Westminster Abbey,” momentarily forgetting that St. Paul’s Cathedral is the traditional resting-place of great soldiers. Earl Haig shook his head, and smiled. “No,” he said, “this is my resting place. This has been the Haigs’s resting place for centuries.”—A. and N.Z.-Sun.

MEMORIAL SERVICES A memorial service to the late Field-Marshal Earl Haig will be held to-morrow in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Parnell, commencing at 11 o’clock. Archbishop Averill will conduct the service and will give an address. It is anticipated that there will be a large attendance of returned soldiers. All ex-servicemen are requested to wear their medals and decorations. SALVATION ARMY SERVICE The Eden corps of the Salvation Army will also hold a memorial service at Walters Road, Mount Eden. Captain Harold Mackenzie will be the speaker.