FIRE VICTIMS BURIED

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 719, 19 July 1929, Page 9

FIRE VICTIMS BURIED

TRAGIC SCENES IN KENTISH TOWN THOUSANDS LINE ROUTE (United PA — By Telegraph — Copyright} LONDON, Thursday. The 15 victims of the fire tragedy at Gillingham Park, Kent, were buried today in a long line of graves. All the residents in the town surrendered themselves to the solemnity of the service. Every street except those along the route of the funeral procession was deserted, and all the shops were closed. One hundred thousand people watched the procession throughout its journey of two miles to the cemetery. Policemen lined the route. A draped fire engine led the way. and there followed a naval firing party, a band from the naval barracks, five gun-carriages drawn by sailors. On carriages there next came the coffins of five of the naval cadets, pathetically small beneath the folds of the covering flags. Officers, bluejackets and a band of white-robed clergy followed. Then, one behind the other, came 10 fire-engines, each bearing a coffin. The procession also included hundreds of helmeted firemen. Boy Scouts, school boys and tow r n officials. The mourners are estimated to have numbered 4.000. Several people fainted at the graveside, overcome by the heat. Twelve sailors fired a volley over the graves. Flowers conveyed in special cars were piled up into a huge mound.