THE HONOURED DEAD.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3626, 12 November 1920, Page 5

THE HONOURED DEAD.

BRITAIN'S UNKNOWN WARRIOR. BURIAL AT WESTMINSTER, AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. Received 9.25 a.m LONDON. Nov 11. Nation's Day opened with a leaden ! misty daybreak, but the sun shone . out by ten o'clock, when Westminster ! was thronged by representatives of i the Empire assembled to honour the men and women, known and unknown, ' who made the great sacrifice and are awaiting the great reveille. Many I people -waited throughout the night Tn order to ensure passing the cenotapTF to-day and depositing wreaths thereon. : The crowds will be passing for three , days, all traffic being diverted from . Whitehall and Parliament Street un- ' til Saturday. The crowd opposite j the cenotaph were all bereaved and mostly "Corner of the poorer class, showing signs of grief and carrying wreaths and several bunches of flowers. Here also were a group of statesmen of the Empire including Viscounts Milner and Curzon, the Speaker, and other Ministers and ex-Minis-ters, black-coated and wearing decorations. Among these were Sir James AHen and Mr Andrew FlsEer, and Senator Millen, carrying great wreaths of laurels. Behind them were tlie wnite surptieed choir and on the other side of the cenotaph were groups, of clergy and ministers of all denominations, including the Salvation Army, headetf by the Primate and the Bishop of London. The windows of the Government offices in Whitehall were filled with faces, including those Of Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra and Queen Maud 01 Norway, who witnessed the unveiling. 1 Before, driving to Westminster AbI bey Beattyfs windows at the Admiralfty ~w.ere given up to the relatives of ! the' dead lower, fleck .ratings. Twenty I Australian and. eleven New Zealand widowis, and mothers occupied stands outside the Colonial Office with the Agents Generals' wives. .... King George was in Field-Marshals uniform,~'With the Prince of Wales in khaki, and the Duke of York in the Air Forces uniform. Prince Henry and the Duke of CoDnaught arrived at j 10.40 and took up their positions on r the north side of the cenotaph awaiting the arrival of the unknown war- ; rior who was being borne on a gun carriage from Victoria Station, folI lowed by a great procession of senJ diers and mourners. There was a I sudden silence as the "Dead March in Saul" was heard in the distance "asfe i the troops' reversed arms. The music suddenly stopped, and at 10.50 the only sound was the low footfall of the procession. Major Dansey, Captain Gardiner, and fapir men represented New' Zealand. A feature of the procession was the far-reaching blackclad line which had been khaki two years ago. Fifteen represented the Australian services and Associations in the procession including a deputation of ten who later placed a wreath on the cenotaph when the procession halted. The firing party marching before the gun carriage passed |jhe cenotaph; then the gun carriage halted Before the King. The coffin was covered; with a Union Jack and steel helmet, belt, and bayonet were placed on top. Sir Douglas Haig. Viscount French. Admiral Beatty and five otner Field Marshals and Admirals stood behind as bearers. Choirs of men's voices on the west side of the cenotaph commenced the hymn, "O God Our Help in Ages

! Past/' a roll of drums heralding the ; verse "Life like an ever-rolling stream | bears all her sons away," the Primate i leading and the vast crowd joining in, i The Lord's Prayer ended the little serI idee, and then there was a pause ; awaiting Big Ben striking the hour. ' As the last stroke rang out the King turned from trie coffin, pressed a but-

ton and the huge Union Jack and draperies fell, revealing Luyton's cenotaph. Two minues" silence follow, the officers on duty saluting, and all

others standing bareheaded. Then the buglers -ounded the "Last Post/' and as the sound of the bugles died away, the King placed a wreath at tlie foot of the cenotaph on behalf of the Royal Family. Mr Llpyd George, on behalf of the Government, and Senator Millen and l> Andrew Fisher advanced and deposited a great laurel wreath ana spay of white flowers on behalf of Australia. Sir James Allen placed another laurel wreath, inscribed from the Government and people ox New Zealand." Other Dominions ana Colonies placed similar tributes including a party of Australian Imperia/1 Force, which placed a wreath shaped like an Australian badge the rising sun with L.R. picked out in blue flowers. As> the gun carriage moved on, the King and Princes saluted, falling In behind the coffin. Field Marshals, Admirals, and Air-Marshals marching on either side. Senator Millen and Mr Andrew Fisher following with Cab-

inet Ministers. So the unknown war- ! rior came to Westminste Abbey. Everybody was seated by 10 o'clock. The grave was surrounded by a violet carpet. It is within a dozen yards of the great western doors, and under the shadow of Westmacott 's National Memorial to Pitt. Thus the great founder of the Empire looked upon the unknown hero, whose sacrifices helped to •sustain the statesman's handiwork. Peabody, the American, and Living- j stone, the traveller, lie nearby. j During the arrival of the congrega- j tion the Grenadiers.' Band played an I impressive selection of funeral music, j ami the choir sang well-known hymns.

Members of the Royal Family arrived at 10.30, including the Queen of Spain, the Princess Royal, Princess Maud and the Duchess of Fife. The Royalties were seated a few feet from the open grave. They were joined by Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra and the Queen of Norway. The space from the nave to the choir screen was packed with privileged persons, including a great company of soldiers' widows and mothers, including Mrs. Bassett-Smith, widow of the captain of the Otaki. Other Australians and New Zealanders, and groups of seamen, soldiers and flying men, and soldiers from "Australia and the outer Empire, were also noticeable elsewhere. There were one hundred wearers of the Victoria Cross, including General Freyberg. Among the congregation were Mrs. Andrew Fisher and Lady Allen'. . <fj

When Big Ben boomed forth, the hour of eleven a sudden silence fell upon the congregation. It was a tense and solemn incident, and not. a sound was heard within or without the building. For two minutes the heart of that vast congregation joined in unison with the prayers of hundreds of thousands throughout the Empire, in gratitude for'Tiheir great deliverance and for the eternal happiness of those who made the great sacrifice. Looking round during this most solemn period, one could not help noticing how large was the civilian element. Beyond the surpliced choir and Dean Kyle's black and gold cape, there was hot a splash of colour. Khaki uniforms were lost in a mass of sober black. It looked like an ordinary Sunday congregation, and this was suitable to such a demonstration in a ' demo-

cratic age. The sentiment was quickened when the funeral procession, reaching the Abbey by the east door, moved down the nave, for there on the war-worn flag enveloping the coffin was an old Crusader's sword, which was the gift of the King, by the side of the hero's helmet. The casket was followed by the King as chief mourner, supported by his three sons, and the pall-bearers were generals and admirals. In the procession which followed were Cabinet Ministers, representatives of the Army and Navy, and high officials of State. Among the group w T ere Mr. Andrew Fisher, Senator Millen, and Sir James Allen. !

The Archbishop of Canterbury took his place by the side of Dean Kyle at th? head of the coffin, but took no part in the service. At the words of committal, KThg George stepped forward and threw a handful of soil brought from France into the open grave. The ordinary burial service was used throughout with such hymns as "Abide With Me'*, "Lead Kindly Light" and "The Recessional.". It

was not a ceremony of great pomp, but was a most touching function, and an impersonal funeral tribute, to the unknown heroes who came from all •>a !'*••■ of t 1 Fmmrp.