LATE PRIVATE J. PURDIE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1918, Page 4

LATE PRIVATE J. PURDIE

1 MILITARY FUNERAL. The remains of the late Private James Purdie, who went into camp with the 43th Reinforcements in September, and died in Featherston Camp on October 8, were buried at Waitara yesterday afternoon with full military honors. The body was conveyed from deceased's late residence at Fitzrov, to his mother's residence .at Waitara, where the cortege proper was formed. Vehicles joined the procession at many points along the route from town to Waitara, and when the funeral reached the cemetery it was one of the largest eve.- seen here, barnig testimony to the high esteem in which deceased was held, and being an eloquent expression of the sympathy with his relatives, who are old and highly respected residents of the district, The fusiness premises in Waitara. were closed during the time of the funeral. The cortege was headed by the Waitara Band, which played Handel's; Dead March in "Saul." There were ft large number of the comrades of the late soldier, who are at present on leave, in attendance, as well as the Waitara territorials, under the command of Lieutenant Brabant. The bearers were members of the late Private Purdie's company, as were also the firing party, the latter being under the command of Ser-geant-Major Compton. The.coffin was borne on a gun-carriage, and was literally covred with floral tributes The service was conducted by the Rev. 0. Blundell, of Xew Plymouth, and at the conclusion the "Last Post" was sounded by one of the soldiers on leave.

An unusual feature of the burial was the particularly large grave which lied been dug, but the explanation was seen in looking down on to the casket, which, as it rested on its bed, appeared encircled by a huge wreath of water lily blooms.