IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 January 1939, Page 6

IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL

LATE CONSTABLE R. CHURCH. ACCORDED FULL POLICE HONOURS. The late Constable Robert Church was buried at the Masterton Cemetery yesterday afternoon. The largely attended. full police, funeral, was one of the most impressive ever seen in Masterton. All shades of class and creed were represented in St. Patrick's Church, where a service was conducted by the Rev. Father Dillon. Previously a guard of honour of twenty-six constables, in charge of Constable A. L. Downes (Masterton), had marched up Chapel Street to the church.

The Police Department was represented by Superintendent Lewin, of Wellington, while in addition to a full representation of police officers from the Wairarapa, a large contingent came from Wellington to pay their last respects lo a comrade well known and highly regarded by all of them. The streets were lined with people as the long cortege made its way l<the cemetery via Queen Street and Church Street. Senior-Sergeant G. A. Doggett, of Masterton. headed the dignified police guard of honour to the cemetery, while six representatives of the Druids’ Lodge in regalia also marched in the procession. ’ The scene at the graveside was impressive in its simplicity. Father Dillon conducted the service and in the course of an address paid a tribute to the fine persona] qualities of the late Constable Church and expressed deep sympathy with his widow, family and relations. Death, he said, was always distressing, but it was even more so when a close friend was cut off m the bloom of life and the very vigour of manhood. It would be a morsel ol consolation to Mrs Church to know that as her late husband lived so did he, die.

When the coffin was lowered into the grave the police officers filed slowly past saluting with white gloved hand the remains of their comrade.

The pall-bearers at the church and at the cemetery were six members of the Masterton force, Constables A. L. Downes, R. L. Hollis, C. H. Reardon, R. W. Cross, F. L. Diggle and N. D. Bach. A profusion of beautiful wreaths included tributes from the Wellington and tho Masterton Police Force. Resting on top of the wreaths was the late Constable Church’s police helmet.