British Legion
While the funeral procession of Earl Haig was taking place in London on Friday, Mr E.C. Clarke, hon. secretary of the Buntingford Branch of the British Legion, placed a wreath of evergreens and Flanders poppies on the Town War Memorial.
The wreath was inscribed: "In memory of our leader and a great soldier; from the members of the Buntingford and district branch of the British Legion." The town bell was tolled at minute intervals from 12.30 to 1 p.m.
On Sunday there was a memorial service to the late Field Marshall at St Peter's, Buntingford. A party of about thirty ex-service men, many wearing the familiar Flanders poppy, attended, and the service was conducted by the Vicar, the Rev A. Howard.
The Communion Table was draped with the Union Jack, and the order of service was similar to that held at Westminster Abbey on the previous Friday. Captain Lionel Tollemache read the Lessons.
Taking for his text the words "After he had served his own generation by the will of God, he fell asleep and was laid with his fathers," the Vicar paid a high tribute to Earl Haig. The British Legion was the outcome of his efforts and is a monument of his affectionate care for his soldiers. His great characteristics were thoroughness and co-operation, and if Earl Haig ranked side by side with Wellington he had many more troubles than Wellington.
The impressive service closed with the Dead March by Saul, played by the organist, Miss Boniwell.
The offertory was devoted to the British Legion Fund.
0 comments:
Post a Comment