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Aviation History
1921
1921 - 0606.PDF
SEPTEMBER 8± 1921 HONOURING THE DEAD Funeral of " R.38" Victims " " NOT the least sad feature of the terrible disaster which over- took the crew of "R.38" is the difficulty of recovering the bodies from the wreck, and the consequent impossibility of a common funeral for all the British dead. While all the Americans have been recovered, there are, at the time of writing these lines, still five British bodies which have not been found. Some have been sent away for burial elsewhere at the request of relatives, and consequently the solemn ceremony which took place at Hull on September 2 was to do the last honour to five only of those who perished in the disaster. When the funeral cortege formed outside the mortuary, it was to follow two motor tenders drawing aircraft trailers which served as biers for the coffins, of which three were placed on the first trailer and two on the second. With the exception of a few motors conveying officials, the cortege was a procession on foot, and throughout the last journey from the mortuary to the cemetery, some two miles away, the streets were lined with the townspeople of Hull, come to do last honours to those whom they had seen perish in the disaster of August 24. Those who were borne to the grave on September 2, were :—Air-Commodore E. M. Maitland, C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C.; Constructor-Commander C. I. R. Campbell, O.B.E., R.N.; Flight-Lieut. I. C. Little, Flight-Lieut. R S. Montagu, D.S.C., and Leading Aircraftsman J. W. Wilson. The firing party, comprising a hundred men from the base at Howden, took their station ahead with reversed arms, and immediately behind them followed the R.A.P. central band, who played Chopin's "Marche Funebre." The personal mourners followed immediately behind the trailers carrying the coffins. They were :—For Air-Commodore Maitland : Brig.-Gen. F. Gore Anley and Mrs. Gore Anley, Maj. G. Cecil Whitaker and Mrs. Whitaker, the Hon. Claud Brabazon and Mrs. Brabazon, the Hon. Lady Miller of Manderston, and Mr. A. W. Maitland (uncle). For Flight-Lieut. Little: Mrs. Little (widow). Miss Little (sister), Mr. James Little (father), and Dr. Little (brother). For Constructor-Comman- der Campbell : Mrs. C. I. R. Campbell (widow), Mr. A. J. O. Campbell (brother), Mrs. W. H. Gover (sister-in-law). Judge Fossett Lock (an old friend of the family), and Mr. Williams. For Flight-Lieut R S Montagu : Mr and Mrs. Montagu (parents). For Leading Aircraftsman Wilson: Mrs. Martha Lambert (sister) and Mr. Lambert (brother-in- law), Mr. R. N. Wilson (brother), and Mr. and Mrs. Allison (uncle and aunt). Wreaths covered the coffins to such an extent as almost to hide the Union Jacks in which these were wrapped, many personal ones being among them, but also a very great number from people who wished in this way to show their apprecia- tion and respect to those who had died at their post in the course of their duty. As they met their death together, so the mortal remains of the five officers and men were laid in a common grave with- out distinction of rank, and that grave has been made of such dimensions that it can be reopened from time to time as their comrades come to join them. Arrived at the cemetery, the procession was met by the Chaplain-in-Chief of the R.A.F., the Rev. H. D. L. Viener, and the Rev. W. T. Rees, Chaplain at Howden, who together conducted the brief service. A brief pause followed the service, then a sharp command rang out, and three volleys were fired by the firing party. Then, as the soldiers presented arms and fixed bayonets, the buglers of the band sounded the Last Post, all ranks standing at the salute. The ceremony is one that will live for ever in the memory of those who attended it, and, in its simplicity, was symbolical of i ^those whose • remains it was intended to honour. - • - . • , America's Dead ' The bodies of the American officers and meri who lost their lives in " R.38 " were conveyed to Devonport Dockyard by a train leaving Hull at 6.30 p.m. on September 6, and arriving at its destination by 10 a.m. on the following day. A Royal Air Force guard of honour escorted the bodies to Devonport, where they were met by a Naval Guard, whose duty it was to see to the embarkation on board the light cruiser, H.M.S. "Dauntless," which had been placed at the disposal of the American Government by the Prime Minister. The "Dauntless " left Devonport almost at the same time as the Memorial Service was being held at Westminster Abbey. Lieut.-Commander R. E. Byrd, U.S.N. has sent to the Lord Mayor of Hull a letter in which he says :—" We will carry over to America with us as the one pleasant recollection of our common tragedy, the thought of the wonderful sympathy and hospitality we have received from the people in and about Hull. It seems to me that our shared sorrow, the aftermath of which we have shouldered together, has brought us to a closer understanding of one another, and I am sure that history will never change the gratitude that my country will feel towards Hull for its part in this sad occurrence." Memorial Service in Westminster Abbey In order to commemorate the memory of those who perished in "R.38," a Memorial Service was held in Westminster Abbey on Wednesday, September 7, at 12.30 p.m. The Service was conducted by The Very Rev. the Dean of Westminster, Bishop H. E. Ryle, C.V.O., D.D., assisted by the Abbey Staff. The Chaplain-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force, Re'v. H. D. L. Viener, C.B.E., M.A., delivered a short Address, and the Service was rendered by the Abbey Choir. H.M. the King, Chief of the Royal Air Force, was repre- sented by Air-Marshal Sir Hugh frenchard, Bart., K.C.B., D.S.O., A.D.C., Chief of the Air Staff, H.M. Queen Alexandra by Col. Sir A. Davidson, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., and the Duke of York by Wing-Commander Louis Greig, M.V.O. The Secretarv of State for Air was represented by Group-Capt. A. J. L. Scott, C.B., M.C., A.F.C. Lord Gorell, C.B.E., M.C., Under-Secretary of State for Air, and other repre- sentatives of the Air Council and Air Ministry attended. The American Ambassador, the Rt. Rev. Bishop of Con- necticut, and Vice-Admiral A. P. Niblack, U.S.N., Command- ing U.S. Naval Forces in European waters, were present, as well as the American Consul-General (Mr. Robert Skinner), Rear-Admiral N. C. Twining, U.S.N., the Naval and Military Attached and Members of the Embassy Staff. The Royal Air Force was represented by Air Vice-Marshal Sir John Salmond, K.C.B., C.M.G., C.V.O., D.S.O. (Air- Officer Com- manding, Inland Area), Air Vice-Marshal A. V. Vyvyan, C.B., D.S.O. (Air Officer Commanding, Coastal Area) and a detachment of officers and men. The United States Navy sent detachments from Howden Airship Base and from the U.S. Battleship Utah. Among others attending were representatives of the Prime Minister, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Privy Seal, of other Members of the Cabinet and Members of the Board of Admiralty and Army Council. The Lord Mayors of London and Hull, the Mayors of West- minster and Bedford, and the High Commissioners for the Dominions or their representatives were present, and the Royal Aeronautical Society, the Royal Aero Club, the Society of British Aircraft Constructors, the Imperial Air Fleet Committee, the Air League and the principal scientific and engineering societies also sent representatives. Good Work by U.S. Flying Boats THE first official report covering commercial flying operations to and from New York, just forwarded to the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navv Department, by the Aero- raarine Airways,shows that the first three months of operations 2,007 passengers were carried 28,171 miles in the air by four flying boats without a single injury. These' figures are exclusive of crews, each' boat carrying a pilot and mechanic every flight. The report covers the first quarter of the sight-seeing service around New York City, and services to and from" nearby seashore resorts. The only mishap recorded in the report oc- curred on Sunday, August 7, when the flying boat Ambassador made a forced landing with six passengers in the violent torm while flying from Atlantic City to New York, It points out that the landing was safely made alongside a yacht belonging to the president of the Company, and that the passengers and crew were safely tiansferred, and the flying boat successfully towed back to the hangar. The record of the four flying boats in the first three months' operations is' as follows :— Flying Boat.Ambassador ., Waldorf Biltmore Pennsylvania.. Hours inair. I42-.25 98.30 62.05 99-5° Mileageflown,. 10,088 6,983 4.388 6,712 Passengerscarried. 597458 ..., 342 . 66*., Totals 402.10 28,17! 606
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