The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-11-11
Marked Tribute Paid to An
Unknown Warrior at
Westminster Abbey
UNVEIL CENOTAPH
TO "GLORIOUS DEAD"
King George and Other
Royalty Joined in Cere,
monies

London, Nov ll.--Great Britain to-
| day impressiyely honored her war he.
roes by according field marshal's f,l.
neral to an unknown British warrior
who was buried in Westminster Abbey
and unveiling a permanent cenotaph in
| Whitehall to "the glorious dead.
Aside from members Of the royal fam
| ily, who included three queens Queen
Mary. Queen Mother Alexandra and
Queen Maud OF Norway--and few
officials, the only witnesses to either
ceremony were persons who lost rela
tives in the great war.
As big Ben," the great clock in
the tower of the Parliament building,
began to strike the hour of eleven,
King George, facing the 10th century
coffin of the unknown soldier, which
was resting on gun carriage, drew q
cord what released the Union Jack
draped above the cenotaph and, after
the last stroke of the hour thousands
Of people who crowded Whitehall as
far as one could see in either direction
remained absolutely silent for two
minutes.
This silence was broken by a choir
softly beginning the hymn. "Oh, God,
Our Help in Ages Past which was fol-
lowed by the Lords prayer, recited by
the archbishop of Canterbury. Buglers
sounder. THE Last Post" and, with
its escort of troops and a band, the
gun carriage then moved toward the
Abbey with King George, as chief
rtaIJfnF, knhtnI
panied hy the royal princes.
During the brief in the nave of the
Abbey, the king stood at the foot Of
the grave the royal ladies and princes
ranging themselves on either side. OF
all the witnesses that packed White
hall or crowded the Abbey, little
band of approximately 100 women in
the Abbey received the most reverent
attention. They had been selected for
the seats of honor bcause each had
lost her husband and all her sons Ev.
cry woman in England so bereft who
applied for place got 1t, but less than
half the other applicants for seat.
were successful, owing to the lack of
space.
After the loo had been seated, the
next To be considered were those moth
ers who lost their only sons or an their
sons, and then came women who lost
their husbands only. They were given
positions in accordance with the price
they had paid during the war A girl
who wrote she had lost nine brothers.
killed or missing was given a ticket,
as also was l2-year-old boy who
wrote "the man in the coffin might he
my daddy" In all 5000 tickets were
issued.
The body of the unknown soldier al.
rived here last night. after II had been
honored by Marshall Foch aud other
military officials in France from the
time it was exhumed until the escort
of French destroyers turned for home
after seeing the English destroyer Vei
dun. which bore the body safely into
the harbor Of Dover. II was brought
to London in the same railway ear
used to transport the bodies of Edith
Cavell. the nurse who was executed by
the Germans. and Captain Charles Fir,
att. the British captain of British
merchant steamer, who also met death
before . German firing squad It lay
last night in a room especially set
apart and fitted for il IN Victoria sta
tion, and guard Of honor remained
there until morning.
The immediate guard which escoftei
the body on its trip through the crowd
ed and silent streets from the star ion
to Whitehall was composed Of 100
men Of all services who won the Vie
toria cross. The pail bearers were
field marshals and admiTals OF the
feet, including Niscount Douglas Haj.,
Earl Beatty. admiral OF the grand fleet,
and Major General Sir Hugh Trench
ard. commander of British air forces.
of guards. with their band
and a few officials. made up the bal |
snce Of the escort.
The cortege proceeded through Gfos
Vernon Gardens and Grovesnor Place to |
HYDE Park and thence 10 Buckingham |
palace. Pail Mall and Whitehall A.
/ he procession started from the station /
a battery in HYDE Park fired a field /
marshafs salute of 10 guns and, just /
a. the coffin was. lowered into the grave.
another battery of horse guards fired /
he same salute.
The grave was filled with sol l
brought from the grave from whicl,
he body was exhumed in France. ani /
vas covered by what Is known - the
Padres flag one Of the most famous
flags figuring in the recent war. II wa
taken to France early in the struc
gle by chaplain who used II score.
" times at funerals on the field, and
Il has been much coveted by many reg
iments to which the chaplain has
loaned il for short periods.
Not in recent years has London seen
such detailed police precautions. Ex
ira strong barbados had been con
.tructed At every approach 20 White
iall and the Abbey. and everv msr
hat could be spared was on duty. ~
vas held in reserve near Whitehall