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The Funeral of the Victims.
There were several floral tributes amongst which were the following --- One large wreath bore the inscription; from Geo. Hammond and Co. agents for the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company at Dover as a mark of sympathy to the relatives and friends of the victims of the unfortunate loss of the “S. S. Maloja.” Another was from “two Dover boys” with deepest sympathy; and another “ With the heartfelt sympathy of a little Dover girl.”
Those sent individually were; - To Mrs Stoddard – Our darling mother, from her children, Mrs C. J. Ward and Miss Ward (Southsea); in affectionate and loving regret, from Mrs J. Wemyess, Syme and Miss Syme (Kensington); in affectionate memory from Mrs J. W. H. Ilbery and Miss Ilbery: from the Ladies Guild and friends of the British and Foreign Sailors Society. (Dover branch).
To Mr Kemp – In loving memory of a dear husband, from his sorrowing wife; from the family; with deepest sympathy, from Mrs White.
To Mary Azo Pardi – To dear Mary, from her loving sister; from the officers, warrant officers, N.C.O’s and men and civilian staff, Army Ordnance Department.
To Effie Edwards – For darling Effie from her loving mother.
To Mrs Maberley – From the Ladies Guild and friends of the British and Foreign Sailors Society.
To Mr Lucas – From his father, mother and family.
To Mrs Partridge and her two boys – With sympathy from the girls of Room 4, Army Pay Office (8 Cambridge Terrace).
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr J. Parsons of Beaconsfield Road Dover.
The remains of Assistant Surgeon W. M. J. Maine I.A. were interred with military honours on Saturday afternoon at St. Mary’s Cemetery in one of the graves set apart for the remainder of the victims to be interred on the following Monday. The Rev. S. Richards officiated. The band of the Royal Fusiliers attended; N.C.O’s of the R.A.M.C. acted as bearers and at the conclusion of the service three volleys were fired over the grave by men of the Royal Fusiliers and the ceremony was concluded with the “Last Post.”
The funeral of twenty of the Lascar crew of the “Maloja” and of a native nurse took place on Friday afternoon in the nonconformist portion of St. Mary’s Cemetery. The transference of the remains from the Market Hall to the Cemetery was undertaken by the Military Authorities with fitting ceremonial. The coffins, wrapped in Union Jacks were placed in transport wagons supplied by the regiments stationed at Dover, each followed by representatives of the forces who acted as bearers. These included contingents from the Royal Navy, the Canadian R.G.A and the East Surrey Regiment, whilst a contingent of the Dover Anti-Aircraft Corps followed. The Market Place was kept clear by the police and military police while the procession was being marshalled, large crowds standing on the footway. The funeral procession headed by the band of the East Surrey Regiment proceeded via Castle Street, Maison Dieu Road, Park Avenue, Salisbury Road and Frith Road to St. Mary’s Cemetery, the route being lined with crowds. The graves were dug in the nonconformist portion of the Cemetery, close to Connaught Park. One large grave held eighteen of the Indians, who were of the Mohammedans religion whilst two Lascars and a nurse, who were Catholics were buried close by in separate graves. Men of the R.G.A. had dug the graves, there not being sufficient civilian labour otherwise.
The eighteen Mohammedans were buried with the rites of that religion, and earlier in the morning ceremonies took place in the Market.
In the case of the three Catholics the Rev. Father Grady officiated. Previous to the arrival of the coffins four Indians arrived, and one who carried a large copy of the Koran, sat on the chalk and during the burial of the men read continually in a half chant. The interment of the eighteen Mohammedans took place as the coffins arrived, there being no pause as in the case of the English interments, and in all cases the head of the coffin was placed towards the east. It took just half an hour to place the bodies in the graves, the soldier bearers when they had placed the coffins in the graves forming up at “Attention” facing the graves. There were three wreaths – With deepest sympathy from the Mayor and Mayoress. In memoriam, from Mrs H. Douglas (20 Leyburne Road Dover.) With deepest sympathy from Major General and Mrs Campbell Hardy and the Misses Hardy. “For the Lascars” The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr. J. Parsons of Beaconsfield Road Dover.
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