Simple But Impressive Ceremony at R101 Memorial

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7278, 4 October 1933, Page 10

Simple But Impressive Ceremony at RlOl Memorial

BRITISH AND FRENCH SYMPATHY ALLONNE (France), Oct. 1. The ceremony of unveiling the memorial to the victims of the dis-

aster which befell the British airship RlOl was marked by great simplicity. The first act by tho British Prime Alinister (Rt. Hon. J. Ramsay AlacDonald) was to place at the foot of the memorial his Cabinet’s wreaths of laurel and autumn flowers, symbolising that the memory of the victims remained green, A band played the French and British national anthems. Commander Hugo von Eckencr, of the German Zepplin services, sent a,

wreath. Mr AlacDonald, Lord Londonderry and Air Ministry oflicials flew from Croydon to Beauvais, the scene of the disaster and site of tho memorial. A French servico plane flew over the memorial and dropped 48 wreaths. The assemblage, which numbered 10,000. included six survivors if the calamity. Air AlacDonald, in a brief speech, said, “I thank you simply and humbly. On this wayside road we have

found new union and new understand- ■ ing. '‘The memorial means more to s our peoples than a dozen diplomatic signed and sealed documents, , Our hearts are united in this granite.” M. Daladier, French Minister of War, paid a tribute to the crusading spirit of British youth.