DEATH.
Boyne — On 10th of July, at Queenstown, John McCulloch Boyne, the youngest son of Robert and Helen Boyne, aged 13 years and ten months. Home papers please copy. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 15/7/1881.
Funeral of the Late Corpl. J. Boyne, Queenstown Cadets.
The remains of the youngest son (John) of Mr Robert Boyne, draper and storekeeper of this town, were borne to their last resting-place on Wednesday last. The deceased being a corporal in the Queenstown Cadets, a military funeral was accorded him by order of the Major commanding the district, and with the consent of the relatives of the deceased, and was carried out by the Queenstown Cadets only. At 2.45 p.m., the procession was formed, first by nine of the oldest cadets, who comprised the firing party; next the Queenstown Garrison Band; the corpse came next borne on a bier — made for the occasion — carried by eight cadets, who were in uniform. The chief mourners followed the corpse, and the remainder of the Queenstown Cadets, two by two — also in uniform; and last, a very large assemblage of persons from town and district, the whole under the command of Captain Warren, commanding the Queenstown Cadets.
As the procession moved along Ballarat street, and down Camp street, toward the Cemetery, the Band playing a beautiful funeral march, it presented a really imposing appearance — the lads in front, with reversed arms, at a distance apart from each other not the least imposing.
On arrival at the Cemetery gate the firing party and Band formed up, the former resting on their arms reversed, the latter continuing playing the funeral march until the procession passed through. Then the firing party took up position on one side of the grave, while the Rev. D. Boss read the burial service, at the conclusion of which the rev. gentleman not only passed a panygeric on the deceased, but took occasion to speak most impressively to the lads around who were mostly the deceased's schoolfellows as well as brothers-in-arms.
The three volleys were then fired over the grave, and considering that the lads were armed with muzzle-loading pieces, the firing was quick, as between rounds, and together when fired. The firing party was under the command of Color-Sergt. W. Powell, of the Cadets, who acquitted himself most creditably. The whole of the cadets — armed and unarmed — "'fell in " outside the Cemetery gate, and headed by the Band marched, to the tune of "The Armour Bearer," round the outside streets of the town, so as to give the Cadets practice in marching well together by music.
Nothing could exceed the steadiness and correctness all through of this Company of little men, and they seemed keenly to feel the loss of their schoolfellow and brother-in-arms. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 15/7/1881.
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