DEATH ON SERVICE
MILITARY FUNERAL AT NEWBURY
Newbury people were greatly saddened to hear of the death of Second Air Mechanic Edward George Savage, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Savage, of the Market Place. He joined the Royal Flying Corps in September, and was serving in the Wireless Section at South Farnborough, where he was showing great proficiency in his work. Taken ill on the 8th of January with an attack of measles, he was treated in the Isolation Hospital from which he was discharged on January 20th, his twentieth birthday. He returned to duty, but took a chill, there was a relapse, and he was again admitted to hospital at Aldershot, suffering from pneumonia. His parents were apprised of his serious condition on Thursday and they immediately proceeded to his bedside; death took place on Saturday.

Another young life has thus been taken in the great war and a promising career cut short in the earliest stages. He was educated at Newbury Grammar school from 1907 to 1915, in the school football team 1913-14 and won medals for shooting in 1913-14-15, and was a prefect from March to December 1915. He passed the Oxford Local Examinations in arithmetic, English, literature and composition, Latin, French and mathematics. He was a registered dental student, articled to his father, and intended to carry on his profession, but the call of country intervened.

The headmaster of the Grammar School, (Mr E. Sharwood Smith) wrote:- “I hear with dismay and grief of your great loss. Will you and Mrs. Savage please accept my sincerest sympathy. He was so long here and I knew him so well, and his generous and unselfish nature, that I felt his loss like a personal blow. And so strong and healthy he seemed. It is a cruel, and from what I have heard, an absolutely unnecessary loss.”

These words fittingly express the feelings of many townspeople, and if the knowledge of widespread sympathy is of any comfort to the bereaved parents in their irreparable loss, they may be assured that it is sincerely tendered. Lord Derby, Secretary of State for War has forwarded a message of sympathy from the King and Queen.

THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, the body having been brought to Newbury on Monday night. The first part of the service was held at the Parish Church, the Rector (Rev. Lionel Majendie) officiating. The body was escorted by a firing party of the Royal Flying Corps under the control of the adjutant, and which lined the approach to the western door, leaning on their reversed rifles. The body, the coffin being covered with the Union Jack, was borne in and out of church on the shoulders of six stalwart members of the R.F.C. The escort (?) headed the procession from the Church to the Cemetery, where the interment took place. At the conclusion of the service, the customary three volleys were fired, the final honour to a deceased comrade.

The mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Savage (father and mother), Miss Dorothy Savage (sister), Mr. and Mrs. King, Mrs. Roberts. Amongst friends in the Church were the Headmaster of the Grammar School (Mr E. Sharwood Smith) and a deputation of senior boys, J.A. Coles, H. St. John Hodge, B.L.C. James, N.B.C. Lucas, H.C. Bronsdon, Parker. Messrs. H.J. Davis, F. Gibson, S.P. Burton, F.D. New, J.B. Webb, J. Brighton, S. Ravenor, T. Dew, Mr. and Mrs. Martin, Misses Draper and others.

The following floral tributes were contributed:- Mother and Dad, his sister Dolly; from all ranks at the School for Wireless Operators, Royal Flying Corps; Mr. and Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Coombes and Miss Lea, Mrs. Aldridge, Miss Winter, Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Neate, Winchcombe Club, Mr. and Mrs. R.G. Bland, from his old school fellows, Mrs. E.J. Hassell, Mr. and Mrs. Hedges.

The funeral arrangement were carried out by Mr. E.B. Hitchman, of Speenhamland.

Mr. Mrs., and Miss Savage, wish to thank those numerous friends who have so kindly expressed their sympathy in their sad bereavement; also for flowers sent.