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 (Inscription on Mr. Donald's tomb
in the International Cemetery,
Shanghai, from 1946 to 1967 when
the cemetery was destroyed in one
of the excesses of the 'Cultural
Revolution'.) |
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W.H. DONALD'S FUNERAL IN SHANGHAI From Shen Pao, Shanghai daily, November 11, 1946
DONALD'S FUNERAL - NATIONAL FLAG COVERS COFFIN FLORAL CROSS OF YELLOW AND WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUMS GIVEN BY PRESIDENT AND FIRST LADY
Mr Donald died at 1.15am the day before yesterday. Funeral arrangements were handled by the firm of Li Zhi She who employed the Wan Guo funeral parlour to make up the body. At 9 o'clock yesterday morning, Mr Donald's friends started to arrive for the service and to view the coffin which was partially covered by the national flag. Only the upper half of Mr Donald was visible. He was dressed in a grey-blue shirt, dark blue tie with grey stripes and a green suit with a white handkerchief tucked into the breast pocket. His expression was dignified yet, perhaps because the makeup was too light and the room dimly lit, it seemed to his friends that under this yellow light he resembled a wax statue of an old man. The coffin was placed in the middle of the hall. Behind it was the cross of yellow and white chrysanthemums sent by Generalissimo and Madame Chiang. Hanging on either side of the cross was a white ribbon containing a text in English to the right and, to the left, a message in Chinese: "To Don, with deep respect, from Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling" Two flags - Australian and Chinese - flanked the cross of flowers. Surrounding the coffin and along the walls were wreaths of yellow and white chrysanthemums and more than ten pots of the flowers were placed on the floor. An appropriate verse was displayed, from a poem by Ye Gong Zhou, which underscored the sadness of the occasion: You are no more - I am still here Alas, Irreplacable loss! We are honoured that you entered our world For your words were here more valued than gold You mark on our nation's history is indelible. Too late, too late to sigh. O how can you rest in peace while we remain so sad? From 1pm, those invited to the funeral began to arrive. Employees of Li Zhi She and
Donald's closest friends entered the room to observe the deceased. At 1.50. Mme Chiang - accompanied by Miss L. H. Kung and Miss L. W. Kung - arrived at the funeral parlour. She
looked sad and was dressed entirely in black including her jacket, dress, high heel shoes gloves and handbag. She remained silent throughout, simply sitting in the centre of the
first row directly opposite the body. Behind the mayor, Mr Xuan Wu and his wife, was Mr H. H. Kung .
PREPARATION FOR THE BURIAL At 2pm the funeral procession began. Six of Mr Donald's closest friends acted as pallbearers and a priest said prayers while all stood still and silently prayed for the
deceased. The ceremony lasted some 20 minutes. Then Mr Huang, directing the proceedings, requested everyone to take a last look at the body before departing. At that
point, the coffin was slowly covered and sealed although the flag remained on top, so too the cross of flowers sent by Mr and Mme Chiang. THE BURIAL
While everyone else waited outside, Mr Donald's 6 friends carried the coffin to a waiting car. The whole entourage then moved off to the Shanghai International Cemetery,
Hongkew, with the priest in the first car, the coffin in the second, the 6 pallbearers in the third, and Mme Chiang and others following in more than 10 other cars.
The grave, surrounded by fresh green grass, was already prepared. The coffin was lowered within while the priest uttered prayers to those in attendance and the ceremony
finished at 2.45pm. After the burial, Mr Huang gave thanks to all mourners and Mme Chiang waited until more than 20 floral wreaths had been distributed along the sides and behind the grave. She then went home.
Yesterday's ceremony, at Mr Donald's request, was a simple one, in rich contrast to the atmosphere and feelings among the mourners, who included Yan Hui Ching, Wang Zhen
Ting, Zhang Dao Fan, Bei Zhu Yi, Qian Da Jun, Xuan Te Wu and others (including foreigners and Chinese) numbering in all more than 100 people. The city's police chief and an elite
corps of officers took charge of the day's proceedings. Mr Zhang Dao Fan, a representative from the Central Committee, wrote an article
mourning Mr Donald He signed it at the end: "From a Chinese friend, Zhao Dao Fan, with profound respect and love"
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