The Hampshire Advertiser/1878/Funeral of Lieutenant-General Cameron

Funeral of Lieutenant-General Cameron

The funeral of Lieutenant-General John Cameron, R.E. C.B., whose unexpected death, after only a few days illness, was reported in Wednesday's Advertiser, took place yesterday (Friday) morning, his remains being interred in the Southampton Cemetery. The deceased holding such a high rank in the corps of Royal Engineers, and also being Director General of the Ordnance Survey of the United Kingdom, it was anticipated that he would have been buried with full military honours—indeed, this was reported to be the course decided on in more than one quarter of the tow—but the funeral was of a private character, no one beyond the family, relatives, and friends proceeding from the residence, Ordnance-house, the Avenue, where the gallant officer breath his last on Sunday. The mournful cortege, which consisted of a hearse with pair, three mourning coaches with pairs, and the private carriage of Mr. A. J. Day, left the house soon after half-past 11 o'clock. The principle mourners were Mr. L. D. Cameron, Mr. S. W. Cameron, Mr. C. B. Cameron, and Mr. E. C. Cameron, (sons of the deceased), Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron, G.C.B. (brother of ditto), Mr. Charles Arthur Day, J.P., Rev. J. Barton, Major-General Johnston, Major Tayler, Mr. C. F. S. Day, Rev. G. Cecil White, M.A., Rector of St. Paul's (officiating clergyman), and Dr. Broster (medical attendant.) At the entrance gates to the Cemetery the mournful procession was headed by Rev. G. Cecil White, and joined by, among others, Major-General Tryon, J.P., Inspector-General Dr. Maclean, C.B., Major-General Bayly, Major-General W. C. Lacy, Lieutenant-Colonel Parsons, R.E., Major Bullen, R.E., Rev. Dr. Wright (St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church), Dr. Langstaff, Mr. A. J. Day, Alderman H. P. Aslatt, Mr. J. C. Peake, Mr. F. Butler, &c., and also by a large number of the civil assistants at the Ordnance Survey Office. At the conclusion of the service in the mortuary chapel the coffin which was covered with a black velvet pall, with white edging, and had on the top two splendid wreaths of flowers, was carried to the grave, where was drawn up in a double line a detachment of the Royal Engineers, under the command of Captain Burke, with side arms, but without rifles, the two officers—Captain Burke and Quartermaster Macdonald—wearing black crepe round the left arm. There was a large number present to witness the funeral,. and the service throughout was most impressively read by the Rev. G. C. White. The coffin as placed in a newly made vault. There was a leaden shell inside the coffin, which was of oak, French polished with brass furniture, and the inscriptive plate on the lid bore the following:—

JOHN CAMERON
Lieutenant-General R.E., C.B.;
Born 31st March, 1817;
Died 30th June, 1878

The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Messrs. Mayes and Son, of the High-street, and carried out by them in the most satisfactory manner. We may say that had the funeral been a public one there would have been a large attendance, the deceased being so highly respected in the town; as it was the strong muster of friends, civil assistants at the Ordnance Office, &c. showed the great esteem in which he was held. Mr. W. Basevi Sanders was unavoidably absent on duty. In reporting the death of General Cameron, on Wednesday, we state that he walked home from the Mayor's banquet with Major-General Tryon, J.P., which was incorrect.