Card of the Day: The Funeral of Earl Haig

Though he’s now considered a rather controversial figure from the First World War, Douglas Haig, the First Earl Haig, was a popular postwar figure whose death elicited an enormous response in Britain and a national day of mourning. He’s remembered now as “The Butcher Haig” for leading troops into the Battle of the Somme the battle with the highest casualties in British military history. He did, however, also command the Hundred Days Offensive which led to the 1918 Armistice.

Upon his death in 1928, the “Times” reported, “Great crowds lined the streets ... come to do honour to the chief who had sent thousands to the last sacrifice when duty called for it, but whom his war-worn soldiers loved as their truest advocate and friend.”

This event is depicted in the thirtieth in the series of Silver Jubilee Cards by Wills’s Cigarette Company which were produced in honor of King George V and Queen Mary.

The reverse of the card reads:

THE FUNERAL OF EARL HAIG


Several Princes of the House of Windsor—the Royal house he served so well—followed Field Marshall Earl Haig on his last journey through London on February 2, 1928. After lying in state at St. Columba’s, The Presbyterian Church in Punt Street, the body of the dead Field Marshall was escorted to Bemersyde where, at his wish, in preference to interment at St. Paul’s, he rests in his native cemetery. Marshall Foch and Marshall Pétain were two of the pall bearers, and the crowds stood ten deep as the procession moved on to the beat of muffled drums. A solemn memorial service for the dead Field Marshall was held at Westminster Abbey.

After the Great War, Haig was created an Earl. He maintained close ties to the military. To get a glimpse of some silent film footage of the funeral, visit the Web site of British Pathé. I didn’t feel like paying £50 for the rights to the video, so I’ll just let you have a look at their site.