To the Editor of the "Norra-Curxa Darty News."
Sir,—It has een my privilege to have had the opportunity of attending the funeral of a gallant officer (who served) throughout the War) and personal friend, lately deceased. I was amazed at the apparent lack of gratitude shown by the British public of Shanghai, as, apart from a comparatively smal! number of ex-Service men, Shanghai Volunteers, and a few personal friends present, a representative gathering was conspicuous y its absence.
Surely even after five years there should still remain a feeling that the funeral of a well-known ex-Service man is a fitting opportunity to show some mark of respect and gratitude to one who did not fail when the test came.
We have been told that in Shanghai as elsewhere a certain proportion of men of military age were indispensable to the well-being of this port, and therefore could take no part in the War. To these I would say on an occasion like the present, forego the pleasures of a. tea-dance or the joy of a paper hunt and pay respect to one whose sense of duty enabled him to set aside worldly ambitions to take part in the fight for our. very exi-stance, All honour to the wives of those ex-service men who attended the funeral and to, the non-British members of the congregation.
I am, ete.,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.