The funeral took place last Monday morning of the late Chief Petty Officer William Henry Taafe of H. M. S. Mantis. The deceased was chief gunner's mate of H. M. 8. Mantis, and was one of the best known and respected. members of the Yangtze Patrol. He had been Chief Petty Officer Taafe had the distinction of having been in charge of the largest gun used in the late war, on board H. M. Monitor Lord Clive and did some useful work on the Belgian coast. Hei succumbed after a very short illness and operation, in_ the Victoria Nursing Home, on Saturday last, and was buried with full naval honours in Bubbling Well Cemetery on Monday at 10 a.m.
The firing party} was sent from H. M. Durban, and the coffin was carried to the graveside by his messmates, the ships' companies of BH. M. S. Mantis and Cricket forming the mourners. A few of his intimate friends followed the coffin to its last resting place. Chief Petty Officert Taafe leaves a wife and young daughter to. mourn his loss, to whom sincere sympathy is extended. a
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.