Incidents in connection with the funeral of Captain Baron Manfred von Richthofen, Germany's leading airman killed on 21 April 1918 aged 25. Wreckage of the Baron's Fokker DR1 is examined by members of No. 3 Squadron AFC. On 22 April No. 3 Squadron AFC buried von Richthofen with full military honours at Bertangles cemetery. [AWM F00032]
Transcript
[A black title card has a double border with swirled corners. Text reads, "Incidents In Connection With The Funeral of Capt. Baron Von Richtofen, Germany's Leading Airman, Killed on April 21st, 1918, aged 25 years."
On a black text card, white text reads, "His smashed up machine."
The wreckage of a plane lies near tents. Soldiers examine debris and the holes in the fuselage. Two machine guns lean against the wreckage. Three soldiers examine the machine guns. Their barrels have a lattice-work cooling cover.
Text card: Wreaths arriving from British Headquarters, etc.
Trucks and soldiers wait on a road. Two soldiers carry large wreaths that are decorated with pale flowers and striped ribbons. Near a crowd of observers, two lines of soldiers stand facing each other, their rifles on their shoulders. In unison, they present arms, holding their rifles vertically in front of their bodies. Six soldiers carry a coffin on their shoulders to a truck. They ease the wreath-covered coffin onto the truck's tray.
Text card: The Cortege moving off.
One hand behind their backs, an honour guard marches between two lines of soldiers standing to attention. The truck and more soldiers follow. The triangular peaks of tents line one side of the road.
Text card: The scene at the Cemetery.
A priest in a white alb and dark stole leads pall bearers carrying a coffin on their shoulders. An officer stands by open graves. Soldiers peer over a hedge into the cemetery. The honour guard parades past the graves, holding their rifles under their left arms. Behind their backs, their right hands hold the muzzles of their rifles. The priest reads from a Bible. Wreaths are removed from the coffin and put on the hedge. Two ropes run under the coffin. Soldiers holding the rope ends help lower the coffin into the grave. The honour guard fires into the air. They lower their rifles, rest the muzzles on the ground, rest their left hands on the butt of the rifle, then swing their right hands horizontally through the air and place them on top of the rifle butt. They then do the same with their left hands. The honour guard bow their heads. By the grave, the priest holds his bible open. Later, the priest and some soldiers move away. The wreaths are lifted from the hedge. As soldiers start to fill in the grave, others watch from behind the hedge.
The Rising Sun badge appears in white on a black screen. A semicircle of sword and bayonet blades arches over a crown. Below, two curved scrolls read "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces".]