3-034-724 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Funeral of Sir John Burgoyne in St. Peter's Church at the Tower of London, 1871. Sir John Burgoyne was Constable of the Tower, and his body was therefore brought to the Church of St. Peter ad Vincula for interment. 'Directly in front of the coffin two valets of the deceased carried upon velvet cushions the hat, sword, orders, and decorations of the deceased; Colonel Milman, Major of the Tower, followed with the Field Marshal's baton. The coffin was covered with a black velvet pall, edged with white silk, over which were placed the crimson satin robes of the Order of the Bath. The brass plate thus hidden bore the inscription: "Field Marshal Sir John Fox Burgoyne, Bart., G.C.B., Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers, Constable of the Tower of London, Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the Tower Hamlets..." The burial service was simply and impressively read by the two officiating clergymen, the Rev. W. Graham Greene, Chaplain of the Tower, accompanied by the Rev. R. Forrest, but there were no choral responses, and no anthem was sung, nor did the organ sound a note. The Engineers aided to lower the coffin into the grave, and a salute of seventeen guns was then fired, which marked the conclusion of the funeral performance'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.