Source: Penrith Observer dated June 25th, 1918
The funeral at Penrith Cemetery on Sunday afternoon provided one of the most remarkable scenes witnessed at Penrith for many years. Sergt. Ploethner was well known and very popular in the town, and this , combined with the tragic circumstances of his death, sufficed to begin a wave of sympathy which came to a head in the neighbourhood of the Cemetery in the assembly of thousands of people. It is against the local rules to have Sunday funerals, but an exception was made in this case on account of the Canadians, who did not want to sacrifice Monday from work. The internment was accompanied by military honours, and long before the procession was due to start the Beacon road was crowded with people. It had been decided, wisely in the circumstances, not to admit the public to the Cemetery, and the regular police had the assistance of a band of specials and Canadians from the Beacon, to keep the people to the side of the road nearest the town. . The body had been taken during the forenoon from the Cottage Hospital to the Drill Hall, and it was from the latter place that the procession started. The whole of Portland Place was packed with people, while two dense lines formed a human avenue the full length of Wordsworth Street. The coffin, which was draped with the Union Jack and surmounted by the Sergeant’s cap and belt, was placed on a low lumber wagon, which was drawn by two Canadian horses, on one of which rode a postilion. The band, conducted by Mr. J. Varty, led the procession, playing the Dead March. Then followed a firing party of fourteen men, and a bugler, from the Whinfell Camp. After this came the wagon, which was immediately followed by the bearers- all Sergeant-Majors and Sergeants from the Westmorland Camp. , with the exception of one, The Staff Sergeant from the Beacon, who had been with Ploethner since leaving Moose Jaw, Canada. Next came the men from the Whinfell Camp, under Major Walker and other officers, and then followed the Canadians from the Beacon, under Captain Spence, Lieut. and Adjutant Glanfield, and others. The Penrith Volunteers, commanded by Captain Fleming, came next, the rear being brought up by the Cadets, under Lieuts. Kidd and Watson. The remains were met at the gate by Captain Edmison, Chaplain to the Forestry Corps, who conducted the ceremony throughout. As soon as the uniformed men had been admitted the Cemetery gates were locked. While the short service was being held in the chapel, the soldiers were formed up in a hollow square around the grave.
Before reading the committal sentences Captain Edmison gave a short address, in which he spoke of the supreme sacrifice made by the deceased in leaving his home in that far-away dominion to assist his Mother Country. He had been to France, and was one of the wounded heroes of Vimy Ridge. After being wounded he was put to work in a less exciting but no less noble sphere, and now had met his end in a remarkable manner. From the circumstances Captain Edmison drew the lesson of spiritual watchfulness. After concluding the service the Chaplain saluted the Commanding Officer, and stepped aside for the firing party. Three volleys were fired, and then the bugler, accompanied by Mr. J. Sanderson and Mr. J. Smith on the side-drums, sounded the Last Post. The soldiers were then allowed to break their line, in order to step up to the grave to have a last look at the coffin of their comrade. A few minutes later the soldiers marched away, and all was again quiet save for the singing of the birds on the beautiful hillside. There was a magnificent offering of choice flowers, including a large wreath formed in the devise of the C.F.C. badge, sent by his Whinfell comrades; others were from the Beacon officers and men; another testified to the sympathy of Lieut. and Mrs. Reeve; one from the Sergeant’s mess was inscribed, “to a brave Vimy Ridge hero,” and the remainder were from Penrith and other local friends. After the grave had been filled in the public were admitted to the Cemetery. Before leaving Captain Edmison plucked a few flowers from a wreath to send to the deceased’s relatives in Canada – a touching close to a pathetic scene.