BURIED AT SEA: Coastguard mates lower Alan Hartfield's body into the sea. (Photo supplied by Wellington Coastguard)
After the sound of eight bells, retired Royal New Zealand Navy Petty Officer Alan Harfield was buried at sea in accordance with his wishes.
The former radio operator, who died on May 12, was buried 10 days later in his environment – Alan had been a volunteer with the Wellington Volunteer Coastguard for 24 years.
He joined when it was under its original name, Wellington Sea Rescue.
Burial at sea is an unusual event, and Maritime NZ confirmed it was the first this year. It is also the first time the local Coastguard has been involved.
Alan’s final journey was met by a beautiful sunny and calm morning as the Coastguard vessels Spirit of Wellington and Phoenix Rescue motored out to sea.
ESCORT: The Police and Coastguard boats escort Alan's family who are aboard the Steve Maree.
They were escorted by police launch Lady Elizabeth III with Alan’s family on the vessel Steve Maree.
The body was draped in a Coastguard flag, with Alan’s fellow crew members acting as guards of honour on his final journey of some 2½ hours to the burial site 30 nautical miles south-east of Wellington.
On the way, close to the boat, seals fished and played in the ocean, and albatross skimmed the waves.
A passing dolphin marked the spot where the burial was to take place, and on arriving crew members were instructed by skipper Stu Marshall to take up stations for the service.
At 11.30am after a short prayer Alan’s body was committed to the deep, and poppies were thrown into the sea in his memory.
On the return voyage Coastguard mates remembered him warmly, and exchanged memories of him.
Many said they will miss his trademark radio call of “five by five”, meaning a radio message is received clear with a strong signal.
“This is the first burial at sea that I have been in charge of and the first that I have attended as well,” boat skipper Stu Marshall says.
A funeral service took place on May 19 at the Cockburn Chapel of the Harbour City Funeral Home in Kilbirnie, but due to weather the burial at sea was delayed until the following Saturday.
Although a sea burial is an unusual event there are only small changes made to the service, says funeral celebrant Brian Ross.
“It’s pretty much the same as usual, but just with a focus on the sea,” he says.
Permission for this kind of burial has to be requested via Maritime NZ, and the casket or burial wrap has to be prepared to specific requirements.
Alan, who lived in Newtown, is survived by a son and daughter.
RADIO OPERATOR: Alan Hartfield, who was buried at sea late last month.
