NURSE CAVELL'S DEATH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9651, 7 July 1919, Page 5

NURSE CAVELL'S DEATH.

CHAPLAIN'S INTIMATE STORY".

Lance-Corporal P. R. Boad, who i» at. persenil stationed at Torqaajj in a fetter to his father (Mr John Bond, of Law Street, Caversham) giv-ee an account of a lecture by the chaplain who was the last of her country aaes to ccc Nurse Cavell before her esetratiori..

'Commencing his lecture,/the Rey. ',' St. Gahlin detailed the incidente that led to him being sent to Bnmels by the Colonial and Continetal Church So-: ciety. He had known Nurse Caveu intimately through her work at the hospital that she had charge of, and had found her to be rather reserved in nature, inclined to let other peopki do the talking. Had it not been for tragedy surrounding her death little wotddhaye been heard of her. ■ Loading to', the facts of her arrest, ho told us -of a little Christmas fete that she gavo to the patients, and it is quite evidant that too much was said by those present, perhaps not thinking that thej were doing any harm. But the real cause of her betrayal was that sonio of those ■ j whom she had fed, clothed aad housed, Latter they had got safely back to their own lines across the Dutch frontier, wrote postcards and letters thanking her for her kindness, and expressing their gratitude in other ways—rather a foolish thing to do. Nevertheless that, is what exactly happened. These letters, of course, came into tho hands of the German authorities, and led to jtaer imprisonment. It was through the untiring energy of a German chaplain that the Rev. Gahlin had the last hours with Edith Cavell. She was taken to prison per motor car, and after several w*eks the trial commenced. During these days she said perhaps a little more than was absolutely accessary; but this made little or ho difference, for the evidence was very heavy against her, it being estimated that she had assisted over 200 men back to tbelino. • The. trial concluded, and it was whispered round that the sentence was likely to be a severe one. Then came the severe blow. The Gorman chaplain, made another call on the Rev. Gahlin, and told him that the execution was to take place in the morning, and that he had. received permission for him to visit her. It was about 9.30 in the ..evening when he arrived. . SLe was just lying on her, bed. She was quite in her natural state—nothing dramatic ■ about her manner—and after oonver-. satton, in which she mentioned ihatthe verdict did not surprise her, a»d that she had no complaints as regards her ti;eatment during her internment, she remarked that she did not 'dread the fact of her "going." After administering the communion, thoy sang a hymn and then knelt down in prayer when he v commended her to the keeping of the' Good. Shepherd. It was now about 11 p.m., so, remembering that- sho had Jiad very little rest, clasping his hand, she said quietly: "I am .very .proud to . die for my country. I love all. I hate none." He said: "We shall 'meetagain," and her reply was: "Yes, we shall meet again." And so, the Jecturer continued, "I am looking forward to that meeting. There tiiey said good-bye, no longer to meet again m this world. At 5 a.ni. she was takon by motor to the National Rifle Range, just outside Brussels, where a company of German soldiers were drawn up, and 10 men were selected. The German chaplain accompanied her as permission could not be obtained for Mr Gan- - lin After the volley death was instantaneous, and Nurso Cavell went to be with her Maker. After the signing or the armistice he was able to visit aer grave, arid with a company oi soldiers hold a service there.