Nurse' Cavell’s Execution

Evening Star, Issue 19798, 23 February 1928, Page 2

Nurse' Cavell’s Execution

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Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. _ BERLIN, February 21. Dr Gottfried Bonn, who was officially present at the execution of Nurse Cavell, tells the story for the first time. He found two platoons, each of twelve men, waiting at the shooting range, where the Belgian engineer Broque, who was convicted of complicity with Nurse Cavell, was also present. Soon another car, containing Nurse Cavell and a priest, drove np. Nurse Cavcll’s face was like a mask, but her gait was staggering owing to a muscular impediment, though she walked without hesitation to the place between the two posts whore Broqnc stood. She stopped a moment to tell the priest; “ I am glad I am dying for England. Other women arc sacrificing husbands, brothers, and sons; J, only my life.” She asked the priest to send a last message to her mother and brothers, who were serving with the British Army in Prance. Nurse Cavell and Broque were quickly blindfolded and tied to posts. Both platoons fired Irom a couple of yards distance. Nurse Cavell’s body remained upright for a few minutes, though she had twelve bullets through her heart and lungs. “1 went to fho post and found her dead, and closed her eyes, then assisted to place the body in a small yellow coffin, which was interred secretly.” Dr Bonn understands that Nurse Cavell helped 300 soldiers and Belgian civilians across the Dutch frontier.