THE MARTYRED NURSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 May 1919, Page 4

THE MARTYRED NURSE.

TRIBUTES TO HER MEMORY. London, May 15 (Delayed). Nurse Cavell's funeral service at Westminster Abbey was the most outstanding women's demonstration held during the war. There has been nothing like it since Queen Victoria's funeral. The flags on Government offices were at half-niaat. and the itreets were crowded, women outnumbering the men fivefold.

The Coldstream Guards met the coffin, at Victoria Station. It was placed on a gun-carriage, covered with the Union Jack, on which lay a single wreath. The Guards escorted the coffin to the west door of the Abbey, where there was a remarkable gathering. The number in choir included Queen Alexandria, Princess Victoria, members of the Cabinet, Ambassadors, High Commissioners, Agents-General, and the leading military and naval officers. Australian nurses were prominent in the nave, also big delegations of Waacs, Wrens, and Air Force girls, Red Cross nurses, and representatives of etery department of women's activity in the war. The anthems, prayers.', and lessons emphasised the dominant note of service, and that Nulwe Cavetl was a Christian who died in the Lord. The most moving episode was ,the congregational singing of Lyte's "Abide With Me." which Nurse Cavell repeated just before her execution. The service closed with the Dead March in "Saul" and the Last Post.

The gun-carriage, escorted by the Coldstreams, moved along the Embankment and through the City. The Lord Mayor saluted from the Mansion House. There were tremendous crowds en route to Liverpool Street Station, whence the coffin was taken to Norwich nnd buried in the corner of the'Cathcdral Close called "Life's Green," under the shadow of the Memorial Chapel to those who have died in the war.

President Poincare has presented Nurse Cavell with the posthumous decoration of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.