Death of a Rushden Ambulance Man

The sad news of the death of Private C R Bettles, who left Rushden for South Africa early in the year was made known yesterday morning. The deceased was the second son of Mr and Mrs Bettles, of Windmill-road, was a smart young fellow, and a staunch tee-totaller. All last summer he practised with the Rushden Ambulance Corps and in the autumn he passed his first aid examination. At the beginning of the year he was selected for service at the front, and for some time he had been nursing enteric fever patients at Bloemfontein. This work is exceptionally trying and dangerous, the nurses frequently contracting the disease. Private Bettles did not escape the scourge. For the past week it has been known that he was dangerously ill, but it was hoped that he would recover. This hope was not destined to be realised, for the poor young man died on Friday at Bloemfontein, to the great grief of his parents and the sincere regret of all who knew him. The deceased’s six months’ service at the front had expired, but he had re-joined for another six months.

MEMORIAL SERVICE A memorial service in memory of Private Charles Rainbow Bettles, of the St. John Ambulance Corps, and a senior scholar of the Old Baptist Chapel, took place in the above place of worship on Sunday evening last.