Tremadog WW1

Portmadoc Funeral.

Miss Kathleen A. Hugheston Roberts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. Hugheston Roberts, Gwynys, Tremadoc, died at the age of thirty-two years at Reading War Hospital, where she had been a nurse for a considerable period. The body was brought home for interment. Military honours were observed at Reading, the coffin wrapped in the Union Jack and covered with wreaths, being borne from the hospital to Reading Station on a gun carriage drawn by four horses. The cortege was preceded by a detachment of soldiers headed by a military band who played "Chopin's March." In the carriage behind the gun carriage were Mrs. E. Hugheston Roberts (mother), Miss Jeanie Hugheston Roberts (sister), and Mr. Harry Watkins, London (uncle). Then came a detachment of nurses and a number of wounded soldiers from Reading Hospital, the Matron and the Sisters of the Hospital and the Colonel-in-charge. The cortege was received at Portmadoc Station by the Rev. W. O. Evans, pastor of Ebenezer Wesleyan Church (where deceased was a member), and a large gathering of friends from Tremadoc and Portmadoc.

The funeral took place on Friday afternoon at Penmorfa Churchyard and was of a military character. The Rev. W. O. Evans officiated at the house. At the head of the cortege were the Portmadoc Volunteers under the command of Lieut. George E. Roberts, followed by the nurses of the Portmadoc and Criccieth V.A.D. attending Wern Military Hospital, where the deceased was a nurse before proceeding to Reading. Next came the deceased's Sunday School class. Behind the hearse were the carriages with the chief mourners, namely, Mr. E. Hugheston Roberts (father); Mr. Vernon Hugheston Roberts (brother); Messrs. Harry Watkins and Hugh Watkins, London, and W. Jones Watkins, Denbigh (uncles); J. Pritchard Roberts, Boston Lodge; David Roberts, High-street; Mr. Evans, Carnarvon; the Rev. W.O. Evans and Mr. W. Owen, Pwllheli. Two brothers of the deceased, Lieut. Dennis Hugheston Roberts and Lieut. Herbert Hugheston Roberts are on active service, the former in France and the latter in Salonika, and her eldest brothers, Mr. W. Hugheston Roberts, is in South America.

The Revs. D. Collwyn Morgan, rector, and J. James, curate, and the Rev. W. O. Evans officiated at Penmorfa Church, and the Rector at the graveside.

The Rev. W. O. Evans, in the course of his address at the Church, said: -
It is but natural to dwell on the sad side of the event which has brought us up together to-day. Death is always a sad event, and we never assemble at the graveside to pay our last tribute to the memory of our loved ones, without feeling a pang of pain at the parting. Even when life has been prolonged and when it "comes to the grave in a full age like as a shock of corn cometh in its season" we cannot shake off the sadness and sorrow which death always brings.

But to-day our sadness is deepened and our sorrow is intensified, for here is a young and beautiful life cut down as a flower while yet in its bloom. The cruel scythe of the remorseless Reaper has here cut down a life that was consecrated to service, a life of rich promise, a life of unselfish usefulness; and though we dare not murmur we cannot but mourn at such a loss as this. We tender our deepest sympathy with the bereaved family. However great is the loss in other circles, the dear one departed will be most sadly missed at home. But, although we feel there is cause for lamentation and sorrow, we are sure there is also cause for consolation and gratitude. There is a silver lining even to the dark cloud which overshadows us to-day. And it is best to dwell on the bright side.

We have cause for gratitude when we think of the beautiful Christian character which we honour to-day. I emphasize the word Christian, for I feel sure that the source of all her good works and her beneficent influence was her devotion to Christ, whom she knew as her Saviour and served as her Lord. She made no parade of her religion, but it was there, the secret root out of which grew all the virtues and graces which adorned her life. She let her light shine, and light makes no noise, though it blesses those on whom it falls. Her character shone with the reflected glory of her Lord. If death came to her early, she lived long enough to attain the chief end of life. She won the highest achievement.

Again, we thank God for the services she rendered. Her life was a life of service. From her girlhood she was known as the helper of others. She never frittered her time in idle leisure and never wasted it in pursuing pleasure. As though she knew she had not long to live, she spent her time and her strength in doing good to others. Long before the war she lived to serve. And when the war came, with its heavy toll of suffering and its clamant calls for service, it was the most natural thing for her to offer her services where they were most needed. We shall never be able to reduce to cold figures and statistics the quiet self-denying work done by the nurses throughout the land. And I venture to say that no-one fulfilled her tasks more conscientiously, more thoroughly and more sympathetically than Nurse Kathleen Hugheston Roberts. It may be said of her, as truly as of any soldier who has made the supreme sacrifice, that she gave her life for her country. As we think of her sacrificing her life in the service of others we may be tempted to ask: "For what purpose was this waste?" But there is no waste in love, there is no loss in the service of suffering humanity. Like the alabaster box of ointment which Mary broke on the Saviour's person, the sacrifice is accounted worthy by Him. He accepts it as the precious offering of love. And the fragrance of the offering remains when the flask is broken. The fragrance of this consecrated life remains. She has not lived in vain, nor died in vain. She is still living. We only bury the body - the casket in which the precious jewel of her soul was placed for a season. The jewel is safe and shines brighter now in a better setting. She is not dead. Rather, she has entered the larger life and is still engaged in her Master's service. Let us comfort one another with these thoughts and endeavour to emulate her noble example.

(Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard, 8th March 1918)