St John's Church, Ravenhead

Nursing Sister Clara Evans

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The font cover is also a memorial to her.



To the Glory of God and in Memory of CLARA EVANS, PRESENTED BY THE SUNDAY SCHOOL CHILDREN 1900













DEATH OF
ARMY NURSING SISTER
CLARA EVANS
AT BLOEMFONTEIN

There will be a feeling of profound regret in St. Helens at the news which was received on Tuesday morning, that Army Nursing Sister Evans died at Bloemfontein on Thursday last. Miss Clara Evans was the youngest daughter of the late Mr. William Evans, of the Scholes and Prescot, and sister of Mrs. Joseph Massey, of the Scholes, and of the Misses Evans, of the Woodlands, St. Helens, where she resided before proceeding to South Africa. Miss Evans was for three and a half years on the staff of the City of London Hospital, where she showed marked ability and skill. She had great experience in the men's surgical ward and for this reason was one of those recommended for war service by Miss Lakes, the matron of the hospital, and selected by the Princess of Wales. The greatest interest was taken in St. Helens and Prescot in her departure for the seat of war, and before leaving London she was received by the Princess of Wales. The Mayor of St Helens, Mr. Beecham, also sent her a letter of congratulation and a present of a complete and handsome nurse's wallet. Miss Evans, along with the other nurses from the London Hospital, left Southampton in the Dunottar Castle, on December 23, along with Lord Roberts and his staff. On reaching Cape Town she took up duty at the great military hospital at Wynburg. On May 11th she was moved to Bloemfontein, where enteric has proved so terrible a scourge, and it is believed that this has been the cause of death. Miss Evans was twenty-nine years of age. On Monday, May 28th, the family were notified by the matron of the London Hospital that Miss Evans was seriously ill. Every effort was made by cable to ascertain further particulars, but no word was received until Tuesday morning, when a telegram was received stating that Miss Evans had died the previous Thursday. Only the previous Monday Alderman J. Massey had received a cheery letter from her, sent from Wynberg Hospital, in which she acknowledged the receipt of a parcel of cigarettes, tobacco, and pipes, which had been sent by the members of the St. Helens Conservative Club for the soldiers in the hospital. She said the men were very pleased with the gift and she was keeping a large stock in reserve to give to the St. Helens men when she came across them, which unfortunately will not now be the case. She concluded: - "I only wish you could see them. It would repay you for all the trouble and expense. Please accept Tommy's best thanks, and also mine for helping to cheer them up."
At the meeting of the St. Helens Law Society on Friday evening, while proposing the toast of "The Imperial Forces," Mr. H. L. Riley referred to the presence at the front of the St. Helens Volunteers and two of Colonel H. Pilkington's sons. Colonel Pilkington M.P., in replying, made a delicate and sympathetic reference to Miss Evans's presence at the seat of war and the fact that she was reported seriously ill. The greatest sympathy is felt for Miss Evans's relative in St. Helens and further details are anxiously awaited.

(From The St Helens Newspaper of Saturday, 9th June 1900)