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| Nellie Spindler: WWI nurse death centenary marked in Leeds | Nellie Spindler: WWI nurse death centenary marked in Leeds |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| A ceremony has been held to mark the centenary of the death of one of two British women killed during World War One and buried in Belgium. | |
| Nellie Spindler died aged 26 in a blast at a hospital three miles from the frontline near Ypres in 1917. | |
| Ms Spindler was buried with full military honours and is the only woman buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, among 10,000 men. | Ms Spindler was buried with full military honours and is the only woman buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, among 10,000 men. |
| The Last Post was played during the service at St James's Hospital, Leeds. | |
| Read more on this and other stories in Yorkshire | |
| Ms Spindler, born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, joined the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and in July 1917 she was transferred from France to Belgium. | Ms Spindler, born in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, joined the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service and in July 1917 she was transferred from France to Belgium. |
| Working for No 44 Casualty Clearing Station she helped treat seriously injured soldiers at a hospital based within the range of German shells at the Battle of Passchendaele. | |
| Minnie Wood, a matron, held her as she died and wrote to Ms Spindler's parents telling them their daughter died "perfectly peacefully". | Minnie Wood, a matron, held her as she died and wrote to Ms Spindler's parents telling them their daughter died "perfectly peacefully". |
| During the service, relatives of Ms Spindler, veterans and serving members of the British Army sang hymns, listened to readings and observed a silence. | |
| Officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele was fought from 31 July to 6 November 1917 in West Flanders, northern Belgium, and is recorded as one of the harshest battles of the war. | Officially known as the Third Battle of Ypres, Passchendaele was fought from 31 July to 6 November 1917 in West Flanders, northern Belgium, and is recorded as one of the harshest battles of the war. |
| The other woman who died during World War One to be buried in Belgium is Elsie Mabel Gladstone, who also worked as a nurse, and died of pneumonia. | The other woman who died during World War One to be buried in Belgium is Elsie Mabel Gladstone, who also worked as a nurse, and died of pneumonia. |
| Chris van D'Arque, deputy head of chaplaincy at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, who led the service, said: "Another nurse raced to be with her and care for her as she died, putting herself in danger, which shows her popularity. | |
| "The service is based on the core values of honour, courage and continuing commitment to the same cause of care." | "The service is based on the core values of honour, courage and continuing commitment to the same cause of care." |
| Prof Christine Hallett, professor of Nursing History at the University of Manchester, said: "She was one of the surgical nurses supporting the men, taking them into theatre, assisting with the surgery and then helping them to recover, it was really vital work. | |
| "Nellie is a particular example of somebody who was really brave and willing to fight in her own way and sacrifice her life." |