'DECEMBER 29, 1915.
'I grieve very much to tell you that your son, Captain Lusk, took a
turn for the worse last night. Captain Skilton, the Presbyterian
Chaplain who has written to you informing you of the serious wounds
your brave son received, would naturally have written to you now, but
he is away at the present time. However, he asked me to write and
keep you informed about your son's condition in his absence. The
turn for the worse which came last night was somewhat unexpected, in
spite of the fact that we knew the serious nature of your son's
condition.
'We hoped, however, that, please God, his life might be spared. But
I grieve to have to tell you that He has ordered otherwise. After
your son's collapse the end came very rapidly last night and he
passed away....
'If it is of the slightest comfort to you to know it, I should like
you to feel that your son, after what he has undergone for his
country's sake, spent his last days among friends, for his doctor and
his nurse, Miss Bulman, quickly formed a great regard for him. Miss
Bulman, I know, is writing to you herself, and I know how she has
nursed your son with the greatest tenderness and care.'
BASIL ASTON
(_Chaplain_).
'DECEMBER 29, 1915.
'My heart is very sad as I sit down to write to you again. You will
have heard ere this that Captain Lusk passed away last evening,--so
quietly he went, it was hard to realize that he had really left us,
and there had been such great hopes of his recovery. After his first
night with us the improvement seemed to be so steady, and yesterday
he spoke so brightly and seemed so much more himself in every way.
Several times he spoke of you, and his keen desire that you should
not be told that he was seriously injured. He asked not to be moved
from here till he was stronger, and remarked how he enjoyed the
sounds of the children's voices playing in the Convent garden. Our
Hospital is the other half of the Convent. He also asked to see his
tunic, which I had brought up, and in examining it we admired the
little "piece of ribbon." Then in his gallant way he remarked "Yes,
they were very good to give me that; we had a rough time, but they
certainly have been good to me." I could only feel how very much
more we would do if we could, to save the lives of men like that.'
K. BULMAN
(_Sister-in-Charge_).
'JANUARY 5, 1916.
'He was quite conscious until breathing ceased. He never complained
of any pain and I believe his suffering at the end was of very short
duration....
'In the short time I looked after him I appreciated his noble
character, his patience and bravery, and was particularly struck by
the gratitude he showed both to myself and the Sisters who looked
after him. I attended his funeral and realized what a loss his
brother Officers had sustained by his death.'
C. B. BAXTER
(_Captain R.A.M.C.T._)
'DECEMBER 30, 1915.
'I have just returned from Amiens (which is about fourteen miles from
here), where I had the sad duty of committing to its resting place
the body of your departed son, our highly honoured and greatly loved
Adjutant. From enquiries which I made, I learned that he passed away
on the evening of the 28th inst. at 8.30. He is interred in the
Cimetière de St. Pierre, Amiens, and his grave is No. 4, Officers'
Section. A burial party went down from the trenches with Major
Graham, Captain Campbell, Dr. Rawlins and Monsieur Viel, the Brigade
Interpreter. The scene was very pathetic, and everyone present was
deeply moved. The Medical Officer who had your son under his special
care at Amiens attended the funeral. He told me that Captain Lusk
seemed at first to be doing quite as well as could be expected, and
conversed freely with the doctors and nurses. The wound in the head
though serious was not considered specially dangerous. There was
some injury to the spine, however, which, I understand, caused
paralysis. He suffered no pain all the doctors assured me, and was
perfectly conscious and very bright to the last. All who nursed him
in Hospital were much impressed by the personal charm and
attractiveness of your son, and they were greatly touched by his
constant gratitude for the smallest services rendered to him. His
was a rare and beautiful character, and we all feel enriched by the
gracious memories he has left behind him. His Christian life was a
testimony to the Master Whom he served, that none could fail to
understand, and the men--one and all--felt that in Captain Lusk they
knew a man who was a Christian "in deed and in truth."
'On the evening of the 28th December there was a sudden failure of
strength. His breathing was affected. It all lasted but a few
moments. "Quickly, Quickly" were the words he uttered, before he
passed away.'
ALFRED COUTTS,
(_Chaplain, 6th Cameronians_).
* * * * * *
In a special supplement to the _London Gazette_, issued on February
24, 1916, the official announcement appeared that the President of
the French Republic, with the approval of His Majesty the King, had
bestowed the _Croix de Chevalier_ of the Legion of Honour on Captain
Lusk. He was also mentioned in Despatches by the British
Commander-in-Chief.
* * * * * *
The tributes with which we conclude are all from Officers of the 6th
Cameronians, except the first three which are from the widow of one
Officer, and the bereaved parents of two others:--
'I feel I have lost a true dear friend, one who brought comfort to
_my_ wounded heart, and whose precious letter and friendship I shall
always cherish.'