Rushden Man’s Sad End - Private G. Cave Killed - Wounded British Soldiers - Lanced by the Germans

Some weeks ago we published in the “Rushden Echo” that Pte. G. Cave, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cave, of Rushden, had been officially reported as missing. The official document stated that he had not been with his regiment since Aug. 25th.

We regret to say that Mr. and Mrs. Cave have now received confirmation of his death, though not official. The sad news has been brought by a friend who lives near to Mr. and Mrs. Cave, and who was in the same regiment as Pte. Cave, and is now at home wounded. He states that Pte. Cave was killed in the first battle, his source of information being a drummer friend of Pte. Cave’s, who actually saw him killed. In this engagement we are told that the Germans spared none of the wounded, such of the British wounded as were alive when the Germans came past being run through with the lance as they lay.

The sympathy of the whole town will be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Cave in the grievous loss they have sustained by the death of their gallant son, and also to the deceased soldier’s wife. His mother told our representative, however, that she could not have wished a more glorious end for her son, he having died in the service of his King and country.

Prior to being called up as a reservist in the first week in August, Pte. Cave was in the employ of Messrs. G. Selwood and Co. He leaves a wife and one child to mourn their loss, and as a model and affectionate son he will be greatly missed by his parents. We are given to understand that the probable reason why Mr. and Mrs. Cave have not received official confirmation of their son’s death is because the British were compelled to retire from ... ... ... in this particular engagement, and such of the British as were killed were subsequently buried by the Germans, who did not take the trouble to remove the identification disks.

The late Private Cave had seen seven years’ service, five of which he served in India. He was captain of the regimental football and hockey teams, and was very popular with his comrades.