The Rushden Echo Friday 23 October 1914, transcribed by Nicky Bates
Rushden Sailor's Thrilling Work - Rescuing Survivors of the Aboukir, Cressy, and Hogue - 'Tons of Bodies in the Water'
Mr and Mrs W. S. Robinson, of Rushden, have two sons engaged in the defence of their country.
Private H. S. Robinson, of the 2nd Northants Regiment, or, as his father prefers to call them, the "Steelbacks" paid a flying visit to his parents this week whilst en route for the front. Private Robinson has for the past year or two been on foreign service in Malta and Egypt. His regiment landed at Liverpool late on Saturday night, and he was given 48 hours' leave to enable him to visit his friends and relatives. He left Rushden on Tuesday by the 2.49 p.m. for Winchester, from which place he expected to have an eight miles' march to camp.
click here for Conditions in War 1914 including the letter from Signalman J W Robinson
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The Rushden Echo, 4th December 1914, transcribed by Jim Hollis.
Rushden Soldiers Shelled - Private H. Eden Reports the Death of Private Robinson
“I think we are in for a hard winter,” writes Private H. Eden (Rushden), of the 2nd Northants, in a letter sent home from the front. He continues: “I received parcel and ‘Rushden Echo’ safely. The parcel was in good condition and I must say it is very good of you all. We got shelled on Saturday, Nov. 21st. we had two killed and one wounded. Robinson, of Little-street, Rushden, was one of the two killed. I shall be very glad when this lot’s over!”
Private Eden is the adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. J. O’Brien, of Rushden. His father was a gardener at Castle Ashby. His brother Bernard was recently given a commission for services on the field, but is now unfortunately in a hospital wounded.
Close to the Germans - Rushden Soldier's Hardships - Life in the Trenches - Up to His Thighs in Freezing Water
So fearful has been the experience of Private Horace Field (Rushden), of the 2nd Northants, that he will have more than enough to remind him of the present war. He has fought in trenches in which the water was several feet deep, and, unable to get relief, fought on until his feet were badly frozen that the Field Ambulance had to remove him.
Writing to his mother from a hospital in France he says: "I have just come out of the trenches and have had to be taken to hospital with frozen feet. They will soon get better, I hope. I have experienced a lot lately on active service. We were in the trenches for five days, and it rained, hailed, and snowed until we were wet to the skin. We had to go though trenches up to our thighs in icy water. We never had a wash for six days, so you can imagine we looked a bit black. Perhaps you might not know, but we have been as near as 200 yards to the Germans. From our trenches we could watch them coming out of theirs to get swedes or turnips and then running back again. I received your parcel and letter and was in the trenches at the time, so they came in handy. I am very sorry to tell you that 'Robo' (Pte H.S. Robinson of Rushden) got killed on Nov. 21st by a German shell. You might let his people know. Remember me to all my friends and tell them I am very well under the circumstances.
Pte Field has served four years in the army, part of which time he was in Egypt.
Private Robinson's Death Further Confirmation
Pte John Farrar (Rushden), writes to his mother in Crabb-street:- "I am in the best of health. I must tell you that Robinson got killed on the night of Nov. 21st. They tell me he was riding his horse."
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