Tom Clark

Rushden Motor Cyclist – Strafing the Enemy
Brigade Football Match - The Pitch Bombed by German Aeroplane
When will the War End? - Corporal Tom Clark’s Answer
Corporal Tom Clark, of the Motor Machine Gun Service, son of Mr and Mrs Chas Clark, of Wellingtonia, Irchester-road, Rushden, is spending a further eight days’ leave at home after 16 months on the Western Front.

Interviewed by a representative of the “Rushden Echo” he said:-
“There is not a great deal to relate this time as things have been rather quiet all winter, and with the exception of a few minor attacks and counter attacks there has been nothing much doing. The winter has not been very severe. We have had plenty of rain but not much very cold weather. We had nothing to be compared with the blizzard you had in England judging by the photographs in the ‘Rushden Echo’ which I receive each week.

“For the past six months our work has consisted of practically all night work, that is to say we are posted with our guns a short distance behind our first fire trenches, and from this position we play upon the enemy’s communication trenches and working parties. Of course, for this.

Purpose, guns are sighted before dark, and at night the guns are fired at irregular intervals in the hopes of catching a ration party or working party.

“About a couple of months ago I took part in a small strafe of the enemy. The Germans had strongly fortified a row of houses just behind their lines, and their hiding places have been discovered, our artillery proceeded to demolish them. As the Germans rushed out of the houses for safety they found us waiting with our machine guns. Of course, they soon took cover, but not before we had done some considerable damage to them.

“Besides serious incidents we sometimes get such as cause us amusement. One such has happened within the past three weeks, during which we have been resting. One afternoon we were to play the brigade snipers at football but during the morning an enemy aeroplane dropped a bomb right in the middle of the pitch. As a consequence we had to send out a fatigue party with picks and shovels and fill up the hole before we could play. They soon did the job, and the match ended in the snipers being beaten by three to nothing.

“Ever since I got home this time I have been pestered with enquiries as to when the big move is to begin, or as to when the war is going to be ended. I can’t satisfactorily answer either question for we buy English papers to know what is going on on the English front, for all we know is just what is taking place just in our part of the line. The people at home know as much as the boys in the trenches.

“The general opinion of the boys at the front is that there are still plenty of slackers left in England, and they are rather pleased that the Government are introducing compulsion all round”.

Since his last visit home Corpl. Clark has been promoted from Bombardier to his present rank. His battery went to France 64 strong, and at the present time only 28 of the original men remain.

Rushden Male Chorister – with the Indian Expeditionary Force
Gunner Cyril Sheffield in the East
A former member of the Rushden Adult School Male Choir, Gunner Cyril Sheffield (R.F.A.), who is with the Indian Expeditionary Force, in a letter under date April 1st to Mr F Berrill, secretary of the school, writes:-

“I suppose you have been waiting a long time in hopes of hearing from me. I had a good reminder this morning that there is still an Adult School in Rushden when I read a most amusing and interesting letter from Harry Neal, the first letter I had opened since the beginning of last December. I hope you are still progressing in school and its work, although, no doubt, your numbers must be small. I am in a country where Adult Schools are out of the question, but my thoughts often turn to Rushden at the time of your meetings. I have now been in action with this battery for about five weeks. Fighting out here seems to be very slow but we are on the eve of a great bombardment when after it is all finished we shall hope to have accomplished the task of relieving one of England’s great generals and his few thousand men from their most serious position. I hope you spent your Christmas as usual with the choir at their social. I was on the water at the time but on the whole we had a fair time, no chicken or duck, but we are now having a bit of Turkey.”

Rushden Soldier Hurt - Private C. Underwood has Some Narrow Escapes
Mrs. William Underwood, 9, Succoth-place, Rushden, received official news yesterday week that her son, Pte. Chas. Underwood, of the Northants Regiment, was wounded on March 25th.

In a letter to his mother he said that his wounds are only slight. He had sustained two cuts in the head, but apparently he has now returned to the fighting line, as last Sunday morning his mother received a field card on which he said he was all right.

He has had more than one narrow escape. On one occasion a bullet passed right through his cap, cutting off the badge, but did not touch his skull. His mother has the bullet and cap as souvenirs.

Rushden Soldier Gassed - Pte. C. Bodman - Now in Hospital
Mrs. H Bodman, of 72, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, has received official news that her son, Pte. C. Bodman, of the Northants Regt, is now in Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, after being badly gassed by the Germans.

His father and mother went to see him last Saturday, and found he was progressing favourably.

This is Pte Bodman’s second time in hospital, as he was wounded at the battle of Loos.

Rushden C. W. S. Worker – Wounded by Shrapnel
Lance-Corpl. J. H. Shipman in Hospital
Mrs Shipman, of 13, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, has received news that her husband, Lance-Corpl. J. H. Shipman, of the Northants Regiment, was wounded by shrapnel in the left knee on April 25th.

He enlisted on April 17, 1915, and proceeded to the depot on April 25th last year, exactly 12 months prior to the date on which he received his wound. He went to the front at the end of July last year. Prior to enlistment he was employed at the C.W.S. boot factory in Rushden. He returned to this country last Monday week and is now in a Red Cross Hospital, Salisbury, where, we are pleased to report, he is making satisfactory progress.

At the time Lance-Corpl Shipman was wounded he was having six days’ rest at the rear of the firing line. An enemy shell exploded near his section and practically every man received a wound of some description or other.

Rushden Soldier Injured – Gunner Cyril Sheffield Slightly Wounded
Mr. F. Sheffield, of 56, Crabb-street, Rushden, received official news on Wednesday morning that his son, Gunner Cyril Sheffield, 110589, of the – Battery R.F.A., was slightly wounded in action on April 18th.

Gunner Sheffield is a brother of the late Sergt. Horace Sheffield, and a former member of the Rushden Adult School Male Voice Choir and St. Mary’s Church Choir.

An interesting letter from him was published in our last issue. He enlisted at the latter end of last year, and after but seven weeks’ training, went with a draft to the front.

Rushden Belgian Guest Wins the French Military Cross
A Deed of Daring – Two other Brothers Rewarded for Bravery
Mons and Madame Zweryvgher, who are resident in the Belgian House at Rushden, have reason to be proud of three of their sons, two of whom are in the French army and one in the Belgian army. All three have gained distinction for bravery and have been decorated.

The latest to distinguish himself is Prosper Zwertvagher, who is soldier in the French army, and who for several months was a refugee at the Belgian House, Rushden, with his parents. He is well known amongst many Rushden people. Before the war he was a reservist but in the French Auxiliary Army. He was not called up until some time after the outbreak of war, and so came with his parents from Antwerp to Rushden.

When called up in 1915, he went to France, and after two months’ training at Sarlat was then put into the active army. Since leaving Rushden he has greatly distinguished himself in that, with four comrades, he succeeded in holding the portion of the trenches they were defending, with hand grenades, against a strong German attack. This was on January 10th this year and he was personally congratulated by his officers and recommended for the French Military Cross. He was told that he was not merely one of the best men in his company but that he was a credit to the whole regiment.

Soon afterwards he received adequate recompense for his deed of bravery against the enemy as a few weeks ago he was presented with the French Military Cross, which he has forwarded to his parents in Rushden for safe keeping.

The gallant action which has brought him the coveted award, so he writes to his parents, took place at Neuville St Vaast shortly before the English Army occupied that front. He has also been, we understand, slightly wounded in the head by the bursting of hand grenades thrown by the enemy, but after three weeks of convalescence he is one more doing his bit, having now been moved to a spot in France where big fighting is now going on. In his last letter to his parents he said that he was in the firing line and still well.

He has a brother in the French Army (engineers) who has also been awarded the French Military Cross for brave and successful work in mining under the enemy trenches and blowing them up.

Yet another brother has been in the Belgian Army as a volunteer since the commencement of the war, and this brother when in civil life was three times decorated for life saving, having saved two persons from drowning and one from fire.

All three brothers are of one family of boatmen. The father is French and the mother is Belgian. Some of the children were born in France and some in Belgium and it is for this reason that two of the sons are French soldiers whilst another is in the Belgian Army. This fact also accounts for the mixed nationality of the family.

Prior to being called up, Prosper, whilst in Rushden, worked for some time for C. E. Knight, farmer, and later he entered the employ of Messrs. Walter Sargent and Co., boot manufacturers, Crabb-street.

Mons and Madame Zwertvagher are justifiably proud of their sons who are doing their duty so bravely and well.

Wounded in the Big Push - A Batch of Rushden Casualties
Mr [sic] W Wilmott, of 98, Park-road, Rushden, received a field postcard this (Friday) morning from her son, Pte A Wilmott, of the Northants Regt., to say that he has been wounded and admitted to hospital.

Rumour Regarding a Rushden Man
An unpleasant rumour has been circulated in Rushden this week to the effect that Pte. Fredk. Hopper, 18033, Northants Regt., who is well known in the district, has been killed in the great offensive of the British in France. Mrs. Hopper, Pte. Hopper’s wife, who resides at No. 23, Alfred-street, Rushden, informs us that she has received no written communications on the matter, but she fears that, as the rumour is so prevalent, there must be something behind it. She is very anxious to know how the rumour was started and what there is in it. We would request anybody who possesses any more information about it to call at the "Echo" Office, Rushden, or at Mrs. Hopper’s address stated above. Providing the rumour has no truth in it–and we hope it has not– we would like to state that the spreading of rumours like that without foundation is a serious offence, and should be at once prevented. It is thought that the rumour originated in the C.W.S. shoe factory, Rushden.

Rushden Soldier Injured - News Confirmed
In our last issue we reported unofficially that Pte Arthur Wilmott, of the Northants Regt., son of Mr and Mrs Wm Wilmott of 98, Park-road, Rushden, had been wounded in the face. Official confirmation was received on Tuesday morning. Pte Wilmott is now in a hospital in Manchester.

Missing Rushden Soldier – A prisoner of War
News has been received this week by Mrs. W. Hind, of 17, East-grove, Rushden, that her son, Private Arthur Hind, 73910, Canadian Machine Gun Section, who has been reported in the "Rushden Echo" as missing for sometime, is a prisoner of war at a camp in Rheinland, Germany. Mrs. Hind has received two postcards from her son, who says he has been wounded in the shoulder but is now going on well.

In Turkish Hands – Rushden Man a Prisoner of War
Yesterday Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Long, of Rushden, received a postcard yesterday from their son, Driver P. W. Long, of the 63rd Battery, R.F.A., who was captured at Kut with General Townshend’s force. Mr. and Mrs. Long were for a considerable time without news of the son, until they saw from the official report that he was one of the prisoners of war taken by the Turks. It was not until yesterday, however, that Mr. and Mrs. Long heard direct. Drive Long now writes: "June 3rd, 1916—I have been seriously ill. I am getting better, in hospital in Bagdad, a prisoner of war." He adds that the siege of Kut lasted four months, and that it was simply awful.

Rushden Soldier in Germany - Private J. T. Foreman – A Prisoner of War
In the official list of British prisoners of war in Germany occurs the name of Pte. J. T. Foreman, 18108, Northants Regt., son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Foreman, of 66, Glassbrook-road, Rushden.

He was reported missing on April 13th this year, and Mr. and Mrs. Foreman have received several communications from Germany from their son. He gives the information that he is being treated fairly well and there is no need to worry. The name of his present camp is "Baraque 2 B, Camp de Prisonniers de Guerre, Friedricksfeld (bei Wesel, Rheinland)."

The prisoners, according to one of his letters, are allowed to write four postcards and two letters a month and no more. They are made to work by the Germans, and he says any parcels of food or even money would be very welcome to them. He is 25 years old. Mrs. Foreman has another son serving in France with the Royal Engineers.

News has been received that Pte. A. Nobel, No. 124269, —Battalion, Canadian Regt., has been wounded by shrapnel in the right knee and is at the Canadian base in France. He says that it is only slight and that he is progressing favourably. Pte. Noble is an old Rushdenite, the son of Mr. J. Noble, of London, Ontario, Canada.

Rushden Soldier Hurt - Private H. Beeby Slightly Wounded in the Leg
Mr. and Mrs. William Beeby, of 65, Little-street, Rushden, have received a letter from their son, Pte. H. Beeby, 17891, Northants Regt., in which he says he has received a slight wound in the leg but that he is going on well. He writes: "I got through the attack all right, and then ‘stopped one’ after".

Pte. Beeby is now in No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, France. On a field card his parents first received he said he was wounded on July 24th. He enlisted in April 1915, prior to which time, he was employed by Mr. H. Jaques, boot manufacturer, Rushden. He has been at the front since last September.

Wounded in Five Places - Rushden Soldier Injured for the Second Time
Mrs. G. Baker, of 5, Sussex-place, Rushden, received news that her son, Sergt. J. W. Baker, Northants Regt., has received wounds in five different parts of the body, and is now in a Manchester hospital where he is progressing favourably.

This is the second time Sergt. Baker has been wounded, the previous occasion being in October, 1914. He has seen four years’ service with the colours.

Journalist Soldier Wounded
The parents of Bombardier F S Clayton, Queen-street, Rushden, have received a hospital card, stating that their son has sustained a shrapnel wound to the right hand. The wounded soldier is attached to the Siege Battery, R.G.A. He was on the staff of the "Evening Telegraph" at Wellingborough when he joined up.

Pte. W J Austin

Buried Three Times – Rushden Soldier Wounded a Second Time – Speechless for Three Hours
News Wanted of Pte W J Austin
Mr and Mrs R W Austin, of 138, Cromwell-road, Rushden, have received news that their son, Pte T S Austin, 7481 —Beds Regt., has been wounded for the second time, and has been admitted into the 1st Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, France. The official information is that he was wounded on July 28th, and on a card the soldier sent himself he wrote:

“We had a very hot time of it the other day. I was buried three times, and was speechless for three hours. Excuse me not writing before as I could not keep a limb still. I am down at the base at present, and I am a little better now, but I am deaf as a post”.

Mr and Mrs Austin have another son at the front—Pte William James Austin, 7566, Northants Regt. They have not heard from this son for seven weeks, although they have written to him several times. They are feeling a little worried concerning him, and would be glad of any information any of his comrades can send them.

Rushden Soldier – Returning to England Wounded
Mrs. Henry Clayton, of Queen-street, Rushden, received the following letter from Nurse F. Pennington of the 11th Stationary Hospital at midday last Friday:-

"Dear Mrs. Clayton—Your son Fred of the — Siege Battery, R.GA., wishes me to write and let you know that he has been wounded in the right hand, and is in the 11th Stationary Hospital, Rouen. It is possible that he may be going to England in a few days. " He was formerly of the "Rushden Echo" staff.

Thanks - Sergt. G. Freeman, Special Brigade, R.E., now in the 26th General Hospital, B.E.F., France, has sent the following letter to Miss. M. Mary Mason, 174, Cromwell-road, Rushden (daughter of Mr. J. F. Mason), who had written her name and address on an egg she had contributed:- "Many thanks for your egg. I enjoyed it very much indeed. I am sure it is very good of you and your friends to think of the boys over here. I am sorry to say that I am in the above hospital. My brother is a Postman at Rushden and lives in Alfred-street, but at present he is serving his King and Country. I hope you are well. I am getting on very nicely and I hope to be back at the Germans again. The weather here is very hot indeed. I think we have got the Huns beaten now, and we mean to. Well, good night and God bless you".

Lance-Corpl. E. B. Smith’s Illness - A Successful Operation – Rushden Man Treated in Hospital
Mr. and Mrs. B. Smith, 77, Tobinson-road, Rushden, received a field-card last week from J. Ryan, a Kettering man, to say that their son, Lance-Corpl. E. B. Smith, was ill in hospital in France. On the day after the arrival of that card they received a letter from the nurse at the hospital at which their son was taken, conveying the information he had undergone an operation for appendicitis and was going on all right. Later Mr. and Mrs. Smith received a letter from Lance-Corpl. Smith himself, stating that he was in hospital in Scotland, having landed there on Sunday and was going on very well. He hoped to soon pay a visit home.

Rushden Soldier – Home on Leave
Pte. Ralph Linnitt (Rushden), of the 29th Canadians, is home on leave for 10 days. His wounds have so far healed splendidly and he is looking exceedingly well. Everyone is pleased to see him so cheerful, going about amongst his friends in Rushden, and making the most of his leave. Pte. Linnitt has been attached to the .C.A.C. at Folkestone, and all hope he will fully recover from his wounds.

Rushden Officer Wounded – Now in Hospital
Lieut. A. W. Holland, of the Northamptonshire Regt., was seriously wounded on Sunday last, and is in hospital at Boulogne. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Holland, Dale House, Stony Stratford, he was a clerk at the Rushden Branch of the Northamptonshire Union Bank when he enlisted in December 1914. He went to France early in April this year. He was a Lieutenant of the Church Lads’ Brigade at Rushden.

Shrapnel & Bullet Wound - Pte. George Talbot - Hurt But Going on Well
Mrs. George Talbot, of Ealing-terrace, Rushden, whose husband is in hospital at Newport, Mon., has received the following letter: "I am writing to you for your husband who arrived here yesterday. He was wounded at High Wood on the Somme, on August 20th. He has a slight bullet wound on the right forearm and a shrapnel wound on the right hip. They operated on him in France and got all the metal out of him, and he is now going on as well as ever possible, and there is nothing serious or anything to worry about. It is only a matter of a few short weeks before he will be knocking about again. Of course, he is unable to write himself, because his right arm is bandaged up. The nurses tell me that he will have no permanent disablement, and that in due time have nothing to show but a few scars. Your husband is thankful to be where he is, and his wounds will keep him from being sent out to France again for a long time to come. "

Pte. Talbot formerly worked for Messrs. Groome, Rushden Hill. Mrs. Talbot is a daughter of Mr. John Cox, whose son, Pte. Wm. Cox, is in this issue reported wounded.

Rushden Family Bereaved - Lady Loses Her Brother and Two Nephews
Sad News Received at a Funeral
Mrs. C. Cox, 86, High-street-south, Rushden, last week had news that her brother and two nephews had died for their country. Her brother, Pte. A. Dilley, Royal Defence Corps (home service), who was over active service age, contracted double pneumonia and died a week last Monday, after only a few days’ illness. On the day of his funeral (a week yesterday), only two hours before the funeral service, news was received that his son, Pte. Fred Dilley, Northants Regt., had been killed in action on July 14th. Pte. F. Dilley was the husband of Mrs. F. Dilley, of Mulsoe-street, Finedon. The news was afterwards confirmed by several communications from the front, and it was stated in one that he was killed by shell fire. His father, who had been an old soldier, had seen ten years’ service before the war. The son, Pte. F. Dilley, had been officially reported missing for six weeks.

The deceased father had four other sons in the army. Pte. W. Dilley, in a Northants Battalion, is in the trenches in France; Pte. Bert Dilley is serving in France with the R.A.M.C.; Signaller Harold Dilley is on active service with another Northants Battalion; while Corpl. Albert Dilley, Essex Regt., was wounded 11 months ago at Ypres by a shell, but has not yet recovered, and underwent an operation last week. A brother-in-law of these four, Pte. A. E. Ablett, of Irthlingborough, has been twice wounded, once at the battle of Loos (being then in the Northants Regt.), and again in the recent Big Push in July. When he received his last wound he was buried by earth cast up by a shell. In some of his letters to his wife at Irthlingborough he gives lucid descriptions of German trenches which had been captured, how they had every comfort in them, electricity, cupboards, stairs, etc. He also said that when his regiment took a German trench in the recent advance the Germans threw up their hands and, offering them watches, jewellery, rosaries, and other things, implored the English not to kill them.

Mrs. Cox’s other nephew reported killed besides Pte. F. Dilley was Pte. Bert Allen, Northants Regt., a Wellingborough man, who has lived in Albion-place, Rushden.

Fighting for Two Days – Without Food or Drink
Rushden Man’s Luck – Twice Wounded and Once Gassed
Pte. William Cox, son of Mr. John Cox, of Ealing-terrace, Rushden, is now in the County of London War Hospital at Epsom, and sends home the following letter: "Sorry to say that I have been wounded again. It is worse this time than it was last, but sheer up, you must think yourself lucky that I am alive at all. I have got it this time in my left shoulder, and it has come out of my back; it has gone right through without touching any bones. I don’t think I shall be home for another week or two, but I hope the war will be over by the time I am better, as I don’t want to out there any more. We were fighting for two days hand-running without anything to eat or drink, so you can tell what a state I was in. Well, I think I have told you all, so cheer up, and remember me to all at home".

Mr. and Mrs. Cox are going to Epsom today to see their son. Pte. Cox, before enlisting, worked for Messrs. Sanders and Sanders.

Rushden Man’s Accident

Sergt. Gunnery Inst. C. Clark - Breaks his Collar Bone
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Clark, of "Wellingtonia", Irchester-road, Rushden, have received a letter from their son, Sergt. Gunnery Instructor Chas. Clark, R.F.A., to say that he has met with a nasty accident on the western front. He has sustained a broken collar bone, a badly bruised left arm, and a crushed knee. He has been sent home and landed at Southampton last Wednesday, being transferred to Leicester Military Hospital on Tuesday. Thither his parents will journey to see him as soon as the necessary permission has been obtained.

Egyptian Influenza – Rushden Man in Hospital
Pte. Harold A. Clipson (son of Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Clipson, of Rushden), with the Motor Transport Section in Egypt, is in hospital, suffering from Egyptian influenza, but is making good progress.

Rushden Journalist – Wounded in Right Hand
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clayton, of 92, Queen-street, Rushden, have received further news from their son, Bombardier F. Stanley Clayton, R.G.A., formerly of the "Rushden Echo" staff, who, as we reported, was wounded in the right hand about a month ago.

He is now in Mater Hospital, Dublin, and writes in cheerful strain that he is progressing favourably, although he is suffering from shell shock, and is likely to lose the use of the thumb of his right hand. He is, we understand, obliged to write with his left hand.

Wounded - Mr and Mrs Q George, of 33, Little-street, Rushden, have received news that their son, 15306 Private F W George, Northants Regt., is wounded in the right side of the chest by shrapnel, and is in No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen. The first news that Mr and Mrs George received was from Canon Adderley, chaplain to the forces, who wrote that Pte. George was seriously wounded in the chest, but that every attention was given to him.

Shortly afterwards Mr and Mrs George received a field card from their son in his own handwriting, but there followed a telegram from the Record Office, Warley Common, as follows:- “Regret to inform you that 15306 Pte. Frank W George, — Northants Regt., is dangerously ill in 12th General Hospital, Rouen. Regret that permission to visit him cannot be granted.”

This wire sent out from Warley Common on Sept. 9th has naturally caused anxiety, but we consider that their fears may be allayed by the following letter written by their son himself, also under date Sept. 9th:-

“Just a few lines to let you know I am a little better at present. No doubt you would hear I was wounded as the chaplain took the address and said he would write. I came down from the line on Wednesday and am getting on a bit now. I am wounded in the chest on the right side by shrapnel, and I have been X-rayed, and they have found it, so I expect to go under an operation before so very long. I am still hoping to get to England, as they keep going away all the time.”

Private George enlisted on Sept. 8th 1914, just after the outbreak of war. He went to France just before Christmas last year, and up to the time of receiving his wound had come through quite safely. Prior to enlistment he was employed by the C.W.S.

Invalided - In a letter to his brother, Mr F Noble, 3, Moor-road, Rushden, Pte. A Noble, — Canadians, says that, after recovering from a shrapnel wound to the right knee, he is now sent back to England, suffering from appendicitis.

Rushden Canadian – N.C.O. Rejoins as Private
Ex-Sergt. T J Long, Queen’s Own Rifles (son of Mr and Mrs C S Long, of Beaconsfield-terrace, Rushden), who has recently been in camp in England, has now left for France as a private. They have two options, either to stay in England as instructors, or to temporarily revert to the ranks. Their pay, etc., stands, and a special certificate goes with them, so if they prove their worth in real warfare they return to their rank.

The whole bunch of N.C.O.s in his unit reverted to the ranks in a body. They say they all came from Canada to fight and intend doing so.

Rushden Footballer Missing
Sergt. Albert Edward Allibone, Northamptonshire Regiment...........