Postal Orders for the Boys - Rushden Soldiers at Home and Abroad - Moor-Road and Montague-Street District

Mrs. Smith, of Montague-street, Rushden, secretary of the Roll of Honour for Montague-street, Pemberton-street, Moor-road and Dayton-street, has received from the boys whose names appear on the list many letters of thanks for the postal orders sent by the committee. The following are a few extracts:-

W. A. Miller, 7th Northants Regiment writes from hospital in Birmingham: I am wounded in both legs, but I am glad to say I am getting on nicely. This is the second time I have been wounded, and I have been in France 22 months, so I have seen a little bit of what is going on there. God speed the day when it is all over, and the bells are ringing “Peace on earth and goodwill to men”.

Gunner F. Tye, R.G.A., writes:- I trust the committee may continue to do good work for our soldier and sailor boys in this trying time, and wish them every success and a speedy termination of this terrible war.

H. E. Swindall, T.B.R.: My only regret is that I was not at home on leave for the dedication service. You may be sure that all the fellows, whether at home stations or abroad, will heartily appreciate your good wishes.

Lance-Corpl. R. Tye: We shall all be glad when this wretched business is over and we can rejoin those whom we have had to leave.

Seaman Walter Wigglesworth, H.M.S.--: It is not the gift, but those who sent it that I appreciate most. I have just come off the mine-sweepers. That is a very dangerous job, but you don’t have to take any notice of the risky jobs in wartime. Someone has to do them.

Pte. T. Rideout: I wish your efforts in such a good cause every success.

Corpl. W. R. Harrod, T.R.B.: I thank you one and all for the way you are thinking of the boys who are facing the dangers of this wicked war bravely. I am quite certain that the boys at the front do not trouble so much when they know the people at home are thinking of them.

Pte. S. Underwood: I am very pleased to think that my friends who are left behind in the dear old homeland are thinking of us, and not only so, but are doing their best for those who are doing their bit both at home and abroad.

Sapper W. Tompson, R.R.C., writes thanking the committee and all concerned.

Sapper C. J. Leeson: Words fail to express my appreciation of the gift you kindly sent me. It cheers one up immensely to think you are not forgotten by friends.

Pte. Horace Brown, D. Co., 9th Northants Regiment: I have lived in Rushden about 18 months and have found many friends. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart, as to be remembered is something when away from friends and home. May God keep all Rushden people from the perils of the air.

Sergt. F. Bass, 7th Northants Regt. writing from the front, says he hopes to be in Rushden again shortly.

Pte. E. E. Barley, Essex Regt, says the work of the Rolls of Honour committees shows that those at home are thinking of the boys at the front and in training.

Pte T. Banks, T.R.B.: It is very kind of the residents to think of us in such a practical way. Gunner J. Bailey writes from France: I am in the best of health, and am waiting to go up any day and do my share in the fighting. Let us all hope this terrible war will soon be over. I don’t think it will last much longer.

Pte. Fred Letts: I hope this hard struggle will be over this year.

Pte. J. Taylor writes from London: I am one of the lucky ones, but, of course, have had to rough it like the rest of the lads who have been out there.

Rifleman H. Timson writes from a military hospital in the Isle of Sheppey, expressing thanks for the gift and for the good wishes.

Pte. L. Cox thanks the committee for their good work.

A. H. Johnson says: It is very nice to think that some are thinking of you at home and doing their best to show their appreciation of those who are doing their little to hold in check the common foe.

Gunner E. Upton, R.F.A., writes: I wish the committee every success in their efforst to ease our life out here. I hope to be in the old town in a month or two.

Rushden Soldiers’ Gratitude – The Moor-Road District
Boys at Home and Abroad - Letters from Macedonia and Other Parts of the World - Local Lads in Hospital
Mrs Smith, of Montague-street, Rushden, secretary of the Moor-road, Pemberton-street and Montague-street District Roll of Honour, has received a number of interesting letterd from sailors and soldiers expressing gratitude for gifts from the committee.

Corpl Saddler L Upton writes: I have much pleasure in writing these few lines straight from the hills of Macedonia. I must thank you and the friends of Montague-street for the welcome gift, which I received quite safe, and in the form of my favourite cigarettes—Woodbines. It is very good of the people of Rushden to organise such things as the shrines, as they not only comfort Tommy at the Front, but bring a closer relationship between neighbours and friends. I read the "Rushden Echo" every week, and it grieves me to see so many names of the gallant lads who have been torn from their parents and wives. You will agree with me when I say we have as hard a fight as any of our comrades. We have a terrible country of numerous diseases to fight, as well as one of our cleverest enemies. I myself have a slight touch of malarial fever, but, thank God, I managed to fight against it, and now feel not much the worse for it. Although I have not lived amongst you now for close on nine years, my thoughts are still with you and the grand little town where I was born.

F Bigley, writing from hospital at Cardiff, thanks the committee for their good wishes for his recovery, and says he is making good progress and expects to soon be well again.

H C Swindall, R N S B R: Rushden, I think, has every reason to be proud of the way in which the people are banded together to provide for the comfort and welfare of her soldiers and sailors, and, if I am any judge, nowhere has a place of its size done as much or showed greater unity in all ways connected with the war.

Lance-Corporal Attley: You can rest assured that while we are serving our country we shall do our duty to the best of our ability.

H Timson, S B R, of No 3, R N Ambulance Train: I wish you every success in your good work, which I am sure we all appreciate.

Corporal W R Harrod: When this terrible war is over, those boys who are spared will never forget your kindness to them, and I sincerely trust that a good many will return safe and sound.

Pte S Richardson writes from a war hospital in Staffordshire.

Pte R Ringrose urges the committee to "carry on with the good work".

Pte J T Rawlins: I am very pleased there are such things to help the soldiers who need it.

Ernest J Strudwick: Unfortunately, this war has continued beyond our early expectations, but we trust the great day of peace is now not far distant, and our return to civil life and more pleasant occupations only a matter of a short time. I trust that this period of unrest and sacrifice has dealt as kindly as circumstances would allow with Rushden people generally, and that a time of happiness and prosperity awaits all on our early return.

Pte G Norman, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, writes from hospital in Berkshire.

Pte F Noble, 5th Northants: I have been in hospital now for a month with a septic foot, but it is now going on finely. We have been in the midst of air-raids this week, but I am pleased to say our hospital has escaped all right, but it is very sad the number of sailors who were killed. Oh, the awfulness of this horrible war. I sincerely hope the time is not far distant when these awful affairs will cease.

Pte A C Gibson, Royal Berks Regt., writes from Northumberland: I am glad to say I am having a change from the trenches. It seems nice to be back again in dear old Blighty. I am on the sick list with a poisoned finger on the right hand.

3rd A-M C F Mackness, R F C: May it be God's will before long to stop this awful war and bring us back to our homes in peace and comfort.

Sapper Leeson, R E: It is a good old town, Rushden; they are never lacking in looking after the boys. We have just had a near escape. I trust you will never see anything like it, but I don't think the air raiders will get to Rushden.

Pte H Thompson, A O C, with the Salonika Forces: May the boys soon be back again.

Lance-Corporal E Clark writes from Duston War Hospital: I hope the peace bells will ring soon to bring back all our happiness.

T J Swindall, R N S B R: I had a very exciting time at our hospital this last week.

R Wright sends his sincere thanks from the red Cross Hospital at Swansea.

T Wright, B E F, France: Yesterday we started another offensive, and I am pleased to say that up to now we are doing splendidly, and we all hope that with God's help we shall soon be home again, as there must surely be an ending some time to the war.

J C Wright, from a hospital in Kent, refers to a recent air raid.

Bombardier A Upton, R F A, "Somewhere in France": I shall be glad when this terrible war is over, but I do not think it will finish this year.

Pte Frank Letts: We never see such things done for the lads of other towns.

Pte W A Miller writes from hospital in Birmingham: I am glad to say that I am getting on all right now.

Lance-Corporal Raymond Tye: I think Rushden has done its share in this great war.

L Cox: Rushden’s war shrines are a credit to any town, not only Northamptonshire, but in England.

Gunner W Taylor (on active service): I hope I shall soon be back to tell you all I have seen.

Pte F Parker sends a letter of thanks from "Somewhere in Palestine".

Gunner J Bailey writes from a hospital at Brighton: I am getting on a bit, but it will a long time. I think it is a good job that England has got some good women as well as soldiers, for I think most of them are doing their bit in one way or another.

Sapper Brooksby, who is in the 3rd London General Hospital, says: I have arrived in England and getting on very nicely, but it will be some time before I get home owing to the wound still discharging a little.

Gunner Bates: The Roll of Honour is quite a success by what I see in the "Rushden Echo". The 93 boys who have received the welcome gift will no doubt take it as a pleasant surprise, as I did.

Corporal H C Green: I have noticed every week by the "Rushden Echo". that there has been some very good work done by our friends in dear old Rushden.

Lance-Corporal J Meads: You do not know how much we appreciate these small gifts at such a distressing time.

Rifleman H Timpson, now in a V A D hospital in Kent, refers to the air-raid, and says he shall never forget what he saw, adding: The sights when the sailors were buried were enough to make a chap's blood boil.

Sidney Parker, Northants Pioneers, B E F: I was glad to see in the "Rushden Echo". that the whist drive and dance was such a success.

Pte Fred Letts, Northants regiment, B E F, France: I have just come out on rest again, and I can do with it, because we had a rough time this last lot.

H F Mackness, F A, says it is now 19 months since he left England.

Similar letters of gratitude have also been received from Ptes Upton, Rideout, W Houghton, W Wigglesworth, W Attley, Orderly-Sergt H E Green, Pte H J Groome (RAMC), C Mackness, Pte H Perkins, Pte W Underwood, Gunner A Dodd, Pte S Underwood, Wm Todd, Driver S Knighton, and others.

Rushden Soldier's Thanks - Moor Road Roll of Honour - Boys in All Parts of the World
From the various fighting fronts abroad and the various training depots at home, the soldiers of the Moor-road, Montague-street and Pemberton-street district of Rushden have been sending letters of thanks Roll of Honour gifts to Mrs Smith of Montague street, the secretary. We have appended a few samples:-

Sergt F Bass (at the front): Things seem to be going very well here the last few weeks.
Gnr A Dodd, RFA: It is nice to be thought of by friends when you are away from home.
OS G Philby, RND: I love Rushden now more than I ever did and your gift just reminds us that we are not forgotten by the good people of good old Rushden.

Note: We have no photograph of this memorial - if you have one we'd be grateful to take copy please.