Pratt, Robinson & Newton Roads

A deeply impressive memorial service, which was attended by a large gathering, was held on Sunday evening at the Newton-road Roll of Honour. The service was in memory of the seven men who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country - Geo. H Britchford, Frank Chambers, and Charles Dilley of Pratt-road, Tom Cook, Raymond Percival and Harry Tew, Newton-road, and Charles H Bunning of Robinson-road. After singing the hymn "Oft in danger," - a favourite of one of the boys - prayers were offered and a portion of the 11th chapter of St John's was read by the Rector, the Rev P Robson. Miss Evelyn Harlow sang very sympathetically the hymn "Nearer my God to thee" after which a sympathetic and helpful address was given by the Rector on the words "Let not your heart be troubled." The hymn "Jesu, Lover of my soul" was heartily sung to the tune "Aberystwyth", and the Rev P J Richards addressed the gathering on the words "To live in Christ, to die is gain", urging his hearers to do what they could to share and lessen the troubles of others. Absent friends were remembered in the singing of the hymn "Holy Father, in they mercy", and after the National Anthem had been sung the "Last Post" was sounded by the bugles of the Church Lad's Brigade of which Charles H Bunning was a member. A collection was taken and realised 25s. Beautiful flowers had been placed on the "Roll" for the occasion. Miss E Attley presided at the piano, which was kindly lent by Mrs C Ette. Fortunately the storm held off until all the people had gone.

The Rushden Echo Friday 27 July 1917

Rushden Soldiers' Thanks - The Newton Road District - "Rushden People most Generous"
"Rushden the Finest Place I have Lived in"

Mrs L Perkins, the secretary of the Newton-road, Robinson-road, and Pratt-road, Roll of Honour, has received further letters from the Rushden lads who are with the colours, thanking the committee for the gifts.

Pte J Brown, East Surrey Regt, BEF: I am sure your good work will not be forgotten when the war is over, which I hope will not be long.

Pte S Percival, London Scottish: I have seen two of the boys of the Newton-road district and we all appreciate the gifts very much.

Rushden Soldiers' Thanks - The Newton Road District - 'Rushden People most Generous' - 'Rushden the Finest Place I have Lived in'

Mrs L Perkins, the secretary of the Newton-road, Robinson-road, and Pratt-road, Roll of Honour, has received further letters from the Rushden lads who are with the colours, thanking the committee for the gifts.

Drummer R. F Smith, Northants Regiment, Convalescent Depot, B.E.F.: How can I start to thank you for your second gift from the Roll of Honour Committee and helpers? Really, you seem to know just when to send it. Now I am away from all the terrible fighting and bloodshed, and I am very glad, I can tell you. What a terrible affair this last raid was. It is past words. Also they will come again, in larger numbers. Still, we must try and bear it with a good sound heart and actually walk about, laughing and joking, as though in the olden days. May God bless and reward you for all good works you have done towards the welfare of your once “troublesome little school-boys” – the boys who used to play round the street lamps when the good, kind neighbours wanted to get a few minutes’ peace at night. They used to bless (?) us then. Ah, but what a different kind of “bless” they bless us with now.

James Pennis writes: although I am so far from home I have been able to follow the Street Shrines movement through the medium of the “Rushden Echo”. It is only those who have been in the thick of it that realise the full value of the shrines because we have seen lads who have been our comrades give their lives, their all, in the service of their country. I think it only right and fitting that they all should be recognised in this way for posterity.

A. Holley: We are about to go in action again, and we are going down the line, but, although the Huns try hard I don’t think they will retake it in a hurry. I have been out here just over a year, and, of course, I, like the other fellows, have seen enough of war and will pleased to see the end. I shall also welcome the leave which I hope to get after a while. It will be fine to see Blighty again after so long in the line.

Pte. A. Davis writes from Khartoum: I am in hospital with lumbago and sciatica. On the Peninsular we had to sleep in our wet clothes every night, and this station is scorching hot. This is a nice clean place. It is not like Lower Egypt. I am glad the people of Rushden think about us. We are better off than the poor boys in France.

Pte. E. H. Hodgkins 30138 Northants Regiment: I have been laid up in hospital in Kent for the past three months, but am glad to say I am improving rapidly.

Lance-Corpl. H. E. Bollard, Northants Regiment: I am somewhere in Palestine, right away from anywhere. They say it is the land that flows with milk and honey, but we have not come across the flow yet. We came across something on April 19th, which I dare say you have heard something about.

C.W. Smith: I have to send the grateful answers of the boys who have benefitted under this grand scheme. There are great things doing out here just lately, and we are hoping for one smashing blow which will rid us once and for all of such an enemy before the summer dies.

Pte. Frederick Wm. Barfoot, M.G.C., B.E.F., France: I pray that we may soon have peace and be able to come back to our dear friends at Rushden.

Pte. C. H. Jeeves, B.E.F.: Nothing is more appreciated by the Rushden boys on active service than the knowledge that they are being continually thought of by the friends who have been left behind.

Gunner C. Barker, B.E.F., France: The gifts show how much the people at home think of us, which all helps us to carry on to an early and victorious peace.

Bdr. E. B. Smith: I cannot find words to thnk you and your committee for the second present. I am pleased to say I am quite well, and that is half the battle.

Corporal L. Clark, R.G.A., B.E.F., France: The ladies of Rushden, in addition to “keeping the home fires burning” are helping the boys in a most practical manner.

Pte. F. H. Page, W. Yorks Regiment: From letters published in the “Rushden Echo” some of us are able to see what the boys of the town are doing, as now I do not often see a lad from Rushden.

Pte. S. G. Hardwick, Northants. Regt., B.E.F., France: I feel proud to have my name inscribed on the Roll of Honour and all the others must have the same feeling, according to their letters to you.

Pte H. Denton, C. Coy. Northants Regiment: We are in Palestine and we are having some very hot weather. We have been in a lot of fighting out here this last few weeks, and my regiment has lost a few men, and I think there are a few wounded from Rushden, who used to go to the Newton-road school.

J.B. Langdon: I should love to be home before another two months are over. Still, we must do our best, and bring this terrible war to an end as soon as possible.

Ernest C. Catling, B.E.F.: Although I was not born in Rushden, I think it is the finest place I have ever lived in, and I am sure the people of Rushden are most generous.

Pte. H. Tebbutt writes that he was one of Lieut. Perkins’s old squad at Rushden.

Pte. F. W. Barfoot, M.G.C., B.E.F., France: It is very good of the dear people of our good old town of Rushden to think of us lads out here. I was in hospital after the advance of June 7th, but I am glad to say I am back again with the boys. I am sorry to hear that one of the Robinson-road boys is missing – Lance-Corporal Drage. I saw it in the “Rushden Echo” which I receive from home. I feel very sorry for his parents and sincerely hope they will receive better news.

Jesse Partridge, France: I am well and in good spirits in spite of the hardships of a soldier’s life. I expect we shall be busy in this part of the line soon. I hope it will soon be over, and the dreadful slaughter cease. I think everybody had had enough of it, and I don’t think the end is far off now.

E. Taylor: I suppose you have read about the great successes lately but it is very hard to say when it will end, but, like others, I am hoping very soon, though not until we have beaten the Huns.

Pte. H. Scroxton, France: We are out in billets now. I have seen some very rough times out here, and it is nice to be out for a rest.

First A/M. P. T. Hill writes from the military hospital at Catterick.

Pte. Harold Lawman T.R.B.: I came out of hospital on Thursday, after undergoing an operation, and am now spending a few days at home on sick leave.

Pte. J. T. Brown, East Surrey Regt., B.E.F.: I am sure your good work will not be forgotten when this war is over, which I hope will not be long.

Pte. S. Percival, London Scottish: I have seen two of the boys of the Newton-road district, and we all appreciate the gifts very much.

Pte. Fred G. Haddon, Essex Regt.: Now that I am safe in England again, my mind is very often with the boys of Rushden and the rest of them that are out there, fighting for us. When I read of that large mine going up south of Ypres I knew what the lads were having to contend with. It must have been worse than the battle of Arras that I was in, and that was quite bad enough.

Pte. T. Taylor Leinster Regt.: I am sorry to see so many of the Rushden boys have fallen. I am sure Rushden has done its bit. We are getting on with the war bit by bit, and trust to see the end of it this summer.

Letters acknowledging the gifts were also received from F. Harrison, F. C. Litchfield, Frank Tassell, R. W. Bonner, C. Clark, C. R. B. Neville, S. G. Wildman, Wm. Rich, Corpl. E. Boyce, T. Reeves, L. Clark, E. T. Lowe, I. Scroxton and others.

Rushden Soldier’s Gratitude - Newton Road District Roll of Honour - Appreciation of Gifts

Mrs. L. Perkins, secretary of the Newton-road, Robinson-road, and Pratt-road Roll of Honour at Rushden, has received another batch of letters from the lads at home and abroad, acknowledging the receipt of a further gift of postal orders. From the letters we take the following extracts:-

Enclosing his portrait, Drummer R. F. Smith, Northants Regiment, in a convalescent depot, B.E.F., says: I am senind this small photograph to you to try to show you a little of my gratitude for the kindness that has been shown to me by the Roll of Honour scheme. Kindest regards to my dear kind schoolmaster.

Gunner F. S. Clarke, R.A. Command Depot: This kindess will never be forgotten by the boys who are at present benefitting by it.

Pte. A. R. Hodgkins, M.T., A.S.C.: I am sure all the lads, especially those in the trenches, appreciate the good work you and the people of Rushden are doing for us.

Pte. T. Britchford: You seem to be having a very bad time at home just now with air raids, and I, for one, say we should do the same on German towns. Why should we study Germany, as she does not study others? Bombs, bombs, tons of bombs, and put the fear of the devil in her as the fear of God she does not know.

Ernest F. Baker, E.E.F.: I had never expected such a gift so soon after the first. It is indeed a striking proof of the real and continuous interest in us who are away from home. The war seems to have taught us al a deeper meaning of the word “practical”, and to help each other a common motive in life. The heat here is quite tolerable, and the sea breezes a daily refresher. The only trouble we have here in our small dispensary, made of sandbags and corrugated iron, are the flies by day and the tormenting mosquitoes by night. We all speak of England now, this month of July reminds us so much of the beauties of home. Was it not Kipling, in his “Broken Man”, who said:- “Ah, God! One sniff of England to greet our flesh and blood”.

Pte. B. Pendered: “Reserve” Northants Regiment: Your most welcome gift comes in very handy in Army life.

Gunner J. Surridge: It is always pleasant to know that one is thought of by those at home, and to know that, whether in England or France, or elsewhere, an interest is taken in our welfare.

Newton-Road District Roll of Honour – Appreciation of Gifts

Mrs. L. Perkins, secretary of the Newton-road, Robinson-road, and Pratt-road Roll of Honour at Rushden, has received another batch of letters from the lads at home and abroad, acknowledging the receipt of a further gift of postal orders. From the letters we take the following extracts:-

Pte. W. Groom, Northants Regiment, says he has been transferred to a Labour Company, but is still doing police duty.

L. Knibbs: I was home a fortnight ago and saw the Roll of Honour for the first time. I think it is a fine piece of work, and it will be a fine memorial, in years to come, to those who have given their lives. The poor fellows do not get much to mark their grave out in France, and I am sure the money sent out to the lads will be very much appreciated.

Pte. J. C. Wilson, Northants Regt.: I am once more free of hospital, and I hope I can remain free of them now, as I have spent a good time in them, on and off, since I was wounded in October, 1915.

Trumpeter G. E. Norris, A.V.C., acknowledges a second postal order, and says it is nice for the boys away from home to know they are remembered.

Pte. H. Tear, writing from Scotland, says: There are only two other Rushden fellows here that I have seen so far. I think we going to be moved into England soon. Articles here are very dear – about twice as much as they are in Rushden, so that if one wants to have a “fling” he is soon going to spend his shilling a day.

Pte. S. Bunning, Infantry Battalion: I have seen the “Rushden Echo” every week, and I see that almost every street has its war shrine, which means that they still think of the lads who are doing their bit. There are a lot of Rushden boys down here (Essex), some of them from the Newton-road district. They have seen the Roll of Honour, and they all say it is a very nice one.

Writing on the anniversary of the war, Gunner C. Maddams, R.G.A.: I pray we don’t see another year of war, and I know those of you are at home are of the same opinion. It cheers one up a bit to know that someone at home is thinking about us out here, and were it not for that fact I think we should sometimes lose heart.

Sapper A. Winson, in France: My sincere thanks to you and the committee, and if I get back to Rushden safely I shall make a point of thanking you personally. I am pleased to say I am in the best of health, but I shall be glad when the war is all over. I think we are giving Fritz something to be going on with.

Pte. R. E. James, Middlesex Regt.: We have had rain all the week, and we cannot move for the mud.

Pte. F. G. Haddon, Essex Regt.: I am in France once again. Someone has got to do it, and I suppose I shall have to do my bit as well as others.

Pte. A. Curtis, Northants Regt.: I feel proud that my name is on the Roll of Honour.

O.S. L. Clark: I have been reading in the “Rushden Echo” the letters from the lads from various fronts, how they appreciate your good work, and how you have cheered them up with the thought that though they are far away they have not been forgotten by their townsfolk, and those they hold dear in the good old home, Rushden. May the time speedily come when this terrible tragedy will be over and the boys come back to settle down in peace and quietness.

Pte. William Scholes, T.R.B.: We get up some decent concerts in our canteen hall. I have started to play in our small orchestra on the ‘cello.

Pte. B. Knight, Suffolk Regt. (in camp): It has been raining here for four days, and our camp is flooded all over, but we are quite dry in our tents. The canteens are all torn in half by the strong winds.

Pte. A. Spencer, -- Infantry Batt: I have been to a few places since I have been in the Army, but I have not yet been to a place that comes up to Rushden. There are about 15 Rushden lads down here, in different battalions, and one of the first questions we ask when we meet is “Have you heard from the War Shrine lately?”.

Driver J. Knight, in Egypt: From the “Rushden Echo” I see there are a lot of Rushden fellows in Egypt, but I am sorry to say I have not run into anyone for over six months now. It is awfully hot out here, and we hardly know how to walk about for the heat. I shall be glad when this terrible war is over, for it almost breaks my heart when I read in the “Rushden Echo” of so many young lads that are going under, and the biggest part of these are our own mates.

Pte. H. Lawman, Queen’s Regt.: I am going out to France for a second time, and I am going with a good heart, knowing that we are not forgotten by the people of Rushden.

Bandsman Harry Rice (Egypt): We are going to entertain the troop in the active zone, and I hope to meet many Rushden boys.

Letters of thanks have also been received from A. Drage, R.N. Ambulance train; Pte. J. F. Wallace; Driver J. A. Owen, R.E.; P. Percival, Northants Regt.; Pte. S. Smith, Suffolk Yeomanry; Gunner Short, in France; E. Wadsworth, from an aerodrome; Charles W. Ette, R.F.C.; Pte. C. F. Clark; Harry Bollard; W. H. Holyoak, A.S.C., M.T.; Pte. T. Taylor; A/M. P. Hill.

In France—Writing to Mrs. L. Perkins, secretary of the Newton-road Roll of Honour, Pte. Jesse Partridge, now in France says:- "I am at present in the sector where the great advance has taken place and where our Brigade has been for the past five months, so you can imagine we have seen ‘some’ fighting. Inverness Copse, Sanctuary Wood, and Polyglon Wood, which you have read about so much in the papers lately, are quite familiar spots to me, and if you people at Rushden could only see these places you would marvel at the magnitude of our latest victory. Of course, it has meant many two o’clock reveilles for us, but we ‘carry on’ bravely and cheerfully, knowing that the time is not far distant when some of us will gather round the war shrines of Rushden with feelings of thankfulness to God for His goodness and kindness to us in giving us the victory over the powers of militarism and barbarity which at one time threatened the world. But, thanks be to God, those powers are waning fast, and through the gloom we can see the light of victory. My message is ‘Keep the home fires burning’, for the boys will soon be home. I feel that Rushden is the place I won’t want to leave when once I land there".

The Committee of the Newton-road Roll of Honour have sent 5s. to each of the 62 boys on the list who are serving abroad and 2s.8d to the 42 boys still in England. The 2s. 8d. for each of the 104 boys was from the garden fete fund, and the committee made up the remainder of the money sent abroad, to save the postage of a second remittance.

Newton Road Soldiers—Mrs L Perkins, secretary of the Newton-road and Pratt-road Roll of Honour, has received further letters of gratitude from the recipients of the war shrine gifts, the following being extracts:- Pte A Davies (Upper Nile) writes, “I am very glad to tell you that I am quite well again and at my duty. I have received the registered letter containing 5s. The committee must be working hard for us. There are in this regiment English, Irish, Scotch and Welsh, including some of the Welsh boys who were billeted at Rushden, and they say ‘Good old Rushden! They think more of the soldiers there than any place on earth’.” Pte T Britchford says: “My heartiest congratulations to Mr Perkins on his appointment as Staff-Captain. I hope we shall be able in the near future to enjoy peace and freedom again.” Ernest F Baker, who forwards some interesting photographs of the Nile, writes: “My surroundings are a little more congenial now than when I last heard from you, having left the line in August with a wretched attack of malaria. I am now on the staff of a very nice hospital 15 miles from Cairo. From our balcony one gets a fine view of the Pyramids and the sinding Nile, bordered with beautiful green foliage. We have managed some donkey-rides these last few moonlight nights, and the picture seen on the banks of the Rover Nile is indeed glorious. Things are very active here just now, and I have just heard that at last Gaza has fallen”.

Newton Rd, Robinson Rd, and Pratt Rd. Roll of Honour
The Winning Numbers for the Corresponding Number Competition are: First 1683 Second 1338 Third 1252

Prizes to be claimed not later than Dec. 29th from Mrs L Perkins.

Messrs Ainge, Espin and Smith, who were present at the drawing, wish to state that everything was done satisfactorily.

A postal order for 3s. has been sent to 105 Soldiers and Sailors whose names are on the Roll, for Christmas.