Gratitude for Gifts Received - Portland-road Roll of Honour - German’s Dirty Conduct

Many letters have been received from the recipients of gifts sent by the Committee of the Portland-road Roll of Honour at Rushden, and we make the following extracts:-

Sapper A. Butcher, R.E. Signals: “Everyone will appreciate the kindness of those concerned in erecting the shrines”.

Pte. R. W. Brown: “It came as a pleasant surprise”.

Pte. C. W. Geary: “The shrines are not only a permanent memorial to those who have so nobly fallen, but serve as a reminder that by refusing to buy German articles and produce such a state of upheaval cannot exist again”.

H. Underwood thanks the Rushden people for their kindness.

Signaller C. Faulkner says it cheers a fellow up to hear from the old place.

Pte. H. King: “Only the boys out here know what it is like”.

Pte. R. Linnitt says the postal order came at the right time, when he was out of cigarettes.

Gunner A. T. Ball: “It is nice to know there is this kind of recognition”.

G. Thomas: “People could never realise the destruction that the Germans have done to this part of France. Fruit trees have been cut down for no purposes whatever only destroying everything they can. One can see what they would have done to our country is they had got there, but I don’t think there is much chance of that now. I don’t think there is anything that can stand against our guns”.

Portland Road Shrine was on Mrs East's shop

Pte. H. Prickett thanks the Committee for the kind way in which they are working.

Pte. G. S. North expresses his sincere thanks.

F. Chattell, H.M.S. Mars: “It is nice to know that our own Rushden friends wish us well”.

Gunner A. L. Prickett: “It puts heart into the lads to know that friends are thinking about them”.

Pte. W. Clayton: “I was very glad to hear that the Roll of Honour had been a success. I read the account of it in the “Rushden Echo”.

Pte. W. Miller says it is nice to know that the people of Rushden are thinking about them”.

Rifleman Lowe: “I have the ‘Rushden Echo’ sent out to me each week and saw that the lads send some lovely letters thanking you for being so kind. I am proud that Rushden lads have answered the call like Britons. I think more of Rushden than any place I have been to and I think they are the best and most kind-hearted people I have ever met with”.

Pte. W. M Knight: “I am glad to know that some people think about us in dear old Rushden”.

Pte. C. D. Groom says he expects soon to be going out again.

Sapper T. C. S. Anderson, R.E.: “The boys had quite a merry time in Hut 31 when I got the postal order changed”.

H. Bailey, H.M.S. Redoubtable: “I am returning the postal order with the wish that it be sent to one of the men in the trenches, for I know they are in greater need of little comforts than we on board His Majesty’s ships are”.

Jack Underwood, R.A.M.C.: “Rushden has shown her self-sacrifice during the war”.

Mrs. J. Allen, of Portland-road, Rushden, secretary of the Portland-road Roll of Honour, has received many letters from the boys whose names are placed thereon, expressing gratitude for the postal orders sent to them by the committee – 3s. to those overseas, and 2s. to the men in the home camps. We append extracts from the letters:-

Lance-Corpl. J. Underwood, R.A.M.C., now at Dover: I often met some of the Rushden guests – the Royal Welsh Fusiliers – during my stay at Southampton Docks, and the appreciation from this source for the people at home makes one feel proud to belong to Rushden.

Lance-Corpl. F. R. Essan: It shows the high esteem and regard you peole at home hold for all the boys from Rushden engaged in this terrible war.

Pte. F. Darnell, 4th Northants Regts.: It is nice to know that our names are on the Roll of Honour, and we trust we shall be able to say “We did our best”. This is my second time in the Army, and I am proud to say that I am still a trier.

W. R. Endersby: It is not the value of the money alone that we are grateful for, but it is the thought that the people at home remember us, wherever we are.

Pte. Francis J. Allen, T.R.B.: I trust you will be favoured with the best of luck in your praiseworthy object, until the time shall come when war shall be no more, which we hope, with God’s help, will be very speedy.

Pte. H Copson, Reserve Battalion, Police: I appreciate all the committee’s worthy efforts to make the Tommies’ lot better. I was in the Ypres scrap (June 1916), also through the Somme (September and October 1916) and put this winter in in front of Lens, and finished up at Vimy Ridge, 1917 (wounded) and still kicking!

W. Underwood: It is very nice to receive greetings from good old Rushden.

Pte. R. W. Brown, M.T., AS.C.: I am pleased to say I am in good health.

Gunner F. Groom, B.E.F., France: I think the boys from Rushden are about the only ones to get gifts from the Rolls of Honour, so that shoes that Rushden can lead the way in some things. I hope to be at home when this war is over, but I think there is another winter looking at us.

Rifleman J. Lowe: I read in the “Rushden Echo” of the grand work the Northampton Regt. has done lately. Though I was put into an Irish regiment, I think more of the Steelbacks than the Irish regiment. I am now in a hospital in Ireland with trench fever, but I wish it had been Blighty. It seems more like home again to be away from the terrible sights of war and back in a land of safety, though we never forget the dear boys we left out there to still face the danger and hardships. I am feeling quite well and tie again. We are having a good time close to the sea.

W. M. Knight: I think that good old Rushden has done its bit in this war.

Sergt. T. Brown, 2/5th Bedfords: I have today received a photo of your war shrine, and I think it very nice indeed. I shall treasure it as long as I live.

Pte. W. Clayton, T.R.B.: I see by the “Echo” that most of the fellows acknowledge the gifts. I wish the Roll of Honour every success.

Signaller C. Faulkner, Bedfordshire Regt.: I am sure the soldier lads greatly appreciate what is being done by our friends at home to cheer us, and we think of our good old town which duty has caused us to leave behind.

Pte. H. E. Skinner: The Roll of Honour means extra work and worry for the committee, but I know you will feel more than amply rewarded when I tell you that it cheers us fellows up more than anything else could, to know that there are fiends at home who are thinking of us and working to make out lot as comfortable as they can. I am looking forward to seeing the Roll of Honour when I get back to dear old Rushden.

H. King writes that the boys who are lucky enough to return home will never forget the kindness of the friends at home.

Letters of thanks have also been received, among others, from Rifleman C. Childs, Royal Irish Rifles; Sapper Thomas Anderson, R.E.; Pte. W. Baldrey; Gnr. A. T. Ball, R.G.A.; Pte. R. Linnett, Canadians, F. Chattell, R.N.S.B.R.; Harry Underwood; Sapper R. Ekins, R.E.; Sapper R. F. Bettles, R.E.