Rushden Soldier - Prisoner of War in Germany
Another letter has been received from Private W. Sargent (Rushden), a prisoner of war in Germany. Writing to his brother, Mr. Sargent, of Little-street, Rushden, he says:- “I got your parcels which were not hurt much except that a pot containing jam was broken. I did enjoy the mince pies, and plum pudding and the bread was good. It was quite a change from our brown bread. Underclothing or anything like that would be welcome. We are allowed tobacco. It is no use being down-hearted – we have had four months of it. I should like you to send me one letter a week between you. Send tea, cocoa and a dozen matches – they are 1d. a box here!

Although it is gratifying to find that Pte. Sargent gets parcels sent him, it is evident that all the letters do not get to him as his friends write every week.

Rushden Soldier Still Alive - Reported Missing, Then Killed, Now Reported a Prisoner
Mrs. T. Wood, Robert-street, Rushden, has received news that her husband, Pte. Tom Wood, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He was first reported missing, and then, three months ago, was reported killed in action. His wife has now received information that his name appears amongst the list of prisoners in Germany who have been receiving parcels from a Northampton paper. His wife, who has three or four little children, has been receiving the widow’s allowance for the past three or four weeks.

Rushden Soldier a Prisoner
Private Cave, of Glassbrook-road, Rushden, who was reported unofficially as killed, is we are glad to say, quite well. He writes from Germany saying he is being fairly well treated as a prisoner of war.

Rushden Seaman’s Bravery - Captured by the Germans – But Anxious to Recover the Vessel
Some interesting facts have come to light regarding the bravery of Harry Joyce, of Rushden, late of His Majesty’s ship Penelope, who was captured by the Germans whilst he was serving on board the steamship Georgie. Mrs Joyce, of 25, Carnegie-street, Rushden, received from her son a card stating that he was a prisoner of war, and thereupon she informed Mr. C. L. Bradfield with a view to parcels being sent to him through the Rushden Prisoners of War Fund. Mr Bradfield got into communication with the British and Foreign Sailors’ Society to ascertain if Joyce’s name was on their list, and received a reply in the affirmative, stating that they had charge of all the Georgie men and were sending parcels to them regularly. Under those circumstances, Mr. Bradfield’s committee sent a subscription to the Sailors’ Society as the Co-Committee under which Joyce is receiving benefit.

Arising out of this fact, Mr. Bradfield today received the following interesting letter from Mr. F. M. Collins, the Relief Superintendent of the Sailors’ Society:-

“Dear Mr. Bradfield, I am sure it will be very gratifying indeed both to you and your townsmen to hear of a wonderful testament of the bravery of Harry Joyce, that has reached me this morning from a Scotsman of the name of Simms, late of the S.S. Georgie, who was a fellow prisoner with Joyce on the Yarrowdale, and who has escaped from Brandenburg by falsely representing himself as an American, when in reality he is a Scotsman with a beautiful American Accent.

“Assuming this man to be entirely truthful, and he certainly impresses one with his honesty, Joyce particularly desired to take steps for the recovery of the vessel, which according to my informant, would have been a comparatively easy matter if only they had received the necessary support from others. There were only thirteen Germans on board, armed of course, and with a machine gun mounted on the poop, but Simms tells that the man Joyce, with others, would have only been too ready to have taken the risk for the recovery of the vessel, had they been supported, which unfortunately they were not. Altogether there were about 500 prisoners on board. The tales the man tells me of the condition of affairs in Brandenburg are almost too horrible for repetition, and I am so struck by the man’s intelligence, and, I believe honesty, that I purpose taking steps with a view to him offering his experiences before a Commission of the two Houses which has been appointed to look into the whole question of the sending of prisoners’ parcels.

“I am sure this letter will be of interest to you, and is simply an independent testimony of the worth of your townsman.—I am yours faithfully, F. M. Collins, relief superintendent.

Postcards received in the Rushden and Higham Ferrers district from soldiers captured by the Germans on July 10th were nearly two months on the way.

Rushden Prisoner of War – private Aggie Ayres
Missing Since the Battle of the Dunes
In our issue of August 3rd, we published the news that Pte A Ayres, of the Northants Regiment, husband of Mrs Ayres, of Oswald-road, Rushden, had been missing from his regiment since the battle of the Dunes on July 10th. We are now pleased to learn that Mrs Ayres received a postcard from her husband on Monday giving the information that he is a prisoner of war and that he is quite well and unwounded.

Rushden Prisoner of War — News of Pte. W Scrimshaw — A Letter at Last

Pte. William A Scrimshaw, 252566, Northants Regiment, who has been a prisoner of war since April, has at last been able to communicate with his parents Mr and Mrs G H Scrimshaw, of 35, Midland-road, Rushden. He has evidently written previous letters, which, however, failed to reach their destination. Under date July 24th, from Limburg, Germany, he writes:-

"Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking, hoping you are all in the best of health at home. Well, I don't know whether you have received my last letter yet, which I wrote on July 2nd, as we have had no news from England in the came since we have been captured. We are still in France in the same place as when I last wrote, and are being treated about the same—no better, anyway. We are all looking forward to the day when peace is declared, and we can be free once more. It would be something to know how you all were getting on at home, as it seems like being cut off from the rest of the world, but we must cheer up and try to make the best of a bad job. I think we all would rather be chancing our luck in the front line with the rest of the boys than being in the position we are.

"Well, I cannot write a lot, as it is hard to know whether you are putting anything in which would result in the letter being torn up. Sometimes I think the others I have written have been destroyed, but, of course, we cannot tell. It seems funny we have had no letters in return yet, but we are hoping to have some news from you any time now. Tell all friends and neighbours I shall be pleased when I can be amongst them once more."

Mr and Mrs Scrimshaw wish to express their sincere thanks for the many kind inquiries concerning the welfare of their son.

Rushden Prisoner of War - News of Pte. T H Parker - Within the Sound of Guns
In May last we published in our columns the news that 22210 Pte. Thomas Henry Parker, Northants Regiment, son of Mr and Mrs G Parker, of 21 Montague-street, Rushden, had been posted as missing from his unit since the advance on Lens on April 17th.

Subsequently, Mr and Mrs Parker received an official notification that their son was a prisoner of war, but until this week nothing had been heard from the soldier himself.

On Tuesday morning, however, Mr and Mrs Parker received a letter and postcard from their son, both sent from Limburg, Germany. In his letter, dated July 7th, Pte. Parker says: “Just a line, hoping to find you all quite well. I don’t know whether you have been receiving my cards that I have sent, but I hope you have before now, as I know how worried you would all be when you found out I was missing. It has been ten weeks since I sent my address, but we have been shifted about so much that I have hardly expected a letter, but this is a proper address, so if you get this, I think your letters will come all right. You don’t know how I should like to hear from you, but no one has had a letter or parcel yet since we were captured, so I am no worse than the others. I hope you were not kept so long before you knew where I was. I should like to know how Sid and George (his brothers) are getting on. I can hear the guns, and I always wonder if they are going through it. I hope they come out of it quite safe and better than me, as I don’t get enough to eat and I have been in hospital for a week.”

Continuing, Pte. Parker asks that some plain had biscuits, brown bread, and tobacco may be sent to him, or a parcel of crusts, and adds: “I have been shifted from Peter and “Serim,” [Ptes. Underwood and Scrimshaw, of Rushden, who were captured at the same time.—Editor, “R.E.”] and am on my own. I do not like that, but I am getting used to hardships and such like by now. I shall be glad when it is all over and I am back home again. I would sooner be in the firing line any time.”

On a postcard dated seven weeks later, Pte. Parker says: “I am still in hospital, very weak, but getting on a bit; nothing to worry about.”

Rushden Casualty List
In our last issue we published the news that A.B. John Thomas Richardson, of the Royal Naval Division, husband of Mrs Richardson, 41 Harborough-road, was officially reported missing. We are now pleased to report that Mrs Richardson has received a postcard from her husband stating that he is quite well and a prisoner of war in Germany. He writes under date March 29th: “I have been taken prisoner on the St. Quentin front at --- on March 24th, and am now on my way to a P.O.W. camp in Germany. As the English prisoners are being distributed to different camps, I cannot give you a definite address. Do not write until you receive further news, which will follow at first opportunity. I am quite well.” A.B. Richardson is a native of Raunds, but had resided in Rushden for about 20 years. He was one of the leaders of the Young men’s Bible Class at the Park-road Baptist Church, and also a local preacher, being always a welcome visitor to the Baptist Mission at Chelveston and Kimbolton, and also the Independent Wesleyan Chapel at Podington.

Last week Mrs Chas Elmer, of 20 Robert-street, Rushden, received an unofficial report that her husband, Lance-Corpl. Chas Elmer, Inniskilling Fusiliers, had been killed in action. Fortunately this information had no foundation in fact, as on Monday morning Mrs Elmer received an official report from the War Office that her husband is a prisoner of war in Germany. Lance-Corpl. Elmer, who was formerly employed by Messrs Knight and Lawrence, boot manufacturers, Rushden, joined the Colours twelve months ago last November, and went to the western front twelve months last January. In April last year he was in hospital for almost two months suffering from trench feet, and in July he was badly gassed, being totally blind for seven days. He was then in hospital until October and returned to the trenches at the beginning of November. He was home on leave in December last, returning to France on Boxing Day. He was well known as a footballer, playing for the Rushden Town Band Football Club.

Mrs Furness, of 21 Robert-street, Rushden, has received a card from her youngest son, Pte Henry Green, Royal Fusiliers, stating that he is wounded and a prisoner of war in Germany. Pte. Green, who is but 19 years of age, only went to France in January last. He was formerly employed at the Advance Boot Works, Rushden.

In our last issue we published the news that 40723, Pte. Arthur Norman Britten, Inniskilling Fusiliers, husband of Mrs Britten, of 86 High-street South, Rushden, and son of Mrs Arthur Britten, of 12 Windmill-road, Rushden, was reported a prisoner of war in Germany. His wife received official confirmation of the fact on Monday. Pte. Britten joined the Colours about 18 months ago, and went to France twelve months last January, having formerly worked at the C.W.S. Boot Works, Rushden. He has been twice wounded, and a brother of his, 15280, Corpl. C. H. Britten, Northants Regiment, has been a prisoner in Germany for about 2½ years, and is quite well.

Mr and Mrs J W Watson, of 155 Queen-street, Rushden, have received news from their third son, Pte. W R Watson, Northants Regiment, attached M.G.C., to say that he is a prisoner of war in Germany, and in good health.

Pte. George Henry Line, Northants Regt., son of Mrs Line, of 22 North-street, Rushden, has sent a postcard to his sister, Mrs Pettit, of 18 Woburn-place, Rushden, stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany and unwounded. Pte. Line, who has been about 2½ years in France, has been twice wounded. Before joining the Colours, he worked for Messrs Robinson Brothers, boot manufacturers, Rushden.

Mrs H Parker, 13 Bedford-road, Rushden, has received a postcard from her husband, Lance-Corpl. Herbert Parker, Royal Irish Fusiliers, stating that he is a prisoner of war and unwounded. Lance-Corpl. Parker was called up as a reservist on the outbreak of war and has once been wounded. He fought throughout the Mons retreat, and has been right through the thick of all the fighting. He formerly worked for his uncle, Mr Joseph Knight, boot manufacturer, Rushden.

A fortnight ago we published the news that Mrs Parker, of 155 Cromwell-road, Rushden, had received official news that her husband, Pte Sydney Parker, of the Northants Regt. (son of Mr and Mrs G Parker, Montague-street, Rushden), was reported as wounded and missing from his unit as from April 22nd. At the same time we reported that there was some discrepancy as Mrs Parker had received a letter from her husband dated April 25th, in which he stated that he had become separated from his unit, but that he was quite well. Mrs Parker has now received a postcard from her husband, dated April 3rd, stating that he is a prisoner of war in Germany, and sound. Pte Sydney Parker joined the Colours two years ago last November, being one of Lieut. L Perkins’s recruits. He had been in Frances just over twelve months when taken prisoner, and was at home on leave last February. Before joining up he was employed by Mr B Ladds, boot manufacturer, Rushden, and was organist at the Rushden Wellingborough-road Wesleyan Reform Mission. He was also a member for years of the Rushden Adult School, officiating as pianist, and up to the time of his appointment as organist of the Wellingborough-road Mission he was deputy organist at the Rushden Congregational Church. Pte Sydney Parker has also a brother who is a prisoner of war, viz., Pte. Tom Parker (Northants Regiment), who was taken on April 17th, last year. Another brother, Pte. Geo. Parker, is in the Machine Gun Corps and in France.

We referred briefly to the fact in our last issue, the news having been obtained from unofficial sources, that Pte. Sam Smith, Inniskilling Fusiliers, husband of Mrs Smith, of 4 Blinco-road, Rushden, had been taken a prisoner of war. The news is now confirmed, as Mrs Smith has heard from her husband himself that he is in Germany, having been taken prisoner on March 21st. He writes that he is quite well and is in good spirits, and that his wife is not to worry in the least. He joined the Colours about two years ago, and had been in France altogether about 18 months. Messrs Nurrish and Pallett were his former employers, he having been with that firm for 18 years.

SERGT. Joe Mitchell, of the Dunster Force writing from Mestopotamia to Mr. C. L. Bradfield, one of the secretaries of the Rushden Prisoners of War Fund, says: “I have just received a ‘Rushden Echo’ from my wife, and I see you have had a concert for the Rushden boys who have the misfortune to be prisoners of war. I should like to add something to the fund, so if you go or send round to my home, taking this letter, Mrs. Mitchell will give you £1 on my behalf. “ Sergt. Mitchell is the well-known boxer.

SERGT. A. Garley, 921 Rifle Brigade, who is now interned in Holland, writes to Mr. Bradfield as follows: “Thank you very much for the parcels I received whilst a prisoner. You may not often hear from those you send to, but I can assure you it is not their fault. The value of the parcels can never be estimated only by a hungry prisoner, and I wish you could only see the dejected look disappear as they are told ‘There is a parcel for you,’ when coming in at night to a dirty, comfortless room, tired, and many times bullied during the day, the thought of home and friends, and, better still, that they who have been captured whilst fighting hard are still remembered at home, and not only remembered but that the friends at home are doing all they can to ease our burden by sending help. I must say that the parcel from Rushden was most excellent one. I hope I shall soon have the pleasure of seeing you at Rushden.” Sergt. Garley encloses a card which was sent to him on his arrival in Holland at Christmas, 1917, by the King and Queen.

Mr Fred Bigley, Suffolks, of Moor-road, Rushden, has arrived home after being a prisoner of war in the hands of the Germans for eight months. He had been badly wounded about 18 months ago, and after several months’ hospital treatment he was sent back to France last April, when the German advance had well begun. He was taken prisoner almost as soon as he got into action. While in enemy hands, he was forced to assist, later on, in the German evacuation of Lille. Although he was badly treated by the Germans, he hopes soon to feel little the worse for it.

Pte Raymond Hodge, who before joining the Forces was in charge of Mr H p Hodge’s shop at Rushden, and who was taken prisoner about last May, has now been liberated, and is in England.

Good news has been received by Mr Harry Willis, of 35, Victoria-road, Rushden, concerning his eldest son, Pte Wm Willis, Northants Regiment. As we reported in our issue of October 11th, Mr Willis had received a letter from a Higham Ferrers soldier to the effect that Pte Willis had been killed in action. We are glad to state that Mr Willis has now received a letter from his son stating that he is a prisoner of war. Pte Willis has seen four years’ service in France, and he has been four times wounded. He is well known in Rushden as a footballer, having played for the Rushden Church Institute Football Club.

Rushden Echo, 6th December 1918, transcribed by Nicky Bates

Victims of the War
Pte H T Gates, 8th East Surreys, younger son of Mr and Mrs H S Gates, of Wellingborough road, Rushden, arrived home last week from Alsace-Lorraine, where he had been in captivity since March 23rd, this year. He was in the 18th Division, the name of which will be known for generations to come for the splendid way in which they carried out their order received on the third day of the retirement to "hold on to the last man, and not to give way on any account." The terrible sacrifice made by the 18th Division enabled the artillery to get back to safety. Pte Gates was taken prisoner with a few others who were not killed. For three days, with no food at all, he was compelled to assist in carrying German and British wounded (on poles and ground sheets) to Metz. Arriving there, all the prisoners were stripped of anything which the Germans wanted, such as field dressings, articles of rubber, printed matter, etc., and were then made to load shells. From that time they were given to divide between 20 men a loaf of German black "bread," a sample of which he brought home. It is hard and very heavy, the colour of earth, and obviously contains a lot of saw-dust. As a change from loading shells the prisoners were compelled to work on constructing railways and roads for the German advance to Paris, working from early morning till dark on one slice of "bread" only.

The Germans told our men that they would be in Paris within a few days, but the accounts given by later prisoners revealed the fact that the German plans had gone wrong. When our men asked for more food the German would reply: "You cannot have more food until your Navy raises the blockade". Even the German soldiers have to send some of their coarse rations home to keep relatives from hunger. Pte Gates says that even the day before the Armistice, Alsatians and Austrians deserted from the German army, threw down their arms, and wore the revolutionist colours. He was one of about 500 who started to march to the French lines, over 100 of whom perished on the journey, which took three days, and it was only the thought of freedom and home that sustained the remainder. Pte Gates is rapidly recovering from the effects of his unenviable adventures.

Rushden Prisoner of War
We are pleased to state that Seaman Thos. Richardson, Howe Batt., R.N.D., has arrived home from Germany, where he had been a prisoner of war since March 24th.—three days after the German offensive. He is the husband of Mrs Richardson, of 41, Harborough-road, Rushden. He states that the work he had to do in German coal mines was excessively hard, especially on the poor rations allowed—only two slices of black “saw dust” bread and soup of doubtful origin to help it down. Once his party, unable to work any longer on such food, went on strike. A German Socialist came and addressed them and advised them to try and stick it as it would not be for much longer. They were given a herring for each man per day for that week. Mr Richardson on two occasions was under a fairly decent German foreman, who got him transferred to an easier job. He was also comparatively fortunate in getting clothes and keeping—until the last—a pair of good boots. A packet of Woodbine cigarettes could often be exchanged for a pound of sugar, and anything made of leather, or articles such as soap or candles could be exchanged for money or things 20 times their English value. The German civilians, Mr Richardson says, were almost starved by the British Naval Blockade. Boots and clothing, etc., had to be made of paper and other substitutes. Big retailers had to close up most of their premises for want of commodities for sale, the few articles offered being of poor quality. Mr Richardson was working at a hospital when news came through of the Armistice. He was released the following week and went to Holland in a train which conveyed over 1,000 other prisoners. The reception by the Dutch was, he says, magnificent.

War prisoner in a Mine
A Plucky Rushden Soldier – On Strike for Better Food
A gallant attempt to escape from a German prison was made last August by Pte. George H Line, 7th Northants, son of Mrs Line, of 22 North-street, Rushden. Pte. Line has arrived home with a number of others, and is fortunately getting over the worst effects of his terrible time in Germany. After nearly three years’ hared fighting, he was captured last March in a village near Amiens, a number of Germans with revolvers surrounding his little party, who were doing stretcher bearing. He was sent back behind the lines and compelled to work until his health broke down. He was then sent to hospital, and after recovering, was made to work in a coal mine, being “housed” in a camp at Munster. As the food was very poor in quality and insufficient in quantity (black bread and vile soup) he – with others – refused to work down the mine and as a punishment he was made to stand along a wall for a whole work shift (eight hours) with just trousers, shirt, and clogs, and if they moved three inches or looked around they were struck by the sentries with their rifles. Even when he was made to do any work, Pte. Line always endeavoured to do more mischief than good, as he and his pals would not if they could help it, do anything to assist the enemy and so prolong the war.

One particular galling experience was the harsh treatment meted out to all the British in that camp by a British company-sergeant-major. It appears that the C.S.M. tried to curry favour with the Germans by treating the British Tommies worse than the Germans had treated them. During the time that C.S.M. was placed in charge of the British soldiers, he had a blanket taken from each man. (They had previously had two per man.) He was also continually putting the men in “clink,” and otherwise inflicting suffering on them. After this C.S.M. had gone and a German placed in charge the men were much better treated again. Pte. Line, getting so thoroughly fed up with the hardship, resolved to try and escape. He and a pal, being on night duty, escaped in the dark and set off, with a fair amount of provisions which had been sent in parcels from home. They tramped for five days, and got within 14 miles of the Dutch frontier when his pal, thoroughly exhausted, fell ill with pneumonia. Pte. Line carried his friend to a farmhouse close by, the two thus being forced to give themselves up. That was the fourth attempt made by Pte. Line’s friend. They were taken back to Munster, and Pte. Line never saw his again. He himself was punished by solitary confinement in a dark cell, with nothing but black bread and water, for 14 days.

“After that” he says, “I have never done a stroke of work for the Germans.” He spoke feelingly of his appreciation of the kindness of the people at home in sending parcels of food out to help them. He says 50 per cent of the men must have died but for that food. He had had often to exist on grass until he got parcels from home, which began to arrive four months after he was captured.

Rushden Seaman reaches Home
A.B. S Langham’s Experiences as a Prisoner of War
Able Seaman Stephen Langham, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division, of York-road, Rushden, the well-known phrenologist, who was taken prisoner by the Germans on March 24th, reached home on Saturday evening last, and, considering the experiences through which he has passed, is looking wonderfully well. Interviewed by a “Rushden Echo” representative he said:-

Seaman Stephen Langham

“In some of the camps the Germans treated the prisoners most brutally, but we were not so badly off as that, though we were served with sour and mouldy bread; the “coffee” was made with some sort of burnt grain; and our dinner consisted chiefly of cabbages, and sometimes a little meal; what meat we had was horseflesh, varied with putrid fish, and the jam at times was putrid. We had to work ten hours a day, and many of the prisoners were stricken down with dysentery.”

Rushden Echo, 13^th December 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

Higham Ferrers
War prisoners who have arrived home include Seaman James Lambert, of Rushden (son of the late Mr Joseph Lambert, of Higham Ferrers).