Pte. Jn Craven

Aged 28 years

Died 22nd February 1916

Commemorated at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery
Grave IV. D. 25

Rushden Echo, 24^th March 1916, transcribed by Kay Collins

Stanwick Victim of the War

We also have to announce with regret the death from wounds of Pte. John Craven, 7^th Northants Regt., aged 28, youngest son of Mrs. Craven, widow, 75 years of age.

Mrs. Craven has received the following letter from Capt. H. Grierson, O.C., A. Co. 7^th Northants Regt., under date March 7^th:-

“Dear Mrs. Craven,—As you have no doubt heard, your son has died of wounds, and I am writing to tell you how extremely grieved I am, and to offer my deepest sympathy to you in your great bereavement. He was badly hit by a German sniper whilst returning from an important bombing post, which he and three other picked men had been holding during the night. I had a chat with him as he was being brought down the trench, and he was very cheerful and brave, though obviously suffering some pain.

“Although it had become light by that time, my stretcher bearers gallantly volunteered to take him down the road to the dressing station—a very dangerous business—so you may rest assured that everything possible was done for him. I hear he died very peacefully, and he is buried with his comrades in a special section of the cemetery reserved for men of the 7^th Northants. His loss is a great one, as he was a very fine bomber, and quite fearless. The service was carried out by our chaplain, and a cross has been erected over the grave.”

Mrs. Craven’s eldest son was killed on May 9^th 1915. She has two other sons in France and one at Gillingham, Kent, who was in France but was gassed and so had to be sent home.