Trench Mortars in France – Rushden Soldier’s Weird Experiences
Mistaken for his Brother and Loses Some of His Teeth
Billeted with Cows – A “First of April” Turn with The Horses
Struck by a Shell but Uninjured
Those of our readers who have read the dispatches of Sir Douglas Haig may have noticed how the British Field-Marshal on the western front eulogised the work of the trench mortars during the fighting which has taken place under his direction. This week Gunner Albert Upton, R.F.A., second son of Mr and Mrs Aaron Upton, of Montague-street, Rushden, gave a “Rushden Echo” representative an interesting peep into the life of the trench mortar gunners, with whom he has been working in France practically during the whole of 1916. He left France on Sunday morning last and arrived in Rushden in the evening.

Gunner Upton enlisted on October 6th 1915, and went to France with the R.F.A. on February 20th, 1916. However, he was under fire before then.

“You see,” he said to the reporter, “I was in the Zepp raid on Woolwich on Oct. 13th, 1915, and the cook-house at the barracks where I was stationed was set on fire by one of their ‘fire-balls’ (incendiary bombs).”

Continuing, he said, “We arrived at Le Harvre, on the French coast, at about 7.30pm on February 20th, and we encamped at Harfleur. We left there on February 29th and arrived at Rouen on March 1st. The nest day I joined the 21st Divisional A.C. at Bailleul and left there for the Armentieres front, arriving on March 6th.

“We went to the firing line on the same day, but things were quieter than I had expected and we soon got settled down. I remember on March 12th going to a church service. The ‘church’ was in a private house, and just after we had left the building it was blown to bits by three enemy shells, one of our chaps being wounded. That was my first narrow escape.

“Six days later we left Armentieres and arrived at C——— on March 19th, being billeted in a cow shed. This, I can assure you, was not very pleasant. We soldiers slept in a loft, and in the room below there were about 20 cows. What with the ‘bestial’ odour and the lady of the farm waking us up at 5 a.m. instead of 6 a.m., we were glad to get away from that place.

“The first night I went there I was put on guard, and my brother (Aza Upton), who was serving in this division with me, was due to go on guard the next night. Unfortunately, there were not many who knew ‘which was which of the two’, so to speak, and I was unintentionally called instead of him and put on guard again on my second night there. In connection with that difficulty of knowing ‘which is which’, I might mention another incident. When I went to be examined for the Army my teeth were passed as satisfactory, but my brother Aza was told that he must have some out. Subsequently I got a notice to have some of my teeth out and I obeyed the order, not knowing it was a mistake of the authorities, and the result was that we both had some teeth out. I had some new teeth, but I have since lost them ‘somewhere in France’ and if anyone picks them up they are welcome to them. They fitted so badly I would rather be without them.

“On April 1st I was sent to a riding school, the authorities being bent on keeping up the old tradition as far as I was concerned. I don’t know whether it was the horse or myself who was ‘being had’, but at any rate we both played the fool, and I have never liked horses since!

“I was excused riding for a time after this as I went on the sick list. I soon got over it, however, and went up to the firing line again—this time in a different district—being transferred to the trench mortars—the ‘heavy’ (with shells of about 15slbs. Weight), the ‘medium’ (shells about 60lbs. Weight), and the ‘stokes’ (shells about 13 or 14lbs weight). I was engaged on the heavy trench mortars with my brother.”

“Did you like the change?” asked our representative.

“Well”, replied Gunner Upton, I fancy I did. The work was certainly more dangerous and more exciting than before, but I was glad to get away from the horses. I didn’t fancy them, and I am sure they didn’t fancy me!

“On April 28th I went to the 4th Army Trench Mortar School near B———, for a seven-day course in my new branch of service. I went up to the line again on May 16th in the Somme district. We had to dig ourselves in just behind the first line trench (the trench mortars had to have a ‘bed’ made for them) and consequently we working for some time on almost open ground. Lukily the enemy’s fire was rather slack. Later on in the day, however, they found us out, and shelled us with their trench mortars for two hours, but we had already dug ourselves in. During this shelling I was hit in the back with a piece of shell and knocked down, but I sustained no injury. After this our position was condemned as unsafe—the enemy had succeeded in blowing it up once and looked like doing it again.

“We started taking up a new position, working day and night under heavy trench mortar fire, which, being carried on at only 300 yards range, is very dangerous. The only advantage is that you can see the shells coming, for they rise straight up in the air and drop almost straight down on their object if they are aimed true. At night time they usually have a burning fuse, which is of course a warning, but some of the shells are those which burst on concussion, these you cannot see at night time.

“On May 21st, the Lincolns were going over for a night raid on the enemy’s trenches, and I went up the first line trenches with a working party. I did not know how I should go on, but I got back safely on the morrow after dodging a few shells and snipers. On the 23rd we were at the old game—taking up a gun position—but on the following day we went back into billets for a rest. At this time we were served out with steel helmets (the infantry had already got theirs) and we began to feel a bit safer as far as our top quarters were concerned.

“On June 4th, I went in what we called a ‘Tambo’—an exploded enemy mine, and at midnight a heavy bombardment started and I began to learn what real heavy shelling was. Up to that time it was the worst bombardment I had been in, but I have been in many as bad and worse since then. On that occasion the Germans took our first line trenches twice, but were eventually driven out. It cost both sides a lot of men.

“It was on June 24th, that the terrific British bombardment on the Somme commenced. I was engaged in carrying shells up to our trench mortar (‘medium’) guns on a sort of overhead railway over the trenches. The lines were on planks over the trenches and I walked in the trench guiding the shells which were on wheels overhead. The bombardment was still on on June 29th—five days later—and I came through with nothing more than a slight bruise on the arm from a stray piece of a ‘whiz-bang’. The piece of shell went right through my sleeve and my jersey but only grazed my arm.

“On the following day I had another narrow escape. A ‘premature’ shell (so called because it burst as soon as it left the muzzle of the gun) from a 4.5 inch gun burst near me as I was bending. It blew one chap’s foot off on one side of me, as he was standing up, wounded a chap on the other side of me as he was walking away, and wounded a dozen chaps behind me, though not seriously, but, as I was bending down, I escaped injury. I came to the conclusion after this that I was bearing a charmed life and I have stuck to that conclusion ever since.

“On Saturday, July 1st, at 6 a.m. every available British gun was on the go (some having slackened a little in the few days previous) and at 7 a.m. we blew 7 mines up under the enemy’s trenches. This was the biggest mining adventure of the British known up to that time. Over went the infantry at about 7.15, and we stood on the parapet of our trenches just behind the first line watching the Somersets go over. The Englishmen went straight over three lines of German trenches, capturing the third line by 8.30, and we took up our position in the original British first line trenches. As we were in these trenches three Germans ran towards us shouting ‘Mercy, kamarade!’ but, not being particularly vain for spoil, we stopped in our trenches while some Royal Welsh Fusiliers went out to them with fixed bayonets and ransacked their pockets.

“At this time we were all dosed with rum—just enough to imbibe us with the fiery ‘spirit’. Later on in the day the firing slackened a little, and I was on guard that night in the original front line trenches.

“I was again engaged in carrying bombs on July 5th for the trench mortars, again serving the ‘mediums’. The latter tried to get dug in again after the advance, but there were too many enemy shells flying about. Six days later they made another attempt to fix a trench mortar position in M——— Wood, but they could not get into action. The day after this attempt we retired to the rear for a rest.

“On July 13th I was taken sick, probably through the terrific noise of the guns and the damp conditions and hard work, and I was taken to the 3rd Canadian Hospital at Boulogne.

“I became attached to the 4th Canadians on Sept. 3rd at D———, and on the next day went with them up to the trenches to take over the trench mortars, but we were out again after three days there. From then to Oct. 1st I was engaged in various manoeuvres behind the line. On Oct. 1st I went up to the trenches with a working party, but later was taken to a district farther north, and spent a period in which we were alternately six days in and six days out of the trenches. After Oct. 29th I was again shifted to the Somme region, and that is the region I left last week to come home.”

Local Bandsman in Egypt – Rushden Palace Musician – In Strange Surroundings
Life in the East – Royal Command Received Four Times - The Native Police and “The Poor Little Kids”
Bandsman H Rice (Rushden) of the R.W.F., formerly of the Rushden Palace Orchestra, who is now with the Expeditionary Force in Egypt, sends the following letter from Cairo to Mr Carrington, manager of the Palace, Rushden:-

No doubt you will be surprised to have a letter from me, but I thought you would like to know how I am getting on with Egypt. Well, of course you know that it is very different. In the first place, the climate is, as you know, very trying to all Englishmen, as this summer has been the hottest for many years, according to the weather clerk, and even now, in November, it is very hot in the day time, but gets very cool at night. I could not tell anyone how I have managed to bear it, but I am pleased to tell you I am felling as well as I have ever done, but have had one or two rather bad attacks owing to the heat.

I have seen a great deal of Egypt, having travelled thousands of miles with our famous band, by which we have made a great name for ourselves. We have played by Royal Command four times to the Sultan, which is a great honour to any band, and during the summer months we were engaged at a first-class music hall at Alexandria, which is about 150 miles from Cairo. Some weeks we were engaged for three days and some two, and we also had some very good turns working with us, but they were chiefly French and Arabic, but still, give me the English, as we could not understand very much. We also have done a great deal of playing here and Alexandria, and I have found a lot of friends who come from Rushden and district, and you can imagine what a treat it has been to have a good talk about the old place.

I have had the pleasure of being on the deserts, which are not very nice, owing to the terrific heat and blinding sandstorms, which play havoc with you. One desert in particular we visited was at Tel-el-Kebir, where the great battle was fought in 1882 and you can see now in the midst of the lonely desert the old trenches, and also the burial place, where one can read the stones of the brave heroes who gave their lives freely.

We have also been to the Pyramids, and spent a whole day there, visiting places and spots of great interest, and also been on the beautiful River Nile. There is one particular thing one must notice—that is the wonderful bridges over the Nile; one in particular is as long as the High-street, Rushden, and it is very wide—two lines of trams and sufficient room for four cabs to pass and two wide paths.

There are some very good places, but we find some very bad and most dirty places, and the old alleys make us feel quite bad, as walking up some of these at night we find the regular black natives, laying all about the place for their night’s rest, and we have to keep our eyes open, as we might easily find ourselves in a trap, but we are well prepared for that, as they don’t like the look of some of us. But the way the native police treat the poor little kids is wicked. They don’t take any notice of dragging them by the hair to the station, and then they punish them by whaling them on the feet, and they don’t wear such things as boots, so you may guess what they must suffer. This takes place in the lower parts, but the men get the whip a few times in the streets openly.

Some of the smells here are enough to make you go green, as the stuff they eat looks like rotten cabbages, stewed up again, mixed with onions. Then, getting into the city once more, you find some well-educated and smartly-dressed people, just the reverse, as they take no notice of paying 3s. to 5s. to see picture palaces, besides first-class variety places, and the people are by no ways behind here, for this week we have had Ada Reeves and her London Company of star artists at the Sultan’s Opera House, which is a handsome place. The decorations are beautiful, and the stage is longer than any I have ever seen. I might mention that we are supplying the music for a month. We start at 9.15 and finish at 12.15. The prices are from 5s. to £5 and are well booked.

Well, no doubt you will begin to think that our life in the Army is A1, but in addition to all engagements, we do just the same as any soldier, such as drills every day, and now we are on the machine guns and pickets, so, you see, we don’t get much time for ourselves. I am ever looking forward to the time when I can take my place again in the good old Palace at Rushden.

German Airman’s Fate – Burnt to a Cinder - Big Fight in the Air
Witnesses by a Rushden Soldier- Private F Howes Recovers from Trench fever
Pte. F Howes, 10272, -- Northants regt., son of Mr and Mrs Walter Howes, of 8, Fitzwilliam-street, Rushden, has been spending ten days’ sick furlough at home, after having been in hospital 15 weeks with trench fever contracted in France.

He enlisted on June 29th, 1915, and has been on the Western Front about four months, proceeding to France at the age of 18 years and eight months. He has twice had trench fever, his first attack being on August 13th, 1916, when he was also sent to “Blighty” for four months.

Seen by a representative of the “Rushden Echo” he said:-
“I have no thrilling experiences to tell you of, although I had plenty of excitement on the Somme. One day in the early morning we were making an attack, and my battalion was in support. Pte. Holloway, whose parents reside in Glassbrook-road, Rushden, stood at my left, when suddenly he said to me ‘I am hit’. Turning to look at him I found that he had been struck in the leg with a shrapnel splinter, but fortunately the wound was not serious, and he was able to make his own way to the dressing station. At about the same time a sergeant of the Sussex regiment came to my part of the trench with a piece of shrapnel embedded in his arm. As my position was fairly well protected and the sergt. was wounded, I moved out to let him take my place, which he did. I hadn’t left the spot three minutes before a shell dropped at that point and blew off the sergeant’s right leg from above the knee, so that I had a very narrow escape. The doctor came along to the injured N.C.O. and administered morphia and he was then removed to the dressing station.

“One evening about 5 o’clock I saw a very exciting fight in the air. That day there hadn’t been very many airmen up, but at the time I have mentioned one of our aviators and an observer were up in a Scout. They had just got over the German lines when all of a sudden no fewer than eleven Taubes rose and surrounded them. In view of the superior numbers of enemy airmen they were obliged to make a run for it; nevertheless, they put up a stiff fight for their lives, and their manoeuvres to get away were remarkable. However, the plane must have been hit in some vital spot, or the pilot struck, as the machine was driven down just at the back of our lines. We heard subsequently that one of the airmen was dead when the machine reached the ground, and the other was wounded.

“As soon as the news was received at the aerodrome, our chaps were not long in seeking to get their own back, as in a very short time eight of our machines were in the air. In the meantime the Taubes had gone back, but, seeing our challenge, they got up again, and very q1uickly a big battle was in progress. After about a quarter-of-an-hour’s fighting we saw a Taube being driven down by a British machine. The german was doing his best to keep his machine under control, but the British airman was letting him have it in the neck. When the Boche got too far down he made an attempt to turn and make off, but by that time our machine gunners had got his range and let him have it thick and fast. In a very short time we saw his machine burst into flames, and down he came with a rattle. Some of our chaps went out, but couldn’t get near enough to the burning machine to make any attempt at rescue because of the heat, so that the German airman must have been burnt to a cinder.

“The other German machines bolted, and all our machines got back safely. Our chaps went wild with excitement, sticking their ‘tin hats’ on their bayonets and yelling like mad. However, we soon shut up, as the Boches artillery started to strafe us pretty thick. (to be continued next week)

Rushden Echo, 18^th May, 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

A Magnificent Bit of Work - A German Encircling Movement Frustrated
A Rushden Youth and his Lewis Gun - “A Gallant and Trusty Lad”

  Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Walker, of 14, Brookfield-road, Rushden, have received letters from their son, Lce.-Corpl. W. H. Walker, M.M., of the Northants Regiment, to say that he has been wounded in the right arm.

  The first news that Mr. and Mrs. Walker received was through the medium of a field-card, which brought the information that their son had been wounded and admitted into hospital.

  A subsequent letter addressed from No. 47, General Hospital, Le Treport, reads as follows:-  “Just a line to let you know I am getting on all right.  My wound is nearly better, and I expect I shall be back with the boys again shortly.  I hope my field-card did not cause too much anxiety.  This letter will have to be short as the wound is in my right arm, and pains if I use it too much.”

  Writing under date May 7^th, Lance-Corpl. Walker says:  “I am getting along all right.  I think I shall be out of this soon.  I would sooner be on this front than the Somme.  There is not so much shelling, but more machine gun fire.  I had two bullets hit my gun before I was hit, and I had one or two narrow shaves going back.  One bullet grazed my lip, and another cut the seat of my pants; not so bad for one day.”

  Lance-Corpl. Walker, who prior to enlistment, was employed by the Rushden depot of the India and China Tea Company, was under 16 years of age when he joined the Colours. And before he had reached his eighteenth year he had been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry in the field.

  In our issue of April 13^th this year we had pleasure in reporting that the young soldier, who will not be 19 until November 29^th next, had achieved still further distinction, having won a bar to be added to his previous decoration for skilful manipulation of a Lewis gun under very trying circumstances and for taking charge of B Company’s guns when his senior N.C.O. was knocked out.

  This was during operations against South Miraumont Trench on February 17^th this year.

  A comrade of the Northants Regiment, giving to a representative of a London monthly a description of the fighting at this point and on that date, relates how a little group of five men of the Northamptons found themselves in danger of falling into a trap, from which they only managed to escape by cool daring and wonderfully accurate firing.  In the course of the interview he said:-

  “Skirting the outer edge of the wood, we reached the extreme of it at a point where a road leads to Waterlot Farm, where we knew there were Germans in plenty.  Bobbing up to have a look round, one of our men shouted: ‘Jocks advancing on our left!’  But there was something wrong with his eyesight, as I discovered when I took a peep.

  “They were not Jocks but Germans advancing along the left, working round towards the wood in a circling movement which would have meant another section of the British Army surrounded if their purpose had been fulfilled.

  “Here was a pretty kettle of fish indeed, for the five of us were too far away from the rest of the boys for help to be fetched in time to stop the circling movement by the body of Germans.  We had nothing but our rifles with us, of course, but in a minute we had recovered from the surprise, and were spreading ourselves out into firing position, so that we could give the enemy something to think about, anyway.

  “I reduced our numbers to four by sending one of the party back the way we had come to see if he could not lay his hands on a machine-gun team, or at least, a machine-gun.

  “As soon as he had gone we raised rifles to shoulders and began to pepper at those Germans as fast as ever we could.  They were coming out into the open round a bend.  The nearest of them were not more than fifty yards away, and they provided a splendid target, of which we made the fullest use.  Always aiming at the men who were leading the line, I saw one after another fall to our firing, and we had not been at the game many minutes before our pal returned with a godsend in the shape of a Lewis gun, and a man who could work it (Lce.-Corpl. Walker – Ed. R.E.).  What had happened to the rest of his gun-team he did not seem to know, and I certainly did not worry just then.  I had enough troubles of my own.  But he was a gallant and trusty lad our pal had picked up.  I helped him to plank his gun just on the edge of a shell-hole, and in almost less time than the telling takes he was pumping bullets into that band of Germans at as merry a tune as I have ever heard.

  “I think I forgot everything then, except that we were taking toll of enemy soldiers.  Certainly it never seemed to occur to me that we were running something of a risk ourselves, for we did not even take advantage of what cover there was near at hand.  Instead, three of us stood up, rifles to shoulder, and pegged away as steadily as if we had been doing target practice.  The other two were down on their knees, also firing.

   “Every shot was deliberately aimed at a human mark, but though the line of the enemy halted at first as their men began to fall, they were now coming steadily round the bend again.  It was indeed the finest bit of shooting I ever had – and one of the tightest of tight corners, too.

  “I owed the Germans quite a lot, for during the last few days they had taken from me many a trusty friend; but I remember thinking as I saw them fall that I was doing something to pay off the score.  The Lewis gun, of course, was creating more havoc than we were with our rifles, and I reckon, that if we had not had it with us the Germans would have stormed that bit of line we were holding.  Storming up to the muzzle of a machine-gun, however, is the sort of job that the average Boche does not relish.

  “Presently, however, we were in another fix, for the supply of ammunition, both for the Lewis gun and our won rifles, was giving out, and one at a time we had to leave our places to scout round for ammunition.  It was a gruesome job this, for it had to be taken from the men lying about who had fallen in the fight.

  “I felt sure that if we could only hold out long enough help would come, for our firing would be certain to attract attention.  And I was right.  Presently we were cheered by the sight of supports coming up from both flanks lining the edge of the wood on a decent-sized front.  The situation was saved.  As soon as the opposition fire increased the Germans realised that they were likely to get more than they bargained for, and they began to retire once more.”

Rushden Soldier Wounded at Gaza
Lance-Corpl. Tom Bailey, eldest son of Mr. T. W. Bailey, of Washbrook-road, Rushden, has had an exciting experience in Palestine. He enlisted at the beginning of the war, and went through the trying fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and subsequently through the battles in the Egyptian campaign. In the battle of Gaza he was wounded. He writes: “We attacked the town of Gaza, which was strongly fortified, and has stood the test of thirty historic battles—so history tells us. The Turks simply mowed the ground, and I was hit on Thursday April 19th. I fell in a cornfield, and lay there until dark. As they were “strafing” the ground with big guns and machine guns I was lucky to only get two more wounds. One shot passed right through the buttock, and one hit me in the leg below the knee and gave my shin bone a terrible knock. This turned the bullet downwards into my foot.” He says he is going on as well as can be expected, but is afraid there is no chance of “Blighty” for the Palestine crowd. The wounded N.C.O. is 22 years of age, and is a grandson of Mr. Thomas Favell, of Irthlingborough.

The Rushden Echo, 22^nd June, 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Stretcher Bearer - Exciting Time in Palestine
A Search Party’s Night Work - A Risky Job
Writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Tew, of 123, Park-road, Rushden, Bandsman L. Tew says:-

  It was about five o’clock in the afternoon, and we were sitting round a small fire, enjoying our last cup of tea, without milk, and very, very little sugar, in one of the many gullies that can be seen in or about Palestine, which had once been half full of water, but now very dry and a good sandy bottom, and lots of different turnings which help to make it better than some of the trenches that are dug, and gives very good cover from shell fire, etc.  As this gully was only about a mile from the trenches, it was very handy.

  We were sitting round the fire and talking of the big attack that we had been spared to go through without so much as a scratch, and were telling our chums of the different escapes we had had, when who should come round the corner but the doctor, a jolly good old stick, and more like a father to us than our master or boss, and he came up to us with a smile on his face and a cheery “How are you, boys?” and then he said “I want volunteers, two stretcher-parties, four in each, to go out as a searching-party tonight as soon as it gets dark.”  It did not take very long to get his party, although it is a risky job.

  It was getting dark, and there was only a thin moon, and it was a nice warm night and just about right for the work we were about to begin on, so we put our coats on and got our dressing-bags and two stretchers.  Then the word was sent to move out of the gully and wait for the doctor, and no sooner had we got there than he appeared.

  Off we went, and were joined by 15 more squads of R.A.M.C., then off we went over the ground that had been held by the Turks only a day or two before, and which had been the last piece of ground some of our poor chums walked on and now lie in a small patch of ground where shells fly over, but they are resting in peace, poor fellows.  As we were thinking of this we came across the trenches, but only said “Good-night” to the boys who were in them, and passed on and were soon in the first line, where we halted for a few seconds for a rest.  The captain said, “Now, boys, we must go very quiet and get ready for any surprises”, then over the firing lines we went extended out so that we should stand a better chance of missing the bullets and a better chance for finding any of the boys who had been hit and could not get back.

  We had not gone far when someone whispered “Get down,” and a quick movement told us that everyone was lying flat down in the rather tall grass.  Then, all of a sudden there was a flash of light in the air, which lit up all around, but only for a minute.  It was one of the Turks’ star-lights, and after it went out we moved on again.  Not a sound was heard only the swish of the grass.  As we went on things were getting exciting as we neared the Turks’ line, foot by foot.  Then up went another star light and down we went until it went out, then we went on a few more yards and again someone whispered “Get down” so down we went flat on our chest and not a sound was heard only a shell now and then, and a rifle bullet swishing by.

  For a minute we lay still, then we heard the swish of grass and we expected to be in a fight in a very short time.  Some of our boys put their guns ready.  Then the noise stopped for a second, then on again, and louder it came as they drew nearer, then dark figures appeared and bayonets flashed, but everyone was still and they passed in front about 30 yards away.  Then someone gave us a short low whistle and the figures stopped and looked in our direction.  One of them sent a short blast, but very low, then up jumped the captain and advanced towards them with revolver ready.  Nearer he got, then we heard a low voice call “Halt! Who are you?” Then a few whispers and everything was all right, and we found out it was another search party, and after finding a few of our dead boys, we loaded stretchers and went back, and as no one got hurt we landed back safely.  Then we got in our blanket and went to sleep as if nothing had happened.  Then ended that night’s search party.

Rushden Stretcher Bearer – Exciting Time in Palestine
A Search Party’s Night Work – A Risky Job
Writing to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. Tew, of 123 Park-road, Rushden, Bandsman L. Tew says:-
It was about five o’clock in the afternoon, and we were sitting round a small fire, enjoying our last cup of tea, without milk, and very, very little sugar, in one of the many gullies that can be seen in or about Palestine, which had once been half full of water, but now very dry and a good sandy bottom, and lots of different turnings which help to make it better than some of the trenches that are dug, and gives very good cover from shell fire, etc. As this gully was only about a mile from the trenches, it was very handy.

We were sitting round the fire and talking of the big attack that we had been spared to go through without so much as a scratch, and were telling our chums of the different escapes we had had, when who should come round the corner but the doctor, a jolly good old stick, and more like a father to us than our master or boss, and he came up to us with a smile on his face and a cheery “I want volunteers, two stretcher parties, four in each, to go out as a searching-party tonight as soon as it gets dark.” It did not take very long to get his party, although it is a risky job.

It was getting dark, and there was only a thin moon, and it was a nice warm night and just about right for our work, we were about to begin on, so we put our coats on and got our dressing-bags and two stretchers. Then the word was sent to move out of the gully and wait for the doctor, and no sooner had we got there than he appeared.

Off we went, and were joined by 15 more squads of R.A.M.C., then off we went over the ground that had been held by the Turks only a day or two before, and which had been the last piece of ground some of our poor chums walked on and now lie in a small patch of ground where shells fly over, but they are resting in peace, poor fellows. As we were thinking of this we came across the trenches, but only said “Good-night” to the boys who were in them, and passed on and were soon in the first line, where we halted for a few seconds for a rest. The captain said, “Now, boys, we must go very quiet and get ready for any surprises,” then over the firing lines we went extended out so that we should stand a better chance of missing the bullets and a better chance for finding any of the boys who had been hit and could not get back.

We had not gone far when someone whispered “Get down,” and a quick movement told us that everyone was lying flat down in the rather tall grass. Then, all of a sudden there was a flash of light in the air, which lit up all around, but only for a minute. It was one of the Turks star-lights, and after it went out we moved on again. Not a sound was heard only the swish of the grass. As we went on things were getting exciting as we neared the Turk’s line, foot by foot. Then up went another star-light and down we went until it went out; then we went on a few more yards and again someone whispered “Get down,” so down we went flat on our chest and not a sound was heard only a shell now and then, and a rifle bullet swishing by.

For a minute we lay still, then we heard the swish of grass and we expected to by in a fight in a very short tiem. Some of our boys put their guns ready. Then the noise stopped for a second, then on again, and louder it came as they drew nearer, then dark figures appeared and bayonets flashed but everyone was still and they passed in front about 30 yards away. Then someone gave us a short low whistle and the figures stopped and looked in our direction. One of them sent a short blast, but very low, then up jumped the captain and advanced towards them with a revolver ready. Nearer he got, then we heard a low voice call “Halt! Who are you?” Then a few whispers and everything was all right, and we found out it was another search party, and after finding a few of our dead boys, we loaded stretchers and went back, and as no one got hurt we landed back safely. Then we got in our blanket and went to sleep as if nothing had happened. Then ended that night’s search party.

10^th August, 1917

“War Looks Like Lasting A Long Time”
“But it May End this Autumn”
How Rushden’s Fame is Spread - The Spirit of the Troops
  A very interesting letter from Group Sergt-Major Edgar Brown, A.S.C., attached ------Siege Battery, R.G.A., B.E.F., has been received by Mrs. J. Allen, of Portland-road, Rushden, secretary of the Portland-road and King’s-road Roll of Honour.  He writes:-

  It was with much surprise and pleasure that I received your gift of a postal order and card from the Portland-road and King’s-road Roll of Honour.  I have read a lot about your war shrines in the “Rushden Echo,” but as I have been away from Rushden so many years I did not expect to be remembered.  I am delighted to be included, as I am most proud of my native town and the efforts they have made during the war.  I have the “Echo” sent to me regularly, as I like to keep in touch with the dear old place.  You will perhaps know that we are issued with cigarettes once a week, and, as your postal order arrived a day before the issue was due, very few of my boys had anything to smoke.  I immediately spent the money in cigarettes, and distributed these amongst them with an explanation as to the source of the money, and I need not tell you that your gift was keenly appreciated by many who had perhaps never heard of Rushden before.

  I have no doubt the people at home are getting tired of the war, and, of course, we are longing to get home again.  I have been in France two-and-a-half years, but I would rather stick another two-and-a-half years than have a peace to suit the Hun, and that is the spirit of the troops here.  One has only to visit the devastated parts of France and Belgium to appreciate the inhuman and filthy character of the German.  No wonder France is her mortal enemy.

  As I have been in every part of the British line I have had a fairly wide range of observation.  According to the general outlook, the war looks like lasting a long time yet, but, strangely, I have a different opinion, and think it quite possible to end this autumn.  The weather the past three days has been terrible, which was most unfortunate on top of our last operations.  I have been engaged in every big operation except one since the first five months of the war, and I have noticed repeatedly how the weather is against us.  This is disappointing, and may slightly delay us, but, of course, it does not affect the ultimate end.

  You will probably wonder what the enclosed dirty slip of material is, but you have probably read of Captain Guynemer, the famous French airman, who has now, I believe, brought down his 50^th opponent.  Well, this is a piece of the upper wing of his 26^th Hun machine.  The black part is where the Iron Cross was painted.

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 Rushden Echo, 14th December 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins

Startling Surprise for Fritz – A Rushden Tank Driver Describes his Experiences
Germans Literally Mown Down – A Great Day for the Tank Corps.
First Landship in the Recent Advance – Huns Running as Fast as they could Pelt
Driver Fred Collins, of the Tank Corps, son of the late Mr Henry Collins, and Mrs Collins, of Crabb-street, Rushden, is home on his first leave from France, after 15 months out there. He enlisted on March 16th 1915, in his County Regiment, but volunteered to be transferred to the Tank Corps on December 21st 1916. He was then taught to drive, and has been engaged in that work ever since, passing through many thrilling experiences, both in the Battle of Messines on June 7th and at the second battle of Ypres on July 31st. More recently he has been engaged in the great battle which is now raging on the Cambrai front, having come straight home from that scene of action.

Interviewed by a representative of the “Rushden Echo”, driver Collins said:-

“On the day before the opening of the battle on the Cambrai front (viz. November 20th) the Brigadier General commanding my corps showed us a map of the Cambrai district, and told us that the morrow would be the great day that the Tank Corps had been waiting for for months, i.e. good ground to make easy going. He expressed the hope that we should all do our duty and give a good account of ourselves, and I think that subsequent events justified his faith in us.

It was about 3.45p.m. that we started up our engines and proceeded to the starting point of the attack about 200 yards behind the front line. At that time everything was very quiet, and Fritz evidently didn’t expect anything, as he was doing practically nothing except lobbing over a few trench mortars now and again, and we were able to continue making our preparations, greasing up, etc., practically undisturbed.

During the night we had about two hours’ sleep in our tank, and at 5.50a.m. the next day (i.e. ten minutes before barrage) we got the order to advance, and, cranking up, we were well on the way before our artillery opened fire. The Tank I was driving (a “male”) was the first in the line, and when we got fairly close up to Fritz we had to wait two or three minutes for our barrage to lift and then we went across Fritz’s first line. Then things got very lively. Fritz had a few machine-gun emplacements there, but these we speedily knocked out with our six-pounders and all we could see was the Huns running away as fast as they could pelt—that is, those of them who got the chance, as our machine-guns inside the Tanks literally mowed them down. I took a glance out of the back of the Tank and could see our chaps walking over as if nothing was happening. When we reached the Hindenburg line we found yards and yards of barbed wire, which the Huns were depending on, but we went through that as if it was nothing but paper strands. We then slipped in our high gears, and, leaving the Infantry, dashed right down into Marcoing (a big village which was just behind the Hindenburg line). We met with very little resistance, as our Tank absolutely surrounded the place, whilst two or three other Tanks, including the one I was driving, patrolled the streets. We saw only a few Germans running out of the houses, and we soon put “paid” to their account.

We waited there for the Infantry, as we could not get out of the Tanks as the enemy were sniping and sweeping the streets with machine guns. When the Infantry arrived there was some fun, as they started clearing out what Germans remained in the houses by bombing them. The Germans then came out of their holes like a lot of rats, hollering for mercy and running about with their hands up. They were collected in little batches and sent back as prisoners. Close by the village there was a bridge which the Germans did their best to blow up, but this we managed to save. Not my Tank, but another, got there just in time and found the fuse laid and ignited. An officer and a man left the Tank, and with the assistance of a Royal Engineer cut the fuse and saved the bridge at great risk to themselves.

This bridge was the objective, and I believe if the Cavalry had been up we should have broken through at this point, but subsequently the infantry advanced far beyond that bridge. After the village gad been cleared of the Boches we got out of the Tanks and entered the houses, and saw many interesting sights. From th look of the beds we could see that many Germans had simply jumped out of bed and bunked, leaving their clothes and equipment behind. We found canteens with barrels of beer, quarters masters’ stores, and breakfast all ready, great big German sausages and cigars galore.

For three days we lived in luxury on German rations, but we barred the sausages. We all had a change of clean underclothing from the German stores, clean shirts, and all. We were billeted in the village for a night, sleeping in a cellar, but in the early morning we got the order to stand to, as Fritz was making a counter-attack, but nothing came off as our Infantry succeeded in holding them off.

On the next day two sections of Tanks were sent into action, but I was one of the lucky ones, and got out of that, and was very glad I was as things didn’t turn out any too grand on that occasion. After two or three days’ standing-to, we were sent back again ans I was at once granted leave, and lost no time in getting across to “Blighty” and dear old Rushden.

All the time i have been out there I have had the “Rushden Echo” every week and I have been very interested to read about all my soldier and sailor friends on the different fighting fronts.

The Germans do not seem at all displeased at being taken prisoners. There are some youngsters amongst them, lads who look about 16 years of age. I cannot see an end to the war yet awhile. The Germans seem to be short of neither ammunition nor rations.”

Driver Collins has several souvenirs including a German saw bayonet—a beautiful example of Kultar.

The Rushden Echo, 28^th December, 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Northants Regiment to The Fore
The Second Battle of Gaza
Leading Part in The Attack - Twenty Lads Capture Lion Hill

  The Northamptonshire Battalion, which suffered heavily in the Battle of Gaza last spring had a place of honour in the brilliant operations which led to the swift capture of the ancient city recently.  Some interesting notes on the opening of the advance have been received from a correspondent in the battalion.

  The Northamptons were close to the coast on the extreme left of the British front.  Near to them was a London battalion, which went over early and gained a useful objective; another battalion next forced the enemy back to Cricket Valley; and then a third battalion (who had marched side by side with the Northamptons along the beach for five miles under shot and shell) rushed the amazed Turks, Germans, and Austrians through their natural stronghold, Sheik’s Hasan, with its wonderful gardens.  To quote from the correspondent:-

  “At 6 a.m. our Major set up the Battalion Headquarters, and the Captain of A Company formed up his men who had been selected by the Colonel for the next move.  (The Colonel was with the Staff a short distance away, and had good observation).  We had to advance against three hills, capture them, and consolidate.  Each platoon had its objective, and the very audacity of a company of men crossing 1,330 yards of open country so surprised the enemy that we were within 400 yards of his position before he realised how small was the attacking force.  Then our boys began to fall, and we went on with bomb and bayonet up Lion Hill, which was captured by 20 Northampton lads, heroes all!  Meanwhile, No. 2 Platoon were making splendid progress up Tiger Hill; and No. 3 Platoon were doing wonderful things on Dog Hill.

  “Three battalions of Turks, lying behind the crests of the hills, massed for a counter-attack, and tried to surround us.  They came round the hill-sides in swarms, but our machine-gun teams were ready and held them up.  All the same, our captain decided that we should have to retire or be caught like rats in a trap.

  “The real fight began then, and although there were casualties among the officers, the non-commissioned officers and men fought on to the last bomb and the last round of ammunition.  The Lewis gunners did wonderfully well, covering the retreat of their comrades, and afterwards rescuing wounded and bringing in their guns.  They were Daventry, Northampton, and Kettering men.  Another battalion and ourselves were now in a tight corner, as large forces of the enemy were forming up to attack us and cut us off.

  “Our Colonel saw the danger, with the result that B and C Companies were ordered to attack, A Company being now in reserve.  They did splendidly.  C Company, supported by D, dashed up Tortoise Hill, and A followed, though the men of this company had been marching and fighting for 15 hours.  The effort was successful, but I regret to state that there were some more casualties.

  “It was now 8.00 p.m. : the Northamptons had saved the situation, and reinforcements were coming up.  There were several days of fighting and manoeuvring after this before Gaza was occupied on November 7^th.  Two captains were wounded, but not dangerously.  I ought to say that our doctor and padre followed us closely all through these days, and all the men highly appreciated what they did for us.  The Major was in the thick of the fighting and his fine bearing greatly heartened the men.  The Adjutant was one of the first to volunteer when stretcher-bearers were called for.  From the General and from our Colonel we have had messages of congratulation.  We are all in good heart.”

Rushden Soldier on leave — Working Knee-deep in Water — Pte. A E Kettle’s Good Health
Pte. A E Kettle, of Bedford-road, Rushden, who joined the Army Ordnance Corps, but who subsequently volunteered for transfer with the Devons (Labour Battalion), has been home on 14 days’ leave, and has now left to join his regiment. He has seen 18 months’ service on the Western front, and this is the first leave he has had. Recently he has been on the Cambrai front, and has been in all the big pushes in his section during his period of service. Many exciting air fights have been witnessed by him, and he has seen a large number of German prisoners go through. His battalion have constantly had shells exploding near them, but so far Pte. Kettle has been very fortunate, and has not only escaped all injury, but has never had a day’s sickness while he has been at the front. Though he has never once had to report sick, and when seen by our representative he was looking well and strong. He says he is pleased to get the “Rushden Echo” every week, as it keeps him in touch with the good old town.

In the last great push, he says, he saw many Tanks in action. Several times his battalion have been shelled out of their camp. He considers that Fritz has more life in him yet than many people seem to realise. The Russian armistice has made it so much easier for the Germans, but, added Pte. Kettle, “we keep smiling and thinking of home.” For nine months he never saw a male civilian, a woman, or a child—nothing but soldiers clad in khaki.