The Rushden Echo, 4th May 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

The Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street Roll of Honour Committee have sent 2s. each to the 34 lads whose names appear on the list.  At the meeting of the committee on Tuesday, 24 letters were read from the recipients expressing gratitude.  Several of the writers said they would have liked to attend the opening of the roll, but had read a full report in the “Rushden Echo.”

The Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street Roll of Honour Committee have sent 2s. 6d. to each of the 40 boys whose names appear on the Roll.

Rushden's Soldier Sons - Grateful Recipients
Duck Street and Fitzwilllam Street District
Mrs G Swingler, of Duck street, Rushden secretary of the Roll of Honour for Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street has received many letters of thanks from the recipients of gifts sent by the committee to the boys where names appear on the lists. Some extracts follow:-

Lance-Corpl. W A Stock: I hope the war will soon be over, so that we can be home for good, as we have all had enough of it. We have been rather busy with the air-raids about here these last few days, but I am pleased to say they haven’t done much damage in this part.

R T Whitby: I am sure everyone appreciates the thoughts and kind wishes of those at home.

Fitzwilliam Street & Duck Street Shrine

W J Wood writes from France: Your untiring efforts are ever appreciated.

From Egypt, F A Bateman writes: It is a great pleasure for the boys out in this awful climate to think that we have some dear friends at home working so hard for the benefit of the soldiers.

Pte. J Cuthbert: I think the war is going fairly well in our favour.

Pte W J Hulatt: I don’t know how I shall ever repay the kindness you have shown me ever since I left Rushden.

J A Bugby, R N Ambulance Train: I sincerely hope it will not be necessary for you to send many more times. I little thought when I left home three years ago that I should be away so long. We had the raider directly over us two nights in succession.

J F Hollis: I hope the war shrine is still meeting with the continued success it deserves.

Pte F Wooding: I thank you and your committee with all my heart for the kindness you have all shown me.

R Thew: I hope you will be able to carry on your good work.

Chas. Wheeler: I shall always remember your kindness.

W G Hulatt writes from hospital at Cambridge: You will be pleased to know that I am getting on very well, and I am hoping to get about soon.

Pte. J Cuthbert: I am sure we shall come out victorious in the end.

J W Colton, writing from a convalescent hospital, under date September 27th, says he has been wounded, but is now getting on finely.

Letters of thanks have been received from H. H., D. T. S., Pte. P Bateman, O.S. Fred Hester, Sapper T H Wood, P Thew, Pte W Wheeler, C York, Pte. F A Bateman, Pte F Wooding, Sidney Chettle, H W Howes, E B Minney, R T Whitby.

More Rolls of Honour for Rushden - Impressive Service Conducted by Three Ministers
Two more Rolls of Honour were unveiled on Saturday afternoon in Rushden. The first, for Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street, was placed on the wall outside a house in Duck-street, almost facing Fitzwilliam-street.

Quite a crowd gathered for the service, which was conducted by the Revs. P J Richards (Vicar of St Peter's), P E Robson (Rector) and C J Keeler (Independent Wesleyan). Among those present were Ensign Peck, of the Salvation Army, and Mrs Paragreen, president of the committee formed for the erection of the Roll of Honour.

The window of a house near the Roll was thrown open in order that the piano in the room (belonging to Mrs Thew) might be used for the hymns, and Mr Richards accompanied. After the hymn "Fight the good fight", Mr Keeler offered prayer, and Mr Richards and Mr Robson each gave an address. All three referred to the thankful fact that as yet there were no names to be placed in the death list. There was the name of one misting (Sidney Cook) and between 30 and 40 names of those on active service. The service closed with the hymn "God bless our native land" and the Benediction. The cost of the Roll, the woodwork of which is oak, was defrayed by a collection in the two streets organised by the committee of nine ladies. The hymn sheets were provided by Mrs Paragreen.

After this service, the three ministers adjourned to Rectory-road, and in the presence of an interested and reverent assembly, dedicated a Roll of Honour for Rectory-road, Succoth-place, Orchard-place, and Woburn-place, the Roll being placed on the wall near Mr East's shop. The service was conducted on the usual lines and was deeply impressive. The "In memoriam" list of those fallen in action contained the names: Ernest Hill, Albert Edward Lawman, Charles Edwin Onion, and Herbert F Burton: John Richard Lawman is missing, and there are 34 on active service.

The Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street Roll of Honour Committee have sent 2s. each to the 34 lads whose names appear on the list. At the meeting of the committee on Tuesday, 24 letters were read from the recipients expressing gratitude. Several of the writers said they would have liked to attend the opening of the roll, but had read a full report in the “Rushden Echo.”

Roll Funds—About £5 was realised on Saturday afternoon by a gathering which was arranged by Mrs. Holman, Miss Ivy Swingler, and Mr. F. Bateman, in aid of the Duck-street Roll of Honour Fund, and which took place in Mr. Cox’s garden, Wellingborough-road. A whist drive, for which Mr. B. Reid was the M.C., resulted as follows: Ladies: 1 Miss F. White, 2 Miss M. White; mystery, Miss M. Newman. Gentlemen: 1 Mr. A. Newell, 2 Mr. Chettle; mystery, Mr. E. Martin. There was a guessing competition for a cake given by Mrs. Whitty, and a dance was enjoyed, Miss Attley (piano) and Mr. C. Wood (violin) providing the music.

Rushden Echo, 2^nd November 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden’s Soldier Sons
Duck-Street and Fitzwilliam-Street District
Grateful Recipients

Mrs. G. Swingler, of Duck-street, Rushden, secretary of the Roll of Honour for Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-hill, has received many letters of thanks from the recipients of gifts sent by the committee to the boys whose names appear on the list.  Some extracts follow:-

Lance-Corpl W. A. Stock: I hope the war will soon be over, so that we can be home for good, as we have all had enough of it.  We have been rather busy with the air-raids about here these last few days, but I am pleased to say they haven’t done much damage in this part.

R. T. Whitby: I am sure everyone appreciates the thoughts and kind wishes of those at home.

W. Burgess, S.B.R., writing from a Royal Naval Hospital, says: It is good to be remembered in the midst of dangers of which you are aware by this time.  We have been under the German aeroplanes three times this week, which is not very pleasant, I can assure you, with so many patients in hospital.

Arthur Bowers: It is encouraging to know those at home are making sacrifices in order to send a little cheer to ‘Tommy.’

W. J. Wood writes from France: Your untiring efforts are ever appreciated.

From Egypt, F. A. Bateman writes: It is a great pleasure for the boys out in this awful climate to think that we have some dear friends at home working so hard for the benefit of the soldiers.

Pte. J. Cuthbert: I think the war is going fairly well in our favour.

Pte. W. J. Hulatt: I don’t know how I shall ever repay the kindness you have shown me ever since I left Rushden.

J. A. Bugby, R.N. Ambulance Train: I sincerely hope it will not be necessary for you to send many more times.  I little thought when I left home three years ago that I should be away so long.  We had the raider directly over us two nights in succession.

J. F. Hollis: I hope the war shrine is still meeting with the continued success it deserves.

Pte. F. Wooding: I thank you and your committee with all my heart for the kindness you have all shown me.

R. Thew: I hope you will be able to carry on your good work.

Chas. Wheeler: I shall always remember your kindness.

W. G. Hulatt writes from hospital at Cambridge: You will be pleased to know that I am getting on very well, and I am hoping to get about soon.

Pte. J. Cuthbert: I am sure we shall come out victorious in the end.

J. W. Colton, writing from a convalescent hospital, under date September 27^th, says he has been wounded, but is now getting on finely.

Letters of thanks have been received from H. H., D. T.S., Pte. P. Bateman, O.S. Fred Hester, Sapper T. H. Wood, P. Thew, Pte. W. Wheeler, C. York, Pte. F. A. Bateman, Pte. F. Wooding, Sidney Chettle, H. W. Howes, E. B. Minney, R. T. Whitby.

Rushden Echo, 15^th February 1918

Fitzwilliam-street and Duck-street—In common with the boys in other parts of the town of Rushden, the soldiers and sailors of Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street are extremely grateful for what is done for them by their friends and neighbours through the medium of the Roll of Honour, and from the letters received by Mrs. G. Swingler we make the following extracts: G F. Hollis: “It was very good of Miss Amy Wood to send an extra sixpence to each of the boys, and I am sure her generous gift will be appreciated by all those who will benefit by it.”  W. J. Wood (France): “It puts a smile on every boy’s face when he knows he is being thought of so well by all his friends.”  Leonard Chettle (France): “It is a great pleasure to know that we are thought of by the friends who surrounded us in peace times and who are now doing their bit at home.”  R. T. Whitby: “It is grand of you all to think of us like this.”  Pte. P. Bateman writes from a military hospital in Nottinghamshire: “The postal order came in very handy, as we do not get any money while in hospital.”  Pte. C. Wheeler (in hospital at Leominster): “I have been wounded in the right arm, and it is stiff.”  S. Chettle: “I shall be glad to get back to Rushden, as this is an awful country, very cold and rough.”  John A. Bugby: “I trust the time is not far off when we shall be home for good.”  H. Linnitt writes from hospital at Willesden.  Arthur Bowers: “I hope that before another Christmas rolls round we shall be able to thank you personally for your kindness.”  Corpl. Bateman writes from Port Said: “It is very kind of you all at home to work so hard for us.”  W. Burgess, T.R.B., writes from hospital in Kent: “Knowing that the gifts come from the many friends at home we have to think many times of the words ‘Keep up your courage.’  We do this when we think of your labour of love for the boys.”  Similar letters are sent by Pte. Frank Howes, O.S. Fred Hester, J. W. Collins, Lance-Corpl. R. Thew, H. W. Howes (H.M.S. Dreadnought), Pte. W. Wheeler, Sapper T. H. Wood.

An Open Air memorial service was held on Sunday evening at the Duck-street Roll of Honour for A.B. Sydney Swingler, R.N.D., who was killed in action on June 28th. The deceased was a former St Mary's chorister, and the choir proceeded from St Mary's Church singing a hymn. The Rector conducted the service. A quartette was sung by Mrs Flood, Mrs Corbett, Mr Ablett and Mr Howes. The hymns were "Fight the good fight," "Thy will be done," and "A few more years shall roll." The Rector gave an impressive address.

Rushden Echo, 9^th August 1918

Rushden Soldiers’ Gratitude
Duck-Street and Fitzwilliam-Street Roll of Honour

Mrs. G. Swingler, of Duck-street, Rushden, has received a number of letters from the recipients of postal orders from the Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street Roll of Honour, typical samples being as follow:-

Pte. W. Newell, Queen’s Royal West Surreys (France): I have just come back from the trenches for a rest.  I was only up there for a short time, but I shall never forget it.  I was carrying tea to the boys in the trenches when the Germans shelled us.  It just “put the wind up me,” I can tell you, being the first time going up, but I soon got used to it and did not take so much notice of the shells afterwards.

F. A. Bateman writes from Port Said.

H. Woodhams: I shall be glad when it is all over, as I have had three years in France – quite enough for one’s lifetime.

Gunner F. Hedley Linnitt, R.G.A.: It is very good of you to work so hard on behalf of the men.

H. Paragreen, S.B.R.: The kindnesses of you Rushden ladies is a credit to old England and will never be forgotten.

H. J. Wood (France): I have never met anyone out here yet that has such things sent them from their townspeople.

J. F. Hollis: It does one good to receive a gift from the neighbours and friends at home.

E. B. Minney: It is nice to receive a postal order so that we can buy some little extra when we come out of the trenches.

W. Burgess: There seems no other town in England which looks so well after its men who are fighting for liberty, right, justice, and a lasting peace.

Corpl. F. Harris writes from the V.A.D. Hospital, Lewes, and expresses the hope that he will soon be out of hospital again.

Pte. P. Elkington: We boys who are away from home appreciate the kindness of the committee very much.

H. Hall: We shall all be glad when this war is over, so that we can live in peace once more.

Similar letters are sent by D.T.S., Pte. H. Minney, R. Thew, A. Howes, H. W. Howes, William A. Stock, R. T. Whitby, Pte. F. Wooding, Leonard Chettle, R. Paragreen (France), A.B. F. Hester.

The sum of 5s. 3d. each is this week being sent—for the last time—to the boys of the Duck-street and Fitzwilliam-street Roll of Honour, making £58 3s. 0d. since the Roll started.