Rushden Echo, 21^st January 1916, transcribed by Kay Collins

Rushden Man’s Long Journey
Seven Thousand Miles – In Order to Join The Colours

Mr. Eric Smith, elder son of Mr. Charles Smith, chemist, of High-street, Rushden, has joined the Electrical Signalling Department, Cable Company, Canadian Contingent. He has travelled 6,000 or 7,000 in order to join the Colours. He was electrical engineer on the Santa Fe Railway, and was at New Mexico, U.S.A., and the journey, which was via Toronto, occupied nearly three weeks. Reaching Rushden on Saturday night, he had to leave again on Sunday night to join his company.

Rushden Recruit for The Royal Naval Division

O-Signaller Robert W. Scrivener, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Scrivener, Park-place, Rushden, who enlisted at Northampton 15 weeks ago, is now stationed at the Signal School, R.N. Barracks, Chatham. He was formerly on the staff of the “Rushden Echo.”

Scouts—Assistant Scoutmaster R. Sugars, of the 1st Troop, Rushden Boy Scouts, has resigned after .. years'€ service, owing to joining the Colours.

Enlisted - Sec.-Lieut. J. M. Ripley (son of the late Colonel Ripley, brother-in-law of Mr. A. H. Sartoris, J.P., of Rushden Hall), has gone to France to join a Brigade of Artillery. He is 19 years of age, and was educated first at Hinwick House, and afterwards at Eton College. Subsequently he entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, passing out in August 1916, when he received a commission in the R.F.A., and was attached to a battery at Woolwich.

A Young Man at Rushden, just before he died, received his papers calling him up to join the forces.

Rushden Echo, 13^th April 1917, transcribed by Kay Collins

The Rushden Company of the Boy Scouts held a church parade on Sunday at Higham Ferrers. About 40 Scouts assembled under Scoutmasters Cox and Letts, with the band under Band-Instructor Chubb. On Monday the band and a number of Scouts played their comrade, Mr. Jim Bates, to the station on the occasion of his joining the Colours.

Organist Enlists—Mr. J. Lindsey Clipson, A.R.C.O., organist of the Park-road Baptist Church, has joined the Honorable Artillery Company.

Presentation—A pleasing ceremony took place in the choir vestry at the close of the evening service at the park-road Baptist Church on Sunday evening, when the organist, Mr. J. Lindsey Clipson, A.R.C.O., who is joining the Colours, was presented with a wristlet watch as a mark of the esteem in which he is held by the choir and congregation. The watch was subscribed for by the choir and friends and the presentation was made by Mr. W. B. Sanders (president of the choir), who wished Mr. Clipson a safe return.

Joining Up—From Rushden and Higham Ferrers a batch of 30 men left to join the Royal Naval Division on Monday.

A Presentation of a fountain pen was made to Mr. George Philby, leader of the morning junior school in connection with the Baptist Church, on the occasion of his joining H.M. Forces.

Presentation—At the Park-road Wesleyan Sunday school on Sunday last Mr. A. Gadsby, senior superintendent, on behalf of the officers and teachers, presented Mr. John Clifford O'Shea, a member of the young men's Bible class and staff sergeant of the Boys' Brigade, with a Bible on his leaving to join His Majesty's Forces.