Rushden Gift To Northamptonshires

Officer Receives Bugles from Army Queen at Dance

The presentation of Bugles for the 4th Northamptonshires, at Rushden British Legion Hall last Friday. Captain Bayley (left) received the gift of the townspeople from the Rushden Army Queen, Miss Margaret Dilley, next to whom (left to right) are Mr. E. Bennett (Legion Secretary), Mrs. J. C. J. Simpson and Mrs. Bayley.

Bugles for the 4th Northamptonshire Regiment, in which many Rushden men are serving, were presented to an officer of the battalion at Rushden last Friday as a gift from the town. The fund for their purchase had been opened by the “Rushden Echo and Argus” at the suggestion of Mr. E. Bennett, local British Legion secretary.

During the interval of a dance at the British Legion Hall the bugles were handed to Captain E. W. Bayley, of the 4th Northamptonshires, by Miss Margaret Dilley, Rushden’s Army Queen.

Councillor J. Allen, J.P., Chairman of the Rushden Urban Council, said he was proud to be there because in the last war he was in the 4th Northamptonshires himself. His brother also was in the regiment, and was killed in the Suvla Bay landing in 1915.

Mr. Allen welcomed Captain and Mrs. Bayley and Mrs. J. C. J. Simpson, whose husband is Adjutant of the battalion. Paying tribute to the generosity of Rushden people, he recalled that although the summer carnival was not held, the town raised over £1,000 just the same.

“We are now in the midst of a tremendous campaign for a Spitfire,” he continued, “and I can assure you that we have passed to-day the £3,300 mark. I think I can confidently say that by Monday we shall reach the £4,000, and if we are not the first town in Northamptonshire, outside Northampton, to purchase a Spitfire I, for one, shall be very disappointed. I think we shall.”

“Echo & Argus” Thanked

Mr. Allen said the presentation was due to the initiative of Mr. Bennett, backed by the splendid publicity of the “Echo and Argus” for which they would like to express thanks.

Having thanked the people of Rushden, Mr. Allen read a letter from Col. J. Lingham : “On behalf of all ranks I thank you and our many good friends in Rushden for the generous gift of eight bugles to the drums of the 4th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment. This splendid gift will be greatly appreciated and will enable the drums to perform in a manner creditable both to the battalion and the county. We look forward to the day when the drums march down Rushden High-street.”

The letter was addressed to Mr. Bennett.

The dancers gave a salvo of cheers when Capt. Bayley received the leader’s bugle from Miss Dilley, who in an admirable speech expressed confidence that the battalion would bravely uphold every tradition of a regiment which was second to none.

The ceremony ended with the presentation of a bouquet to Mrs. Bayley by little Sheila Bruce.

The bugles had been engraved as gifts from the people of Rushden. The dance at which they were presented was the weekly one arranged by Mr. W. R. Dilley in aid of the Serving Men’s Parcels Fund, and the music was played by Nevett’s Synco Melody Makers. All the Rushden Service Queens and deputies were present.