Rushden Soldiers' Thanks - Grove-road and Manton-road

From the letters of thanks received by Mrs. Brace, Miss Cross, and other workers acknowledging gifts from the Grove-road and Manton-road Roll of Honour we take a few extracts:—

Musician Roberts, R.N. Band : Warmest thanks for the 5s. Rushden can be proud of its work with regard to these Rolls of Honour.

Jack Joyce : I happened to be out on rest when the money came, and (being billeted in a French village) no doubt it will interest you to know what I did with the money. I had two good suppers with it — scrambled eggs and potato chips, washed down with coffee, so you will agree with me that I did not waste it. I hope things will soon alter for you in the way of food. It grieved me to see how you were in that respect. What a blessing it will be when the war is all over, but we must carry on. It would not do for us to have a peace on the same basis as Russia, would it? Cheer up! Everything is being done out here to end the war successfully. Just hang on a little longer, and, please God, peace shall reign supreme once more.

Gunner G H Linnell : It is splendid to see how our women at home can be brave and cheerful.

Sergt. T Payne : I must say you are doing your utmost for us boys, as the postal orders are very regular. We are always sure of some food, and do not have to stand and wait for it, so it makes us appreciate what our friends at home do for us.

Pte. E Pettit (Norfolk War Hospital) : I am getting on nicely and hope to be about soon.

Gunner J Ingram (Somewhere in Macedonia) : I am proud to see that the boys of dear of Rushden who are laying down their lives for God, king, and country are not forgotten by the dear ones they left behind.

Bert Edwards, Naval Base, — : I am quite well, and am off again at the end of this week to strafe some more of those U boats.

J. Clarke : We have been preparing for the King, who came yesterday to inspect us.

Bombardier A Desborough : I see by the paper that it is twelve months since the Roll of Honour was erected and I notice the great amount of money raised.

W E Whitney : I am on Salisbury Plain now and we do all our cooking out in the open.

Pte. J Lett (R.A.M.C., in Kent) : I have been up now 3½ years and have been with total strangers all the time. We are having plenty to do—not much rest day or night, as we are getting convoys in every day; we are never off duty. I am only sorry I am with prisoners of war instead of our own comrades, but, if our fellows take them and sen them over, I suppose someone will have to look after them. We are getting a lot from this battle which is going on, and those who speak English talk about what a lot of men they are losing. Some of the prisoners are a terrible sight. I only hope that our prisoners are getting the same treatment as these are getting but I am afraid they are not, as before I came here I was with some of ours who had been prisoners in Germany at the beginning of the war. One poor fellow was all sores where he had been flogged.

Appreciative letters have also been received from Wm O Rowthorn (H.M.S. Marshal Ney), Driver L Cross (R.F.A.), Pte. W J Whitworth, Bdr. F Jaques, Gunner J T Bird, AB A F Walker, Pte. H Cross, Pte. W Church, C S George, Pte. D Rice, Archie Ette, H Neal, AB Walker (R.N.D.).

Rushden Soldiers and Sailors
Grove-Road and Manton-Road District
Roll of Honour Gifts

The secretary and committee of the Grove-road and Manton-road Roll of Honour have received numerous letters from the soldiers and sailors whose names appear on the list, acknowledging gifts of money.  A few extracts are appended:

C. S. George: I hope that before long this awful war will terminate, so that we can all settle down to that peacefulness which we all long for.

Pte. D. Rice: Words fail me to express my appreciation of the gift you kindly sent me.  It cheers us up immensely to think we are not forgotten by friends.

Pte. A. Dickens: I am sure I appreciate the gift very much, for the Army pay is so small that it hardly purchases necessities.

Pte. Ette: I appreciate the work that you are doing, and wish it every success.

Pte. W. Rowthorn: I think the Roll of Honour is a splendid thing.  It lets us know that we are not forgotten by friends at home.  It is not the gift altogether we look at, but the spirit in which it is given.

Pte. W. Church: I have just received another postal order, for which I thank you all.  It cheers me up when I think that although we have left dear old England, we are still in your thoughts.

Pte. A. Gaunt: It lets us know that though far away in Egypt, we are not forgotten in dear old Rushden.

Corpl. H. E. Cross: I can assure you it is much appreciated by us, especially if we happen to be “broke,” which is very often the case.

Bandsman M. J. Roberts: I wish the committee every success in the work they are doing.

Pte. H. Chettle: I must thank you all for what I have received from the Roll of Honour.

Pte. E. E. Ainge: I shall be glad when it is over, and I think everybody else will, for you cannot tell Monday from Friday.  All days seem alike.

Sergt. F. Payne: It is really very good of you to take such an interest in the boys.

Gunner J. Bird: It seems a little godsend to keep receiving postal orders.

Pte. F. Ainge: How very useful we boys find the money to buy food or cigarettes with.

Driver J. Joyce: I wish to thank the numerous friends who so generously subscribe to such a noble cause.

Gunner G. Brace thanks the people of Grove-road and Manton-road for the money he has received from the Roll of Honour.

Pte. Neal says the gift came in very handy.

Pte. W. Whitworth says the postal order came at a time when he had not a copper in his pocket.

Pte. J. Cross: It is very nice to know that you are all thinking of us boys.

Gunner Linnell: Such kindness cheers me up to the thoughts of the end of the war and dear old Rushden.

Pte. Hensman: Thank you for the money I have received here in Malta.  It shows the boys out here and other places that the women are doing their bit at home, and a very good bit, too.

Rushden Echo, 19^th April 1918

The Grove-road and Manton-road Roll of Honour has been erected twelve months, and the large sum of £75  19s.  1d. has been raised and equally shared amongst the 46 boys.  Mr. W. Brace is the secretary, Mrs. Gaunt the treasurer, and Mrs. Linnel and Mrs. Cross the committee.

Rushden Echo, 24^th May 1918

Grove-Road and Manton-Road

From the letters of thanks received by Mrs. Brace, Miss Cross, and other workers acknowledging gifts from the Grove-road and Manton-road Roll of Honour we take a few extracts:-

Musician Roberts, R.N. Band: Warmest thanks for the 5s.  Rushden can be proud of its work with regard to these Rolls of Honour.

Jack Joyce: I happened to be out on rest when the money came, and (being billeted in a French village) no doubt it will interest you to know what I did with the money.  I had two good suppers with it – scrambled eggs and potato chips, washed down with coffee, so you will agree with me that I did not waste it.  I hope things will soon alter for you in the way of food.  It grieved me to see how you were in that respect.  What a blessing it will be when the war is all over, but we must carry on.  It would not do for us to have a peace on the same basis as Russia, would it?  Cheer up! Everything is being done out here to end the war successfully.  Just hang on a little longer, and, please God, peace shall reign supreme once more.

Gunner G. H. Linnell: It is splendid to see how our women at home can be brave and cheerful.

Sergt. T. Payne: I must say you are doing your utmost for us boys, as the postal orders are very regular.  We are always sure of some food, and do not have to stand and wait for it, so it makes us appreciate what our friends at home do for us.

Pte. E. Pettit (Norfolk War Hospital): I am getting on nicely and hope to be about soon.

Gunner J. Ingram (Somewhere in Macedonia): I am proud to see that the boys of dear old Rushden who are laying down their lives for God, king, and country are not forgotten by the dear ones they left behind.

Bert Edwards, Naval Base,--------: I am quite well, and am off again at the end of this week to strafe some more of those U boats.

J. Clarke: We have been preparing for the King, who came yesterday to inspect us.

Bombardier A. Desborough: I see by the paper that it is twelve months since the Roll of Honour was erected and I notice the great amount of money raised.

W. E. Whitney: I am on Salisbury Plain now and we do all our cooking out in the open.

Pte. J. Lett (R.A.M.C., in Kent): I have been up now 3½ years and have been with total strangers all the time.  We are having plenty to do –not much rest day or night, as we are getting convoys in every day; we are never off duty.  I am only sorry I am with prisoners of war instead of our own comrades, but, if our fellows take them and send them over, I suppose someone will have to look after them.  We are getting a lot from this battle which is going on, and those who speak English talk about what a lot of men they are losing.  Some of the prisoners are a terrible sight.  I only hope that our prisoners are getting the same treatment as these are getting, but I am afraid they are not, as before I came here I was with some of ours who had been prisoners in Germany at the beginning of the war.  One poor fellow was all sores where he had been flogged.

Appreciative letters have also been received from Wm. O. Rowthorn (H.M.S. Marshal Ney), Driver L. Cross (R.F.A.), Pte. W. J. Whitworth, Bdr. F. Jaques, Gunner J. T. Bird, A.B. A. F. Walker, Pte. H. Cross, Pte. W. Church, C. S. George, Pte. D. Rice, Archie Ette, H. Neal, A.B. Walker (R.N.D.).