Rushden’s Soldier Sons – High-Street Roll of Honour Dedicated Yesterday – A Vindication by the Rector

High Street & District Shrine

We are informed that when the committee were collecting the names, the sum of £1 6s. was voluntarily subscribed before any special appeal for funds had been made. The erection of the Rolls of Honour in various parts of the town is due to the initiative of the Rector, the Rev P Robson, who yesterday formally dedicated the one generously given by Mr and Mrs Taylor.

In an introductory speech the rector said that they had met together to dedicate the Roll of Honour, and by that means to give it a religious significance. Any who cared to inspect what had been erected would see that it was merely a Roll of Honour, nothing less, and nothing more. It bore first the names of those who had given their lives in the service of their country. These stood first on the roll, because such should be first in their thoughts. Next came a long list of the names of all those lads from high-street and streets abutting thereon who were now on active service, and who were remembered by all who resided in the neighbourhood. The only device or badge that the Roll of Honour bore was a simple cross, with the flag of England on either side. The cross was not the sign of any particular sect, but of the Christian religion as a whole, the cross that typified sacrifice, first of all the supreme sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Surely the cross was a very fitting symbol to commemorate those who had laid down their lives for their fellows, or those who were willing so to do, to commemorate those who were thus following in the footsteps of their Lord. The Roll of Honour was not placed there for the purpose of reminding a mother or a wife that their sons or husbands were at the front. These needed no such reminders, for, in very truth, they had the names of their dear ones written on their hearts. That Roll of Honour stood there as the street’s token of remembrance, so that the people of the neighbourhood might say, “We are proud of our lads, and want them to know that they continue in our remembrance.” The erection of those Rolls of honour had also had another result. One lady had said to him, “We didn’t really know one another, one side of the street didn’t know the other until we began to collect the money and names for our Roll of Honour.” Churchmen, Non-conformists, and no-conformists, continued the rector, had through that medium become united in one thought for the lads at the front, and in bearing one another’s sorrows. He had been very glad to have received such testimony. That unity was one of the finest things that could happen. The lads whose names were inscribed on those Rolls of Honour had not been ticketed off as belonging to any particular body, all were brothers, and all had been remembered, whether belonging to church or chapel. As a very practical use to which those Rolls of Honour were being put, he would point to the box underneath. It was suggested that when they had a copper or two to spare they should drop it into the box, and occasionally, with the funds thus raised, the committee would send the lads some cigarettes or a postal order. In Denmark-road they had been able to send to each of their lads a postal order for 3s 6d. By these means the lads would see that the street remembered them, the street where they used to play, or where they had their homes. If he knew anything of the lads at the front, he was sure they would be touched to the heart.

The Rector, at this juncture, read out the names as inscribed on the High-street Roll of Honour, and after the dedicatory ceremony he expressed thanks to the donors (Mr and Mrs Taylor) and to the ladies of the committee. The flowers which would be placed on the Roll of Honour from time to time, were, he said, just a little token of thoughtfulness.

The Committee of the High-street roll of honour have sent 2s. 6d. each to the twelve soldiers whose names are inscribed.

High-Street Roll—Thirty-seven postal orders for 2s. 6d. have been sent to the lads whose names appear on the High-street roll of honour. About 33 letters of thanks have been received.

Rushden Echo, 28^th September 1917, transcribed by Gill Hollis

THE COMMITTEE of the High-street and District Roll of Honour have sent 2s.  8d. to each of the men whose names appear on the list, with an intimation that £136  17s.  11d. was raised by the Roll of Honour Fete, and that each of the boys in St. Mary’s parish will receive 2s.  8d.  -  “A little gift to show that you are not forgotten by the people of Rushden.”

The High-street Roll of Honour Committee are forwarding the sum of 3s. each to 102 soldiers and sailors on the list, and 6s. each to two prisoners of war, from the proceeds of the whist drive and corresponding number competition recently held.

An enjoyable whist drive and dance arranged by Mrs. Wilmott, in aid of the High-street and District Roll of Honour fund took place last night in the Co-operative Hall. Mr. Emberton was the M.C. Mr. and Miss Paine supplied the music. The winning number for a Tea Service given by Messrs. Tailby and Putnam, was 910.