Rushden Soldier Killed In the Dardenelles

Private W Lewis Scraxton - Goes to His Death with Major Henson

We regret to report that Pte W Lewis Scraxton, B Company, 1/4th Northants has fallen in the Dardanelles. The news has been received by his wife, Mrs Scraxton, 117 Park-road, Rushden, in a letter dated 22nd August, from Capt. Dorman, B Company, 1/4th Northants, as follows:-
"It deeply grieves me to have to inform you that your husband was killed by a shell this morning, his death was instantaneous, at the moment I was within a yard-and-a-half of him, but luckily escaped. He was quite still when I looked at him directly afterwards. Although nothing can repair your loss, I trust that the thought that he died doing his duty for his king and country may help you."

Mrs Scraxton also received a letter by the same post from the platoon commander as follows:-
"Dears Mrs Scraxton - It is with the deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of your husband. It may possibly be some slight consolation to you to know that he died instantly and did not suffer at all. I was not present myself at the time as it occurred at Battalion headquarters. Your husband was waiting with others, including Major Henson and Sergt. Major Hatton, outside the colonel's headquarter, when a shrapnel shell exploded overhead, killing Major Henson and your husband, and wounding Sergt. Major Hatton, sot that he became unconscious at once and died in a few minutes.

"While I have been in command of this platoon I have found your husband a good soldier, and it is with the utmost sorrow that I write this letter. I hope you will endeavour to get consolation from the fact that your husband, though a married man, had not hesitated to do his duty and was voluntarily serving his king ad country in these troublous times. I trust God may comfort you in your sad loss."

Deceased, while at Rushden, worked at Mr James Hyde and also Messrs. Marlow's in the lasting department.

Mrs Scraxton received from the War Office an intimation of her husband's death, and she was also the recipient of the usual note from Lord Kitchener expressing the sympathy of the King and Queen.

Rushden Soldier Killed By the Same Shell as Major Henson and Regt. Sergt. Major Hatton
Capt. John Brown's Escape

We learn that the shell that killed Major Henson, of the 1st/4th Northamptons, in the Dardenelles, whose death we reported recently, also killed two other men of the same regiment, Sergt. Major A Hatton and Private W Lewis Scraxton (Rushden).

Regt. Sergt. Major A Hatton served in the South Africa war with the Northamptons. He subsequently joined the territorials as an instructor, and succeeded Lieut. Goodman as Regimental-Sergeant-Major. He was formerly instructor to the old Rushden Company, Higham Ferrers Company of the Territorials. He was only recently married.

Pte W Lewis Scraxton, of B Company, whose death also we recently reported, was a Rushden man, where his wife resides. He was employed by Mr James Hyde and also at Messrs. Marlow's. In a letter to his wife his platoon commander describing Pte Scraxton's death writes: "I was not present myself at the time as it occurred at Battalion headquarters. Your husband was waiting with others, including Major Henson and Sergt. Major Hatton, outside the colonel's headquarter, when a shrapnel shell exploded overhead, killing Major Henson and your husband, and wounding Sergt. Major Hatton, sot that he became unconscious at once and died in a few minutes."

It is not generally know that Capt and Adjt. John Brown had an extremely narrow escape at the same time as Major Henson was killed. As a matter of fact he was talking to Major Henson when the fatal shell burst over them.