Rushden Gunner Killed - Former Co-operative Employee "A Gallant Fellow"

Gunner Jack Snowden, RFA, formerly a butcher at the High-street-south, Co-operative Stores, Rushden, has fallen a victim of the war. His mother, who lives at Uppingham received from Captain R W Ardagh, the following letter, dated 3/7/16:-
"It is bad news that I have for you. Your son was killed in action the day before yesterday. At about 10a.m. a shell came through the roof of a battery observing station and killed him on the spot. His comrades laid him to rest in Albert cemetery, a chaplain reading the burial service. His death is mourned by all ranks in this battery, in which he was very popular, and the officers of the battery to whom he was well known tender you their heartfelt sympathy in this your hour of sorrow. At another spot, not very far away and about the same time, Lieut Crombie was wounded. He is now in hospital and I will have no doubt that as soon as he is able to do so he will write to you, for, of course, your son was his servant. Your son was a gallant fellow and we must comfort ourselves by remembering that he died for his country."

Deceased, who lodges with Mrs Underwood, of 10 Harborough road, Rushden, leaves a widowed mother, and one brother, who has been in France since last September.

Lieut Crombie, to whom deceased was servant, was wounded by the same shell which killed Gunner Snowden. The lieutenant, with his father, Major Crombie, went last week to see Mrs Snowden, sympathising with her in her loss. Deceased was 24 years of age on August 18th last year.

Street War Shrines for Rushden - Four More Dedicated Services by the Rector

Four more war shrines have now been erected in Rushden, one each in Roberts street, Harborough-road, Crabb-street and Denmark-road, and these were dedicated in their respective order by the Rector (Rev. P Robson) on Saturday afternoon. The services were short but impressive, being conducted in the same form as the services over the shrine in Cromwell-road, and there were a good number of people present at each dedication. All the shrines are similar in structure to the one in Cromwell-road, the first one erected in Rushden, and all four have two small Union Jacks crossed over them, and a golden cross painted on the top of the woodwork with the Union Jack painted on one side of it and the red cross of St George on the other. An appropriate prayer is printed at the bottom of each roll, underneath the names. The shrine for Harborough-road, Park-place, and Dell-place is paled outside Mr Clayton's shop at the corner of Park road and Harborough-road, and is the largest yet erected. It was made and presented by Mr Clayton himself, and underneath the crossed flags is a beautiful laurel wreath, with two red, white and blue rosettes. The care shown in the arrangement of the white and yellow flowers is evidence of the pride taken in the shrine by the people whose sons the erection represents. The death list on the shrine contains the names: Thomas Dickens, Fredk A Clayton, Jack Snowden, Lewis W Scraxton, Arthur E Atkins, Thomas C Harley, John G A Scott; the 'prisoners of war' lists: Herbert Whiting, William Sargent, and there are between 140 and 150 names on the active service list.

All the street shrines have a box underneath for gifts of cigarettes and money, etc, and the response to these is, we understand, generous. Altogether the matter of street shrines is being taken up with great enthusiasm.