Rushden Echo, 18^th September, 1914, transcribed by Jim Hollis

Private W. Wood of Rushden - A Prisoner in Germany

A War Romance - Returned Prisoner Marries a Lady 'Adopter'

A romantic episode which gleams like a ray of sunshine amid the tragic shadows surrounding so many of our prisoners of war culminated at Northampton Unitarian Church on Wednesday, when Corpl. Walter Wood (1st Northamptons) captured wounded in the retreat from Mons, was married to Miss Amy Bosworth, 77, Ethel Street, manageress for Messrs. Church and Roberts, Ethel Street, Northampton.

(left to right) Mr. A. Adcock (best man), the bridegroom, the bride, and, in the rear, Mr. F. O. Roberts, M.P.

Until a few days ago, bride and bridegroom had not met, but, they came to correspond with one another through the medium of the "Independent'' appeal for adopters for food parcels for prisoners. The girls (employed by Messrs. Church and Roberts) were the first to respond, through Miss Bosworth, and Corporal Wood was one of those for whom they provided money for the parcels. He wrote acknowledgments regularly, and took the earliest opportunity on his return to call at the factory to address the girls who are naturally highly pleased at the happy sequel and have presented the couple with a beautiful china, tea service.

The gallant corporal, who hails from Rushden, was educated at Wellingborough Grammar School, came from Australia to enlist and was captured with a broken leg on August 27 1914. Although he was a non-commissioned officer and of superior education – being able to speak German well – he was deliberately subjected to brutalities and humiliations which have wrecked his health, although he retains his spirits with the courageous cheerfulness characteristic of the "Old Contemptibles". Because he refused to work in a munition factory at a time when he was still suffering with a broken leg, one of the guards at Sennelager camp knocked him senseless with a blow on the back of the head with the butt end of a rifle. On regaining semi-consciousness he found himself in a train for Berlin where he was brought before a court martial and had to defend himself against a charge of insubordination and inciting to mutiny. He was sentenced to three, months hard labour and flung into a dark cell in Moabit convict prison, where he was put in convict dress and for the first 14 days given nothing but bread and water. Then for every other day he had some so-called soup, consisting of one potato, three small rings of carrots, and dirty water. He was not allowed to receive parcels or write home. On leaving that prison in a very weakened state, he was sent to a horrible punishment camp amid the marshes of the Rhine, where the prisoners were confined in underground dug-outs which often contained six inches of water, so that they could not lie down, and in the daytime they often worked knee-deep in water. This terrible experience caused him to contract rheumatism, and lung complaints from which he is still suffering. His condition caused him to be passed by the Swiss doctors for re-patriation to Switzerland, but even then the German doctors heartlessly continued his torture by keeping him for five-weeks in the fortress at Eettstatt on a starvation diet. French civilians and children took pity on them by giving them some of their scanty supply of biscuits to the extent of three per man each day.

Caught in a Man Trap

While at Munster Camp he tried to escape, and was three days and three nights at liberty. He got so close to the Dutch frontier that he could see the patrols when he fell into a man trap—a deep pit concealed by brushwood with steep sides interlaced with barbed wire. The hapless prisoner, on falling into the trap, strikes a wire attached to a loaded rifle which sounds the alarm, and savage dogs and guards rush to the scene.

A particularly heartless instance of the callous cruelty of which the Germans were guilty was related by the corporal in describing the methods of the enemy to prevent threatened rioting. They would single out the most high-spirited men and tell them to pack up for Switzerland. The poor fellows would distribute the remainder of their parcels and give orders that other parcels which came for them could be divided among new prisoners. When they reached the station they would be dismayed to find that the engine of the train was turned towards Germany, and they were from one hell to an even worse one in being sent to slavery in coal mines or salt mines, without food parcels or correspondence, and brutally beaten into the bargain.

Eventually the corporal did get to Switzerland, and he described how he welcomed the “Independent” out there. He closed our interview by saying: “Words fail utterly to express our gratitude to all those who so kindly sent us parcels, for I do not hesitate to say that without them none of us would have come home alive. Some-day when I am better I hope to have a public opportunity of expressing our thankfulness for all you have done for us."

Rushden Prisoner of War - Married Lady 'Adopter' - A Romantic Episode
A romantic episode which gleams like a ray of sunshine amid the tragic shadows surrounding so many of our prisoners of war culminated at Northampton Unitarian Church on Wednesday - says the "Northampton Independent" – when Corporal Walter Wood (1st Northamptons), of Rushden captured wounded in the retreat from Mons, was married to Miss Amy Bosworth, 77 Ethel-street, Northampton, manageress of Messrs. Church and Roberts, Ethel-street, Northampton. The ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Wm C Hall, M.A., and the bride, who was charmingly attired was given away by Mr F O Roberts, J.P., a friend of the family, the best man being Mr A Adock, her old Sunday school teacher.

Until a few days ago, bride and bridegroom had not met, but they came to correspond with one another through the medium of the "Independent" appeal for adopters for food parcels for prisoners. The girls employed at Messrs. Church and Roberts were the first to respond, through Miss Bosworth, and Corpl Wood was one of those whom they provided money for parcels. He wrote acknowledgements regularly, and took the earliest opportunity on his return to call at the factory to address the girls, who are naturally highly pleased at the happy sequel and have presented the couple with a beautiful tea service.

Rushden Soldier's Romance - Sad Sequel to a Recent Wedding Death of Corpl W Wood

The funeral took place on Saturday of Corpl Walter Wood, 1st Northamptons, of Rushden, who died from double pneumonia at Duston Hospital on March 4th. Deceased was only married two months ago to Miss Amy Bosworth, 77 Ethel-street, Northampton, manageress of Messrs. Church and Roberts.

As reported in our columns at the time, the wedding was the sequel to an interesting romance. Corpl Wood was a prisoner of war, and Miss Bosworth was one of the employees of Messrs. Church and Roberts who "adopted" prisoners for the purpose of supplying them with food parcels. Corpl Wood regularly received parcels through this source, and wrote thanking Miss Bosworth, who arranged dispatch of the parcels, and the girls who distributed them. Frequent correspondence followed, and the result was that when Corpl Wood was released he made the acquaintance of Miss Bosworth, and ultimately married her. The wedding took place on December 18th, at the Unitarian Church, Northampton. Mr F O Roberts, M.P., gave the bride away.