Message from Germany
Rushden Prisoner-of-War Grateful for Parcels Fund Gift

Mr. E. Bennett, hon. secretary of the Rushden Serving Men’s Parcels Fund, has received with surprise and pleasure the following message from Pte. T. King (Northamptonshire Regiment), who is a prisoner of war in Germany:

“I wish to thank you for the money you have forwarded to my mother. It is nice to know that I am not forgotten by you or the people who formed the fund. You may think this card late, but I only knew a week ago.

Pte. King, who was taken prisoner shortly before the evacuation of Dunkirk, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. W. King, 15 Trafford-road, Rushden. His message came on a postcard from one of the German camps.

Cobbling in Prison Camp
Rushden Private Sends Home a Picture
Writing from a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany, Stalag XXA 3 A, a Rushden soldier, Pte. Thomas J. King, sends a photograph of himself (seated right) and four companions taken after a spell of six hours' cobbling.

In his letter dated August 29th, he says: "I have, since July last year, been a cobbler and have learnt it from A to Z, and even gone as far as making boots. I should be all right when I get home."

He does not give the addresses of the other men, but their names are Cpl. Uren, Cpl. Timms, Cpl. Whitney, and Pte. Websell.

Pte. King is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. King, of 15, Trafford-road, Rushden, and joined the Regular Army in 1938.

British soldiers are supposed to smile under any circumstances, and the cheerful-looking group seen in our picture is certainly typical of this spirit. It is a crowd of “tommies” in the German prisoner-of-war camp Stalag XVIII ‘A’ and among them is Driver Albert J. Lewis (26), of 74, Rushden-road, Wymington, who sent the photograph home recently with a letter. He appears on the extreme left of the third row from the front, and there is the possibility that other local “boys” may also be recognised. In the accompanying letter Driver Lewis stated that he had just received his first parcel from home, and was in good health, looking forward to returning soon. A native of Wymington, Driver Lewis served in Greece with the R.A.S.C. He was reported “missing” on April 28th, and it was not until some time later that his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lewis, learned that he was safe. He was formerly employed at Messrs. John White’s Newton-road factory, Rushden.

Many sporting friends of Pte. Douglas (“Duggie”) Mantle, popular full-back for Rushden Town F.C. in the piping days of peace, will be able to spot him on this picture from a prisoners-of-war camp in Germany – he is second from the right on the top row.

In his most recent letter to his parents, at 86, Irchester-road, Rushden, “Duggie” says he is quite well and gets the Red Cross parcels regularly each week. Serving in the R.A.O.C., he was taken prisoner in Crete on June 1, 1941.

K.K.R. Captives in Germany

Taken in Stalag VII A. Germany, a group of Kings Royal Riflemen once stationed in this district. It was sent to Mrs. F. Heaton, of 97, Irchester-road, Rushden, whose husband, Charles Heaton, is seen in light trousers in the front row.

Safe and Well - Missing Rushden Trooper Writes From Italy
Recently reported “missing” in the Libya fighting, Trooper Harley Welsford, second son of Mrs. W. Bass, 3 Jones’s-cottages, Victoria-road, Rushden, is safe and well—a prisoner of war in Italy.

A postcard arrived from him yesterday (Thursday), giving the news that he was quite well and stating the number of the camp to which he has been moved.

Trooper Welsford is 25. He joined the Army in May 1941, and has been serving in the Royal Tank Regiment.

War Prisoner—The name of Lance-Cpl. A. Shatford, 34, Allen-road, Rushden, appears in a list of prisoners of war received from enemy sources, but no confirmation has been given at present by the British authorities. The news that Lce-Cpl. Shatford was missing was announced in the “Echo & Argus” recently.

Three Brothers - One a Prisoner: Another Now Missing
Youngest of three brothers serving in the Army, one of whom is a prisoner-of-war in Germany, Driver Peter James Neal, R.A.S.C., son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Neal, St. Peter’s-avenue, Rushden, is listed as missing in the Middle East since June 20th. He was 20 years of age and the last letter received from him was dated June.

When his brother Dennis was captured in Greece, Peter, then 18, declared “Now he’s a prisoner, I’m going,” and went off to volunteer for the Army. As a boy he attended Higham Ferrers Council School and from there gained a place at Wellingborough Grammar School, afterwards working for Messrs. Jaques and Clark, boot manufacturers. He left England with an overseas draft last January. The eldest of the three brothers is still in England.

Dennis Neal writes frequently from Germany and told his parents recently that although he had to work hard and long on farms, he was very fit and cheerful.

Rushden Sapper Safe
Recently reported “missing” while serving with the Middle East Forces, Spr. George Wm. (Jim) Chapman, a former Assistant Scoutmaster to the 1st Rushden Scout Troop has now been reported a Prisoner-of-War in Italy. The better news was received on Monday. Spr. Chapman, aged 22, is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Chapman of 157 Irchester-road, Rushden, and his wife is living at Denver Sluice, Norfolk. An old boy of the Intermediate School, he joined the Royal Engineers in October 1940, after being employed at Messrs. Bignell’s factory in Glassbrook-road. He had been in the Middle East a year.

German Report — Rushden Driver Stated to be Prisoner
Information has been received that the German radio stated recently that Driver Hugh Keller, R.A.S.C., of 7 Raneleagh-road, Wellingborough, who was reported “missing” in the Middle East on June 1st, is now a prisoner-of-war. Several local people heard the broadcast, but there is no official confirmation from British sources.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Keller, of 21 Newton-road, Rushden. Pte. Keller formerly assisted in his father’s retail fruit business at Rushden. His wife is living at Wellingborough.

Rushden Brothers in Captivity - One Taken By Germans and One By Italians
When his brother was captured in Greece, Driver Peter James Neal, R.A.S.C., of Rushden, then 18, declared “Now he’s a prisoner, I’m going,” and went off to volunteer. On June 20th, as reported in the “Echo and Argus,” he was listed as “missing,” and now further information has been received saying that he is a prisoner – in the hands of the Italians. His brother Dennis is in German hands.

Driver Neal, now 20, is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Neal, of 11, St. Peter’s-avenue, Rushden. As a boy he attended the Higham Ferrers Council School and from there gained a place at Wellingborough Grammar School, afterwards working for Messrs. Jaques and Clark, boot manufacturers. He left England for the Middle East last January and the last letter received from him was dated June 17.

Dennis writes frequently from Germany and told his parents recently that although he had to work hard and long on farms he was very fit and cheerful.

Driver Neal’s eldest brother is also serving in the Army, but is still stationed in England.

C.S.M. Who Fought in France - Ex-Rushden Constable Taken By Italians
A former popular member of the Northamptonshire County Constabulary who was stationed at Rushden and had many friends throughout the district, C.S.M. Stanley Richard Kilmister, who was reported “missing” on June 20, is now stated to be a prisoner of war in Italian hands. His wife, who lives at 6, Fletcher-road, Rushden, received the good news on Saturday.

Sergt.-Major Kilmister, who is aged 30, served for four years in the Grenadier Guards and did five years’ police service, most of it in Northamptonshire. When he rejoined the Army he was drafted into the Military Police and was attached to the Guards Brigade. He saw considerable service and took part in the last rear-guard action in France.

A Bristol man, he is a keen sportsman and was one of the leading players in the County Police football team. He also took an interest in boxing.

Well Treated - Wounded Rushden Gunner’s Message from Italy
Mr. Harry Knight, boot manufacturer, of 39, Grove-road, Rushden, on Monday received the following message, broadcast from the Vatican, Rome, from his son, Gunner W. C. K. Knight:-

“Wounded and now convalescent in an Italian military hospital, receiving good treatment and every attention. Send love and best wishes to family, relatives and friends.”

News that Gunner Knight had been wounded and taken prisoner was received a few weeks ago.

Gunner Eric Holyoak

Lance-Cpl. Shatford

Captured By Italians - Fresh News of Two Rushden Gunners
Previously reported missing in fighting in the Middle East in June, Gunner Eric Horace Holyoak, second son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Holyoak, of 38, Oval-road, Rushden, is now officially reported a prisoner-of-war in Italian hands.

Gunner Holyoak, who joined up in March, 1941, sailed for the Middle East in February on his 21st birthday. He was previously employed by Messrs. Sanders and Sanders, Ltd., of Rushden. A keen darts player, he is a member of the Town Band Club.

His elder brother, William, is also serving abroad.

One of two brothers serving in the Middle East, Lance-Corporal Arthur Shatford, who was reported missing in June, is now known to be a prisoner-of-war in Italian hands. A tank gunner in the Royal Tank Corps, he is the son of Mrs. and the late Mr. J. A. Shatford, of 34, Allen-road, Rushden. His brother, Sgt. C. Shatford, is serving with the R.A.S.C.

Lance-Corpl.Shatford, who is 22 years of age, had been in the Middle East for two years, and prior to joining the Army in February 1940, was employed for two years in the lasting department of Messrs. Bignells, Ltd.

He was educated at Newton-road Council Schools and was a member of the Athletic Club.