Rushden Echo and Argus, 7^th January, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

A Long Message - Rushden Prisoner Breaks Two Years’ Silence
The longest message yet received from a local war prisoner in Japanese custody came this week from A/C Edward W. Green, R.A.F., of Rushden, and was addressed to his grandmother, Mrs. J. Green, 37, Pemberton-street.  Partly in typewriting and partly in his own hand, it filled one side of a postcard and read as follows:-

  “I am now in a Japanese prisoner of war camp at Java.  I am constantly thinking of you.  It will be wonderful when we meet again.  Goodbye; God bless you.  I am waiting for your reply earnestly.  Healthy, cheerful; hope you are.  Accommodation, surroundings satisfactory.  Season’s greetings.  Remembering all friends.  Reply postcard only.  Your loving grandson. Ted.”

  A/C Green is the eldest son of Stoker 1^st Class W. S. Green, of 84, Washbrook-road, Rushden, who served in the Navy throughout the last war and rejoined the service in 1940, being now at sea.  He attended the Alfred-street School, belonged to the Mission Boy Scouts, and worked for Messrs. John White.  Joining the R.A.F. in 1941, he went overseas after a few months and is believed to have landed in Malaya.  He was officially reported missing last March, and the message now to hand is the first received from him for over two years.

  A telegram conveying the good news has been dispatched from Rushden to A/C Green’s father.

More News of Prisoners - Belated Postcards from Japanese Camps
First messages from local soldiers and airmen who had been held by the Japs since the fall of Malaya were still arriving at the end of last week.

Two years had passed since Mr. and Mrs. G. S. Baker, of 79, Irchester-road, Rushden, heard from their son, Cpl. Eric William Baker, R.A.F., when on December 30^th a card from a Japanese prisoner of war camp was received in his own handwriting.

Cpl. Baker is 26 years of age and as a boy attended the Alfred-street School.  He was a member of the Mission Band and an employee of the R.I.C.S. butchery department.  Last February it was officially reported that he had been taken prisoner while serving in the Far East.

  One of the postcards was for Mrs. S. J. Hart, of 19, High-street, Wymington.  It brought the first message from her son, Driver Frederick Leonard Hart, who writes that he is doing well and is in good health, but has received no mail yet.

  Driver Hart is 31 years of age and served with the R.A.S.C. since July, 1941.  He was formerly employed at the Rushden C.W.S. boot factory and was a member of the Wymington Home Guard and Rushden Windmill Club.

  Missing after the collapse of Singapore, he was named in the list of war prisoners issued last May.

  Mr. P. Rootham, of 34, Newton-road, Rushden, has received a card from his son Signaller Laurie J. Rootham, Royal Corps of Signals, who says he is well and working.  Written from a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Thailand, it is the first news received since he was posted as missing in February, 1942.

  Signaller Rootham is 26 years of age, and joined the Army in February, 1940, going to the Far East in October, 1941.  He was formerly employed as a clerk at the Rushden C.W.S. boot works, and was a member of St. Mary’s Church, and a keen player for the St. Mary’s F.C.  Two brothers are also on service overseas.

Good Tidings - Missing Rushden Soldier is a Prisoner
Recent news that Pte. E A Short, of Rushden, had been "missing" in the Middle East theatre since November has now been followed by an official notification that he is at the Stalag XIA, Germany, as a prisoner of war.

Pte. Short is the 26-years-old second son of Mrs R and the late Mr F F Short, of 96, Wellingborough-road, Rushden. Formerly employed at the C.W.S. boot factory, he joined the Northamptonshire Regiment four years ago and went overseas last autumn.

News of Missing Rushden Flyer - Known to be Prisoner in Germany
Flying Officer Jack Raymond Upton, R.A.F., failed to return from flying operations at the beginning of the year. His mother, Mrs H Upton, a widow residing at 18 Irchester-road, now knows from official sources that he is a prisoner in Germany, but no details are yet available. Flying Officer Upton is 22 years of age and before joining the R.A.F. in 1941 was in the County Council office at Northampton. He is an old boy of Wellingborough Grammar School and a former teacher at St Mary's Church Sunday School. His younger brother is serving with the Fleet Air Arm.

Rushden Guardsman may be a Prisoner
Guardsman Jack C Sanders, of Rushden, who has been serving in the Central Mediterranean, has been report "missing, believe wounded," but additional information gives hope that he may be a prisoner of war. Third son of Mr and Mrs F L Sanders, of 111, Newton-road, Rushden, he is known to many as a former Adult School footballer and billiards match player.

Aged 23, Guardsman Sanders attended Newton-road School and afterwards worked for the United Counties Omnibus Co., by whom his father is employed as a conductor. Joining the Army in April 1940, he went abroad about 12 months ago. One of his brothers is in the Northamptonshire Regiment.

Taken Prisoner - Rushden Soldier Writes Home from Germany
Listed as "missing" several weeks ago, Pte Hugh Spavins Warburton, aged 19, third son of Mr and Mrs J Warburton, of 63, Little-street, Rushden, has now written to his parents from a prisoner of war camp in Germany. His letter arrived on Tuesday and announced that he is quite well, but very eager to obtain some cigarettes.

Pte Warburton attended the South End School and afterwards worked as a gardener for Mr Walter Tarry, Bedford-road. He joined the Northamptonshire Regt. in March 1943, and went out to the Mediterranean theatre of war last October. One of his brothers, Sgt Arthur Warburton, is in Italy, and another, L.A.C. Jack Warburton, serves in the Middle East.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 14^th April, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Taken Prisoner By Germans - News Of Missing Rushden Guardsman
  Hopes that Guardsman Jack C. Sanders, of Rushden, reported “missing, believed wounded” on January 28^th, had become a prisoner of war were fulfilled on Saturday, when his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Sanders, of 111, Newton-road, received a card in which he said he had been taken prisoner by the Germans and was “lightly wounded.”  According to the postmark he was at Mantova, Italy, at the time of writing.

  Aged 23, Guardsman Sanders attended Newton-road School and afterwards worked for the United Counties Omnibus Co., by whom his father is employed as a conductor.  Joining the Grenadier Guards in April, 1940, he went abroad early last year and served in the Central Mediterranean.  One of his brothers is in the Northamptonshire Regiment.

  Before the war Jack was well-known as an Adult School footballer and billiards player.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 26^th May, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Radio Message From Tokyo - Two Rushden Air Officers in Good Spirits
  It was learned on Saturday that Nazi radio had broadcast a message as follows: Tokyo via Berlin – Flying Officer Geoffrey Skinner, R.A.F., aged 24, taken prisoner in Java, to Mrs. H. Skinner, 2, High-street South, Rushden, Northants.

  “Dear Dad and Mother – I have been given another opportunity to write a few lines.  We are still living in the same camp, and the same sheds form our living quarters.  Our diet, of course, consists chiefly of rice, which is the main product of the island.  The officers receive bread twice a week.  My health is still excellent, and am spending much of my time in reading books from the library, giving tuition and taking exercise.  I have made many good friends here.  Bedells is still with us.  Our spirits are excellent.  I am hoping to hear that you both and Phillip are well. – Love to all, Geoffrey.”

  Flying Officer Skinner, the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Skinner, took his M.A. degree at Cambridge University, science being his special subject.  His brother is in the Fleet Air Arm.

  The message mentions Squadron-Leader Reg. Bedells, who is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Bedells, of Robinson-road, Rushden, and husband of Mrs. Gwen Bedells, now living at the White Horse Inn, Wymington.

  The two officers served together in Malaya and were captured in Java in January, 1942.

  Mrs. Bedells, who had been living with her husband in Malaya, was evacuated from there and escaped to England, last seeing her husband in Java.

  Before the present message the only communication received by Mr. and Mrs. Skinner from their son was a postcard which arrived last January.  Mrs. Bedells has had two messages from her husband.

Message After Two Years – Another Rushden Man in Jap Hands
A postcard from Pte. Kenneth Maple of the Royal Norfolk Regt., to his wife at 40 Spencer-road, Rushden, informs her that he is a prisoner of war in Thailand. He has been “missing” since February 1942 and this is the first news of his being a prisoner.

The message is: “I am interned in No. 2 P.O.W. Camp, Thailand. My health is excellent. I am working for pay. Please see that all at home is taken care. My love to you. Ken.”

Pte. Maple is 28 years of age and was called up in 1940, the same year being married to Miss Edna Green, of Rushden. He went overseas in October 1941, and was wounded on January 27th 1942. Formerly he worked for Mr. G. W. Battersby grocer, at Higham Ferrers and Rushden. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. A. Maple, of 4 Wellingborough-road, Higham Ferrers.

Prisoner of Japs—Mr and Mrs H Dickens, of 28 Oval-road, have received a postcard from their son Dvr. Herbert Fisher Dickens, who is a prisoner of the Japs in Thailand. The message conveys the news that his health is excellent, and he is working for pay. His parents last heard from him in December last, when they received two postcards.

Rushden men’s Message – First News for Years
The first news for two-and-a-half years has come from L/Bdr R C Dix, R.A., to his wife Mrs E M Dix, of 32 Highfield-road, Rushden, and this is one of the usual printed postcards with the appropriate sentences conveying the news that he is in excellent health and is in a Japanese internment camp in Thailand. He is apparently working “for pay” and he sends his greetings to his two children (a boy and a girl).

L/Bdr Dix, who worked in Messrs Whitworth’s mill at Wellingborough, was a reservist in the R.A. and had about three months’ service to do to complete his term when war broke out. Actually on military duty at the time of the outbreak, Mr Dix, in the words of his wife, was “in France in a few hours.” He came back in the retreat from Dunkirk and later was sent to the Far East. On February 15th 1942, Mrs Dix was informed that he was reported missing. The next news came this week.

Rushden Baker Prisoner
Missing since the fall of Java, Pte Dick Britten, of a Light Anti-Tank Regiment........
[the rest of this item is enclosed in the binding of the volume]

is now
be a prisoner of the Japanese
Ha
of Gr
Rushden
former
Monday
card
him
youngest
in ex
and to all
Pte
28 years and before joining the army
his father in the bakery
He went overseas early
This has been the first
since he was officially
“missing”.

Enemy radio…
Flying Officer Geoffrey Skinner
RAF, younger son of Mr H Skinner, of 2 High
Rushden captured by
in Java, in January
a postcard to his par
conveys the news that
health and hopes that
are the same
F/O Skinner had po
one postcard home
last January and the
broadcast a message
May of this year.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 14^th July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Man Praised - Led party From Danger Spot
  Sergt. William George Goode, of Hall-avenue, Rushden, serving with the Warwickshire Regiment in France, has been given a special word of praise for the way he successfully led a party out of danger in an action in which his Regiment was involved.

  It was a case in which the Warwickshires were strongly represented on the beach on “D-Day” when a British Infantry Division was given the task of securing the left flank of the Allied force, the flank bounded by the Canal de Caen and the River Orne.

  The Royal Warwickshire Regiment had an action all to themselves on Wednesday, June 7^th in Lebisey Wood.  Through this wood runs a road to Caen, and the point reached by the Royal Warwickshires was considerably in advance of the other troops in the British force.  It was known that the wood was occupied, but the exact strength of the enemy had not been measured.

  Several companies of the regiment penetrated the wood, and came under heavy fire.  The enemy seemed to be all round them in strongly defended localities.  Enemy tanks were there too.  Many of the attacking troops spent 12 hours in the wood and were engaged in heavy fighting most of the time.  The Warwicks eventually withdrew, with casualties, to Bieville, which is also on the Caen road.

  Major R. G. Krever, of Oxford, who gave an account of the action had a special word of praise for Sergt. W. G. Goode, of Rushden, who successfully led a party out of the danger spot. 

  Sergt. Goode, aged 29 years, was born at Rushden but spent most of his life at Wellingborough, until his marriage in November, 1919, to Miss Margaret Lord, of Earls Barton, the couple then coming to reside in Hall-avenue.

  He has been in the Army over four years and the whole of that period was spent in this country until going to France.  As a boy he was educated at the Victoria-road school, Wellingborough and afterwards worked for the C.W.S. Boot works at Rushden.  He is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Goode, who reside at 12, The Drive, Wellingborough.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21^st July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Sailors Meet - Former N.F.S. Members
  Two Rushden sailors, former friends and members of the Rushden N.F.S. met in the Mediterranean on June 23^rd and up to July 10^th were known to be still together.

  They are Telegraphist Robert Scarborough, R.N., only son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Scarborough, of 82, Moor-road, and A/B William Talbot, R.N., son of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot, of 9, Ealing-terrace.

  Tel. Scarborough informs his parents that he was sitting for an examination when he received a note from Bill who had put in at the same port that day and so went over to visit him.

  Tel. Scarborough is 21 years of age and joined the Rushden Fire Brigade when 16 years old and was called up to the Navy two-and-a-half years ago after working for Messrs. Clarke Bros., radio engineers.  He has been in the Mediterranean for 18 months.

  A/B Talbot is 19 years of age and joined the Rushden Fire Brigade when he was 15.  He formerly worked for Messrs. John White, Ltd., and was called up about 14 months ago and has been in the Mediterranean for six months.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21^st July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Scouts’ Happy Meeting
  News has been received from L.A.C. Jones of 2, York-road, Rushden and L.A.C. L. Rootham, of Newton-road, Rushden, of a surprise meeting in the Melcolm Club at Naples.

  These two R.A.F. men were former scoutmasters at St. Mary’s, Rushden.  L.A.C. Rootham, who was the former scoutmaster, went overseas in July, 1943, first to North Africa and then to Italy.

  L.A.C. Jones was the assistant scoutmaster and he went abroad in March, 1943, to North Africa and then Italy.  His former scouting colleague is the first local man he has met out there.

  It is understood from their letters that they had a very enjoyable day together on June 30^th at the Melcolm Club and the Royal Palace and talked of their many mutual friends and scouts.  They send greetings to all their old fellow scouts, wherever they may be, and hope soon to have a happy reunion.

  The picture was taken to commemorate the occasion.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21^st July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Rushden Youth’s Serious Wounds - Injured in India
  Mr. and Mrs. F. Lawman, of 23, Wentworth-road, Rushden, have been informed that their youngest son, Pte. Denis Lawman, Northamptonshire Regiment, has been wounded in the Indian theatre of war.

  Pte. Lawman has been wounded through the neck, has a fractured jaw and facial injuries.  He is 20 years of age and has been in the Army for 20 months and abroad since last October.  Formerly he was employed by Mrs. E. Thompson, butcher, of Higham Ferrers and was educated at the Alfred-street school.

  His elder brother is with the Army in France and the only sister is in the W.A.A.F.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 21^st July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Crossed By Glider - Rushden Man With First Invaders
  A Rushden sergeant who crossed the Channel by glider on the eventful evening of “D” Day and, in the words of a pal “still holds out with the glorious 6^th Airborne Division,” is Sergt. Walter Ashby, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Ashby, of 48, Spencer-road, Rushden.

  Sergt. W. Ashby is a regular soldier, having some 15 years’ service to his credit.  For almost ten years before the outbreak of the present war he did service in Burma and India.

  He is an old scholar of Alfred-street School and was one of the younger members of the Rushden Temperance Band before enlisting.

  His father served in the last war.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 28^th July, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Corporal Wounded - Rushden Man Brought Home From Normandy
  Corporal Clifford Kenneth Elmer, of a ----------- of Fusiliers, has been wounded in Normandy and is now in hospital in this country.  He is the only son of Mr. C. Elmer and the late Mrs. Elmer, of 28, Roberts-street, Rushden.

  The news was received on Sunday but no further information was given.

  Cpl. Elmer is 34 years of age and has been in the Army for 4½ years.  He attended Newton-road School, afterwards worked for Mr. Ray Bull, and became a member of …….. Club.  His mother and sister were killed by enemy action in 1940.

[This article is on the fold of the paper so not all of it is readable and only half of the picture can be seen.]

Rushden Echo & Argus, August 18, 1944

Rushden Man Back After Four Months

A Rushden airman, Sergt. Engineer Jack D Dickens, R.A.F., of whom nothing had been heard since he failed to return from an operational flight four months ago, has arrived back in England, safe and well. His parents, Mr and Mrs F Dickens, of 31 Little-street, received a telegram from him on Saturday, and on Monday they had the joy of welcoming him home. He looked well, but bore traces of hard experiences which, for the present, he was not allowed to relate.

Aged 23, Sergt. Dickens is an only child. He attended South End School, became an employee at the Rushden Co-operative Society’s grocery store in Queen-street, and joined the R.A.F. four years ago. It was after his 14^th “op” that he was listed as “missing.”

Taken Prisoner - Rushden Soldier Who Fought in Normandy

L/Cpl. Paul Chambers Harris, younger son of Mr and Mrs G. H. Harris, of 19, Hall-avenue, Rushden, missing in France since the early days of the invasion, is now reported a prisoner of war in German hands. The official notification was received by his parents on Saturday.

L/Cpl. Harris is 24 years of age and joined the Army in 1940. He first went overseas more than two years ago and was badly wounded in the battle of El Alamein. For six months he was in hospital and convalesence camps, but later rejoined his unit and served in Italy.

Prior to call-up he worked at the R.I.C.S. grocery store in High-street South.

The Rushden Echo & Argus, 13^th October, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Passed Exam. in Prison Camp - Rushden Sergeant-Major’s Matriculation

  B.S.M. Leonard J. L. Fennell, Royal Artillery, of Rushden, a prisoner of war in Germany for over four years, has passed in the first Division of the London University Matriculation Examination.

  He is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Fennell, of 155, Newton-road, who have received the following letter from the Red Cross: “We have recently received some University of London examination results and are very pleased to be able to tell you that your son has passed in the First Division of the Matriculation Examination.  This news has already been sent to the camp together with our hearty congratulations, and we hope the good news will not be long in reaching your son.”

  B.S.M. Fennell has been in the Army for 14 years and was in Egypt for about seven years before the war.  He went to France at the beginning of the war and was captured at St. Valery.

The Rushden Echo & Argus, 20^th October, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Landed Glider At Arnhem - Rushden Pilot On List Of Missing

  Pilot of a glider which took part in the Arnhem operations, Sergt. Donald Sydney Parker, Army Air Corps, of 85, Spencer-road, Rushden, is among those posted as missing since September 25^th.

  Elder son of Mrs. Kickerson and the late Mr. Sydney Parker, he is married and has one child, a little girl.  He is 24 years of age.

  In the Territorials before the war, he was called up in 1939 and served with the Northamptonshire Regiment in Ireland, transferring to the Air Corps about two years ago.  He landed a glider in Normandy early on D Day and later participated in the liberation of Southern France.

  As a boy Sergt. Parker was for several years in the 1^st Rushden Wolf Cubs and Scouts.  He entered the building trade and worked for Messrs. W. Thompson and Sons, of Irthlingborough.  His brother Derek is with the R.A.F. in Italy.

The Rushden Echo & Argus, 20^th October, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis

Parachute Man Missing - Rushden Corporal Was At Arnhem

  Cpl. Aubrey O. Rowthorn, a Parachute Regiment signaler, of Rushden, has been reported as “missing on the 25^th September in North West Europe,” and it is presumed that he was at Arnhem.

  His wife resides at 15, Headingly-road, and he is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Rowthorn, of 78, St. Margaret’s-avenue, being 28 years of age.  Before joining the Army in June 1940, he worked for Messrs. John White, Ltd., belonged to the Y.M.C.A., and was a member of St. Mary’s Church and Bible Class.  As a boy he attended the Newton-road School.

  In November, 1942, he went to N. Africa, following on to Sicily and Italy and returning to this country at Christmas, 1943.

The Rushden Echo and Argus, 3^rd November, 1944

He Walked Out of Prison Camp - Rushden Man Gets Home Via Switzerland

  The story of one of the few Rushden war prisoners who made their escape when Italy surrendered is told below.

  A prisoner of the Italians from June, 1942, until the armistice in September, 1943, when he escaped to Switzerland, L/Cpl. Arthur Shatford, Royal Armoured Corps, has just returned to his home at 34, Allen-road, Rushden.

  In April, 1941, he went to the Middle East and served in a tank until it was knocked out in an engagement at Knightsbridge on May 30^th.  The following day, with six others, two seriously wounded, he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

Short of Water

  Lce.-cpl. Shatford told our reporter that he and his comrades were “treated like soldiers” by the Germans, who would give them what they had themselves and do what they could for them.  Water was the great problem, and rings, watches, etc., would be given in exchange for it.

  After three days the Rushden man was handed over to the Italians, and then his troubles really began.  For four months he remained at a transit camp in North Africa where there was little or no medical attention and no Red Cross parcels.  The ration of food for the day was a 200 gram loaf, one ladle of rice and a small piece of meat.

  In Italy a somewhat similar food ration was supplemented by the Red Cross parcels, which, he said, were really responsible for keeping him alive.

Worked On Farm

  During the last three or four months he was put on farm work.  The captives would be called out at any time from their “bungalow” – housing about 2,000 men – and sent to stand in a field where they were searched for knives, etc.

  It was on September 9^th that Shatford escaped by simply “walking out” of the camp with nine others.  Of his own working party of 50 men all but nine got to Switzerland.  They walked all the way, having “borrowed” civilian clothes, and were helped by Italian women, who gave them food, etc.

  In Switzerland they were held as “escapees,” which was different from being interned; it meant that instead of being held until the end of the war, they were free to go as soon as a frontier was open to them.

Cobbled For Swiss

  A scheme was introduced whereby they could be employed by Swiss civilians.  Lce-cpl. Shatford went out on shoe making – his former trade – though the majority did farm work.  For eight months he was at Adelboden, one of the three main sports places in Switzerland, being allowed skiing and ice-skating.  He was a regimental cobbler under British military discipline with British officers in charge. 

  As Adelboden was a popular pre-war English holiday resort, a lot of the people spoke English.  The two nationalities “mixed up together” well, and some of the British boys got married while there.

  When the Britishers heard of the invasion of France they started packing at once, and it was impossible to get them into their billets that night.  The Americans were letting off small fireworks.  They left for Geneva on October 3^rd and a batch of 1,108 crossed into France.

He is Amazed

  L/Cpl. Shatford is 24 years of age and the youngest son of Mrs. M. Shatford.  He has been in the Army for four and a half years and is a member of the Rushden Athletic Club.  His elder brother is in the Middle East.

From becoming a prisoner he never met anyone from this district until he encountered a Northampton man on the way home.  He says he is amazed at the treatment that Italians are receiving in England.

Taken prisoner at Arnhem - Two Rushden Men Write Home

At least two of Rushden’s “Men of Arnhem” are prisoners of war in Germany. They are Sergt. Donald Sydney Parker, Army Air Corps, a glider pilot, and Lce.-Cpl. David H. Shellard, of the Border Regt., a glider-borne fighter. Each has sent home a postcard which arrived yesterday morning (Thursday).

Sgt Parker	Lc-Cpl Shellard

In the Territorials before the war, he was called up in 1939 and served with the Northamptonshire Regiment in Ireland, transferring to the Air Corps about two years ago. He landed a glider in Normandy early on D. Day and later participated in the liberation of Southern France.

Formerly in the 1st Rushden Wolf Cubs and Scouts, he worked in peacetime for Messrs. W. Thompson and Sons, builders, of Irthlingborough. His brother, Derek, is with the R.A.F. in Italy.

Lce-Cpl. Shellard, who wrote on October 3rd is the eldest son of Mrs. L. R. Shellard, of 5 Hall-avenue, Rushden, and Mr. F. Shellard, who is in business at Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He is 21 and was in the glider landings on Sicily, becoming a prisoner of the Italians for about eight hours until his 8th Army comrades rescued him.

A soldier for four years, he used to work for Messrs. R. Tarry and Co. Ltd., boot manufacturers.

Cpl. Rowthorn a Prisoner – Missing Rushden “Airbornes” All Safe

With the news that Corpl. Aubrey O. Rowthorn is a prisoner of war in German hands, the four Rushden men who were missing after the airborne landings at Arnhem in September are all accounted for, All were taken prisoner, and there is no intimation of any having been wounded.

Cpl. Rowthorn, a Parachute Regt. Signaler, communicated personally with his wife at 15 Headingley-road, and his postcard was received on Saturday afternoon. Eldest son of Mr. W. O. Rowthorn, of 78 St. Margaret’s-avenue, he is 28 years of age and before joining the Army in June 1940, worked for Messrs. John White Ltd., belonged to the Y.M.C.A., and was a member of St. Mary’s Church and Bible Class. As a boy he attended the Newton-road School.

In November 1942, he went to . Africa, following on to Sicily and Italy.

Another Arnhem Prisoner – Rushden Boxer Writes from Germany

Another Rushden man taken prisoner at Arnhem is Pte. Gordon William Bridgeford, South Staffordshire Regiment, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Bridgeford, of 59 Irchester-road. Although the War Office announced that he was known to have been wounded, the card received from him on November 16th stated that he was quite well. Pte. Bridgeford is 25, and has been in the Army five years. He took part in the glider landings on Sicily last year. In peace-time he worked for Mr. Drabble, builder, and took part in boxing at Rusdhen Windmill Club.