“I published yesterday a Battery Order which I think will interest you and your friend, so I detail it below:-

‘R 104 Awards—The Corps Commander has awarded the Military Medal to 110245, Bombardier George Henry Richards, of D Battery. Please convey the G.O.C., R.A., and the Brigade Commander’s congratulations to the recipient.’

“This is the kind of thing we like to hang on the Battery notice board, and congratulations are due to you from the officers and men of the Battery, as well as from the G.O.C. and B.C. My own opinion is that you won’t stop at the M.M., but I won’t say what I think you will earn ultimately, in case your head might swell and prevent you coming back here in time. Anyhow, it is just as well perhaps to do the thing step by step, and so have a good show of ribbons, bars and medals by the end of the war.

“The weather here is beautiful, and if you are having the same you should be enjoying a pleasant holiday. You will see some new faces on your return, but there are still plenty of the olf familiar ones to welcome you back, and we hope you will arrive feeling the better for your holiday.

“With kind regards, and again congratulating you on the well-deserved honour you have received, I remain, yours sincerely, Jas. Cowan.”

Bombardier Richards, who formerly worked for Mr. Duncan, boot manufacturer, Rushden, is 23 years of age, and has been in France a year and eight months, having enlisted on October 6th, 1915. He is a native of Kettering, and on the death of his parents, when he was six years of age, he was adopted by Mr and Mrs Clark, his uncle and aunt. As a lad he passed through the Rushden Congregational Sunday School.