The meeting of two Rushden brothers in Bombay recently brings to light an interesting account of a local fighting family – the four sons and one stepson of Mrs. John Shortland, of 20, Windmill-road, Rushden.

  The two boys who met are L.A.C. Bob Shortland, R.A.F., who had only just arrived in Bombay, and Leading Seaman Gunner Donald Shortland, Royal Navy, who has been in that part of the world for twelve months.  Writing a joint airgraph to their mother, they say they are in the best of health.  Bob adds that after chasing all over Bombay looking for his brother he found him in the dining hall having supper.

Arthur, Bob, Donald, John, Richard

  Don continues by saying that they had just been out together for an hour or so, having tea, with Bob showing him photographs of his wedding, which took place to a member of the Land Army from Whetstone Gorse just before he went overseas.

  In family order the members of the Shortland fighting team are : A/B Arthur Shortland, R.N., aged 31, three months’ service, formerly worked at Messrs. John White’s Newton-road factory; Fusilier John Henry Shortland, Royal Fusiliers, aged 26, four years’ service, formerly employed at Messrs. John White’s factory, Higham Ferrers; L/S Gunner Donald Shortland, aged 24, four years’ service, previously employed at the C.W.S. bakery; L.A.C. Bob Shortland, aged 21, three years’ service, previously in the C.W.S. grocery and milk depts.; Stoker Richard Shortland, Royal Navy, aged 19 years, joined last July, is on a torpedo boat, and formerly worked for the Parker Construction Co., Ltd.

  A younger son is employed on war work.  Three of the boys, Arthur, John and Bob are married.

L/S Donald Shortland has been extremely fortunate in that he has met a number of Rushden lads in the East, among them two brothers named Tebbutt, of Glassbrook-road.  Alf Harris, of Hall-avenue, Berridge, of Newton-road, Richardson, from the Cromwell-road district, and Groome, from Harborough-road.