Pte. Harry Eden, the adopted son of Mr. & Mrs. J. O’Brien of 13 Kings Place, Rushden, is, we regret to say, unofficially reported killed. The deceased soldier belonged to the 2nd Northamptonshire Rgt., but about twelve months ago was transferred to a Machine Gun Company. His brother, who was killed at Aubers Ridge, had four days previously been granted a commission in the field.
The late Pte. Harry Eden was employed at the C.W.S. boot factory at Rushden until, nine years ago, he joined the army. He would have completed his term of service with the Colours at Christmas, 1915 but for the outbreak of war. He came back to England from Egypt with the 2nd. Northamptons in October 1914, and was almost immediately sent to France, where he had served continuously until his death, having only two brief periods of leave, the last being in May of this year. The deceased soldier was wounded by a shell on August 4th in the stomach and chest, and was removed to hospital in Rouen, where he died on August 7th, being buried the next day in a cemetery at Rouen with military honours. News of his death was sent to Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien by the matron of the military hospital.
When the late Pte. Harry Eden was only five days old his mother died, and two years afterwards came the death of his father, who was a gardener at Castle Ashby under the late Marquis of Northampton. Mr. and Mrs. O’Brien, who were living at Grendon at the time, then adopted young Harry Eden, and when they came to live at Rushden, he, of course, came with them.
