Raunds Postman Receives Military Medal
Mrs. L. Eady, of 14 Marshall’s-road, Raunds, has received information that her husband, No. 15515 Corpl. L. Eady, has been awarded the Military Medal. The message received ran as follows:- “Under authority granted by His Majesty the King, the Corps Commander has awarded the Military Medal to the undermentioned N.C.O. for gallantry in the field on the 16th May 1917.

Corpl. L. Eady, whose age is 34, enlisted in the Army when quite young, and served in the South African War. When the present war broke out he was in the Reserve, and was called up. At that time he was a postman at Raunds. He was in the Garrison Artillery, and the last time he was at home was in January 1916. He has been in France ever since.

Sergt. G. H. Hall, R.F.C., son of Mr. J. Hall, 4 Commercial-street, Higham Ferrers, formerly of Raunds, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for valuable services rendered in France. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of war, and was formerly apprenticed to the engineering at Messrs. Masters Brothers, of Raunds. Sergt. Hall is a native of Raunds.

Pte Agutter Argus Newspaper

Military Medal—Pte. George W Agutter, Middlesex Regiment, in which he is a company runner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Agutter, of Harcourt-street, Raunds, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and good service in the field. He says that he won it the first week in August, the week he usually has for his seaside holiday, so that he has something to show for a change.

Rushden Argus, 19th October (additional to above)

At the last meeting of the Raunds Tribunal, Mr. Wm. Agutter was congratulated upon the honour conferred on his gallant son.

The Military Medal has been awarded to Sergt. H. Pell, Sussex Regt., youngest son of the late Mr. John Pell, of Raunds, and brother of Mrs. P. Battersby, of Hill-street, for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during the battle of Ypres on July 31st and August 1st and 2nd. We regret to learn that Sergt. Pell has again received wounds in the left hand and knee.

Rushden Argus, 5^th October 1917

The following is an extract from the Louth and North Lincolnshire Advertiser of September 22^nd last:-

“Sergt. H Pell, Sussex regiment, has been awarded the Military Medal for most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the battle of Ypres on July 31^st and August 1^st and 2^nd. It is officially recorded that he showed the utmost devotion to duty and disregard of personal safety. He worked continuously for over 48 hours without rest, and gave the medical officer every help possible until wounded. He continually went out to attend to and dress wounded men in shell holes under heavy shell fire, and his courage, devotion to duty, and marvellous staying powers were a splendid example to all ranks, especially the part he played in treating the wounded men during the three days’ operations.”

Sergt. Pell is the youngest son of the late Mr. John Pell, of Raunds, and brother of Mrs. P. Battersby, of Hill-street, Raunds, who has received news this week that her brother has been again wounded in the left hand and knee. Sergt. Pell was an apprentice with Mr. E. Gaunt, hairdresser, of Raunds.

Military Medallist Missing - Anxiety Regarding a Raunds Soldier - Officer’s Letter
Second-Lieut. H Poole, Middlesex Regt., has sent the following letter to Mr William Agutter, of Harcourt-street, Raunds, regarding his son, Pte. George Agutter, M.M.

“Your son, 52075, Pte Agutter, was in my platoon. On the night of November 13th-14th the battalion took over a new part of the line in Flanders, and immediately after our relief was completed your son was detailed to proceed to a certain spot behind our lines with a message at about 10.45p.m. on November 13th, and he has not been seen since that time. As his platoon officer, I feel it my duty to inform you of the circumstances, and it is with deep regret that I do so, for it is a painful task for me. I have every reason to believe that you will hear from your son eventually, but not for some time, for, not knowing our lines very well, he must have walked into the German lines, and also, not a single shot was fired by the enemy at the time, so I think you may feel confident that he is a prisoner of war, and I feel certain that he is so. Both myself and his own personal friends in the company will be extremely sorry if anything did happen to your son, for it was always a pleasure to me to see his smiling face, and his personality and disposition was always that of a bright and keen soldier, and he was an asset to his battalion. I know my sympathy will be very poor consolation to you in this hour of trial, but I hope I shall at least give you some confidence, and his comrades are of the same opinion as myself. It will be a great relief to me to know if you hear from your son.”

Military Medal—In a letter to his wife (Mrs. Plant, of 22 Spencer-street, Raunds) Sgt. Plant, of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, says: “No doubt by now you will have heard that I have won the Military Medal; but I was only doing my duty as a sergeant should.” Sergeant J W Plant joined up in April 1915, went out to Egypt in November of the same year, and was wounded on Nov. 30th last. The medal was awarded for devotion to duty after being wounded.

Sgt-Major G. A. Medlock, R.A.M.C., of Raunds, has been awarded the Meritorious Medal for conspicuous and distinguished service during the recent operations.

Raunds - Cpl. W. Bettles, Northants Regt., aged 26, has been awarded the Military Medal for good work on Nov. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, and has been promoted to the rank of sergeant. Sgt. Bettles was a member of the Territorial Force, and has been serving during the period of the war. He went out to Egypt in June last, and up to the present has got through without a scratch. He worked for Messrs C. E. Nichols and Co., before the war.

Military Medals have been awarded to L/Cpl. (Acting Sgt.) W Bettles, and Sgt. J W Plant, Northants Regt, both of Raunds.

Escape from Germany—Sgt. Harold Betts, M.M., Leicester regt., son of Mr. Herbert Betts, of Raunds, taken prisoner on May 27th, now writes from France: “Dearest mother, You cannot imagine my joy in being able to tell you that I am back on French soil, safe and sound. I escaped through the German lines with God’s help on the morning of the 31st.” Later in the day Mr. Herbert Betts was called to the telephone at Messrs. Ernest Smith’s where he works, and heard his son’s voice saying he had been sent to London, and hopes to come home in the course of a few days. Sgt. Betts wrote six letters home while a prisoner of war, but only one reached his parents.

Sergeant Harold Betts, M.M., Leicester regt., of Raunds, who escaped from the German lines in a very daring manner, visited Rushden on Monday, and appeared to be none the worse for his experiences.

Military Medal - Pte Ernest Harris, East Kent Regt., of Harcourt-street, Raunds, has been awarded the Military Medal.

The Rushden Argus, December 6th 1918, transcribed by Susan Manton

Bravery in the Field – Promotion and M.M. for Raunds Soldier

Lance-Corporal Percy Rollings, of the Royal Scots, and second son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rollings, Chelveston Road, Raunds, has been awarded the Military Medal and promoted for bravery on the field during the big advance in Flanders. Lance-Corporal Rollings, who will be 20 years of age next month, enlisted in September 1915 and has seen two years active service in France. He was wounded in the face and hand in April this year.

The Argus Newspaper

Military Medal – Public Presentation at Raunds

Before removing from the tables a very pleasing presentation was made to Mr. Ernest Harris of the Military Medal awarded to him for devotion to duty and bravery on the field. Mr. George Lee made the presentation in a very suitable and appropriate speech. Mr. Harris, in accepting the medal, briefly returned thanks.

A social evening followed, when the music for dancing was supplied by Mr. C. Cox (piano). Mr. A. Kilborn was the M.C.