Keep the Home Fires Burning - detailing wartime life in the towns and villages mentioned.

NBT 1915 June 1st Tue.

Regarding the death of Sapper Leonard Turvey, of the 1st Field Company of the East Anglian Royal Engineers, his friend in the same section, Sapper E.J. White, of St. Peter’s Road, Dunstable, has forwarded details to his brother in law, Mr. Clark. Sent on May 21st, the letter reads;

“It is with the deepest regret that I write to let you know that your brother in law, Sapper L. Turvey, No. 3 Section, 1st Field Co., E.A.R.E., met with his death on Wednesday last, the 19th inst. As we were crossing an open field on our way to the trenches he was struck by a piece of shrapnel. He was attended to immediately, but he was beyond aid and died in about two or three minutes. He was at once taken back to our billet, and was laid to rest in a pretty soldiers’ cemetery yesterday evening. The body was buried with the Union Jack on it and our Section Officer and all his comrades who were available followed him to his grave, the Chaplain reading the burial service. A cross has been erected with the following inscription on it:- ‘R.I.P. In memory of Sapper L. Turvey, 1st Field Co., E.A.R.E., killed in action, May 19th 1915.’

Sapper White adds that he was a popular member of the section, who will be much missed. Sapper Turvey was the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Turvey, of the Duke’s Head Inn, and went to France at the beginning of April. He is the first Totternhoe man to fall.

NBT 1917 Feb. 6th Tue.

Aged 35, Private J. Pratt, of the Royal West Kents, has been killed in action, and his officer, Lieutenant C.H. Dann, writes to the mother of the deceased at Totternhoe;

“I have the saddest duty in writing to tell you that your husband, 15859, Pte. J. Pratt, was killed this morning, at 12.30. The only consolation I can give you is that he was killed instantly by a shell and that he cannot have suffered in the least. In the short time I have had No. 9 platoon, I found him to be a fine worker and a thoroughly reliable and dependable man, and I’m very, very sorry to lose him. All the men who know him well speak very highly of him and mourn a good soldier and friend.”

The Chaplain (Capt. J. Llewellyn G. Hill, Chaplain to the Infantry Brigade, C. of E.) writes;

“He was killed instantaneously with two others, by a trench mortar while carrying up wire. This was on Friday, January 19th, and on Sunday, January 21st, at 10.45 a.m., I buried him in Arras military cemetery, and several of his companions were at the service. I hope that your comfort will be found in the fact that your husband died the most glorious of deaths, doing his duty in laying down his life for his country, and particularly for yourself. Your husband was well thought of by his officers and companions, and they wish me to convey to you their deepest sympathy.”

Being a native of Totternhoe, where his parents still live, before the war he resided at 71, Victoria Street, Dunstable, in which town he worked at the Gas Works. When volunteers were requested he joined up under the Derby Scheme on the 8th June, 1916, and after a while training at Chatham went to France, where he had been for about four months. He leaves a widow and two children.

NBT 1917 Mar. 13th Tue.

An interesting tale has been told regarding Private Basil Gurney, of Totternhoe, who is in the trenches with “B” Company of a certain Bedfordshire Battalion. A while ago he was billeted in a French cottage with an amiable Madame, and soon noticed that he was becoming the object of special interest to the neighbours, who referred to him as “Abouel”. On asking why, he was told that he had a striking resemblance to a lad of the village named “Abel,” who was in training. From that time on Private Gurney was called Abel, or “Abouel,” as the villagers pronounced it, and later when the real Abel came home on leave, an amusing situation arose when he entered the cottage dressed in his sky blue uniform, to find his double dressed in khaki. When one of the English lads then enquired; “Est-ce que votre nom est Abouel?” he looked at Private Gurney, smiled and said “Oui.” With much laughter, under Madame’s persuasion they sought a photographer, but for some reason the photo was impossible, and now they are in the trenches many miles apart.