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

NBT 1915 July 13th Tue.

Inspector Vincent, of Woburn Police Station, has received this letter from his son, Claude, who is serving at the Front with the Beds. Yeomanry;

“On Wednesday last we saddled up in marching order - about 60 of our Squadron - and, of course, we wondered where we were off to. Well, we marched about 15 miles, passing through a town which had been well shelled, and after a dusty ride we halted in a meadow, and our horses were led back, leaving about 15 out of each troop behind. We were taken into a wood, with the rest of the Brigade, or rather Division, and had tea as soon as possible, and we wanted it badly after our dusty ride. For the night we just lay down under the nearest tree, and next morning were marched off, after breakfast about 1½ miles. We started trenching, making a redoubt, which we are on now. We started about seven o’clock and returned at 5.30 after a day’s hard work. All day long we can hear the guns and see them fire, and even as I write the Germans have started shelling, and they are bursting about 200 yards away, but they are only six-inchers, so they won’t hurt us much. The food we get is good up here, and it is a change to get rid of the horses. We have not been cut up yet.”

NBT 1915 July 27th Tue.

Corporal Arthur Phillips, of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, writes to his parents, Arthur and Sarah Phillips, of 12, London Road;

“I am quite well, although I have had a rough time these last few days. Thought we were going to be blown to hell last Sunday night, for they tried to blow up our trenches, but it didn’t come off. We lost a lot of men, some of them got buried alive. The sight was awful, to see sand-bags and lumps of earth going up 40 or 50 feet in the air, and falling on our fellows. We lost one officer, Lieut. Cecil, a nephew of Lord Salisbury. I had a narrow escape - a shrapnel bullet went through the back of my hat, and through the shoulder of my overcoat, but did not touch the skin, thank goodness. I have still got the bullet. You may guess how pleased we were to get relieved last Monday night; we are now resting 12 miles from the firing line, and are billeted in farm buildings, a change from dug-outs and shells flying about. We can do with it, after 53 days in the trenches. We are now busy fitting men up with equipment, and drilling morning and afternoon; it keeps us N.C.O.s on the go all day long.”

(As Lance Sergeant Phillips, he would be killed in action on Tuesday, September 5th, 1916, aged 27. He was born at Westminster, Middlesex, but was a resident of Woburn.)

NBT 1915 Aug. 10th Tue.

On July 28th Lance Corporal David Sturgeon, of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, writes to his wife;

“We have been in the trenches for seven days, but I daresay we shall be out before you get this letter. --- I wonder if we shall get another Christmas in them. I did not eat anything last Christmas, so I shall always remember it. We are only sixty yards from the German trenches. “A” Company is only fifteen yards away in one place. It is a bit close, I think. They keep having a shot at us, if we pop our heads up. They always let us know what time it is in the morning, because they start shelling our trenches about half-past five each morning. Then it is ‘duck your nut.’ for that is the saying out here amongst us soldiers. We are just like ducks in a pond when it thunders. We keep bobbing up and down. I am writing this letter in a dug-out. I think I shall have to make one in the garden when I get home, for I am so used to this sort of house; it will feel strange to be indoors again. I had a letter from Tommy Wright. He tells me that they are all anxious to see me when I get a leave. It will be nine months the 8th of next month since I came out here. Tell Harry Indge I met his son the other week.”

(Born at Hartest, Suffolk, but a resident of Woburn, he would be killed in action on Monday, July 3rd, 1916.)

NBT 1915 Aug. 17th Tue.

Serving at the Front with the Beds. Yeomanry, Trooper E.C. Vincent, the son of Inspector Vincent, of Woburn Police Station, writes;

“Since I last wrote we have been back with the horses again, and last Saturday night we had a rather thick time. We had to relieve the 19th Hussars from the trenches, at night. Well, we started the march, in full marching order, with two bandoliers (190 rounds), haversack, etc., on and walked about eight miles to the trenches, and relieved them all right. We were in the trenches about four hours, and then had the order to retire, which we were pleased to do, and afterwards marched home, getting there in the early hours of Sunday morning, and I don’t think I have been so spun out in all my life. On Sunday we did very little except rest, but on Bank Holiday we had stables at 3a.m., and mounted parade at 5a.m., in marching order, and marched to ---. On the way we, who were the advance guard, were attacked nearly all the way, and I was glad when they let us go along in peace again. The country we went through reminded me very much of old England. We saw some Algerians on the way. These fellows are magnificent horsemen and ride little wild Arab ponies. Most of their horses are pure white, but the men are some ugly customers, and wear long flowing robes and trousers of all colours. We got to the camp about 2.30 and pegged down, then dinner. In the afternoon we found it was only a little way to the sea, so I and Millard went and enjoyed a glorious bathe. During the night it rained, and I did not have a very comfortable night. The next morning we had Brigade Drill, and after dinner saddled up and came back again. On Thursday about 2,000 of our Brigade came up trenching again, but this time we came up in style, in the old ’buses. We are near the old camp, billeted in the grounds of an old chateau which belonged to an Austrian Count. There is a lovely lake, and boating on it. Near by is the Church, which is completely ruined, and the town is smashed, and no one is living there. You must excuse writing, as there are two 8-inch howitzers banging off, and you have to jump. The living is bad down camp, but it is better up here. This is my third time up. We relieved the 6th Brigade, which includes Life Guards, Horse Guards, etc. Am just boiling my towels, etc., so must now close, with best wishes. I am glad to say I am in the best of health.”

NBT 1915 Aug. 31st Tue.

Having been lately billeted in Woburn, Sapper A. Ridgway, of the Signal Section, Royal Engineers, writes from the Mediterranean to a local resident;

“I am here at last. The country I have seen on the outward voyage cannot compare with many parts of England. It is hot, sandy and a fly breeding place at which I am now stationed. I am getting quite used to these minor inconveniences. The prevailing feeling among the majority of the men is that the war in this area cannot last more than another two months. I hope so. I was surprised to learn that the Turks are much more chivalrous fighters than the Germans. We are well cared for, and considering that everything (for even the water is brought in ships) is transported, the food is excellent. On the voyage out I made some friends, and so far have not been separated from them.”

NBT 1915 Sep. 21st Tue.

Alfred Randall attended a private school in Woburn, and then went to college. Being in Australia when the war broke out, he at once joined the R.A.M.C. and is now in Cairo. He writes to his foster mother;

“My work is a constant source of useful amusement. Everyone seems to be worrying me for something to be done, but as it is impossible to do all I am getting used to it. The man I mentioned in a letter to George, shot in the chest, died through septic poisoning and haemorrhage; the other who had his knee cap carried away by a shell, also died after a few days delirium through pain. It seems to me that to live and be useful is a fine arrangement and death the finest of rewards. Very few have died here, but I am afraid we have turned out a good many cripples. It is remarkable to see some of the recoveries, for often great pieces of flesh are carried away, yet the places fill up and heal. Practically all the doctor does is to put in tubes to drain off the discharge. The nurse keeps it surgically clean, and nature does all the rest. Several date palms in our grounds are loaded with dates which are red and hardish. They are very sweet, just like sugar cane. I have been up to the leaves, but did not get into the top as I could see no prospect of successfully getting out again. The tree is about 40 feet high. The stem is left notched by the previous leaves having fallen, which makes it easy to climb. Another palm very similar, but with a smooth stem, bears round fruit of a brick red colour as big as a small plum. They have a large stone. The flesh is stringy, sticky, and very sweet. There is also a clump of opuntis (sic) cactus which has just ripened with a lot of fruit as large as a good sized pear. These take on a reddish colour and are full of pipe (sic). I don’t care much for them. They are covered outside with very small spines almost invisible. I got full of these on my first trial, and as each is barbed they do not come out. They are most unpleasant in your tongue and soft palate, but after a few meals they break off and make an end of their worrying. Those in other parts form a minute abscess, and by this means sweat themselves out. Mangoes are now on sale. They are nearly all stone, and have a spicy smell and taste like nothing else. There are many small lizards about our grounds. Their bodies are about four inches long, and tail six to eight inches, very delicately tapering away to the finest point and of bright electric green colour. They travel at an enormous speed, and are very timid, vanishing under some object as soon as you approach. The cooler weather begins next month. I have liked the hot weather very much so I expect if I come to England again I shall feel very cold.”

NBT 1915 Nov. 16th Tue.

Sapper Jack Halsey, Royal Engineers, who was lately billeted in the town, writes from “Somewhere in France”;

“We have had very wet weather out here. It rained on and off for ten days. It has been fine, but frosty for the last two days. That is better for getting about, but it makes it hard to keep warm at nights. Are there many more recruits joining in England? It seems there will be need for all the men we can get. We are not really definitely settled yet, and we do not know where we are likely to go. We had quite an event in our billet this week. There is a large cupboard at one end, and we often wondered what was in it; so the other day we opened it and found it contained a large automatic organ. We have had that thing going, morning, noon, and night ever since. It makes a row like the fair organs in England, and anywhere else we should say what a fearful noise it was. It gives us something to pass the time away. I have only seen two pianos since I have been here, and they were in soldiers’ clubs.”

NBT 1915 Dec. 28th Tue.

From France, a Royal Engineer, who was recently billeted in Woburn, writes to his late host and hostess;

“We got plenty of stable work and harness and wagon cleaning. I was on stable picket on Thursday night. It poured with rain all night. I had about sixty mules on a picket line to look after. They kept breaking loose and on the whole kept me busy, and the mud was well over my boot tops in some places. You mustn’t think that we are having a bad time though. I am quite well and happy. We have had one spell of cold weather so far, otherwise it has rained all the while. We were all looking forward to a jolly and comfortable Christmas. I expect we shall have a fairly happy time, but I am afraid the moving will prevent us getting our parcels from home. I daresay it would be nice to get a ‘Daily Chronicle’ parcel, but really, I don’t think it would be fair as the chaps in the trenches deserve them much more than we do. . . Apparently, Lord Derby has got a move on the eligible men at last. It’s a pity they did not enlist earlier, as they would then have been ready by the spring.”

NBT 1916 Jan. 11th Tue.

Before Christmas, the children of the Girls’ Council Schools sent a parcel of socks and scarves to the men of the 1st Beds. Regiment. Attaching the name of the maker to each, the girls had made the garments, and on Friday morning Evelyn Smith was delighted to receive this letter, dated January 1st, from Private C. Waldock, C Company;

“ Dear Evelyn, Just these few lines to thank you for the scarf, which is very good of you to send, as they are a great comfort to us these long, cold nights in the trenches. We are out of the trenches now for a few days, after spending Christmas in them. It was very wet and trying the last time. We were often over our knees in mud and water, but still we must look on the bright side, and trust the Lord will bring us peace with the New Year, and a safe return. I must close these few lines with best wishes for a bright and peaceful New Year, I remain, Yours sincerely, Private C. Waldock.”

Similarly, Lance Corporal F. Aveling writes to Gerty Payne;

“It was very kind of you to knit the scarves for us. They keep us nice and warm, and as you know it is cold at night in the trenches. We did not have Father Christmas to see us; we have no place to hang our stockings, so he is coming to see us next Christmas when we come home. But we are not coming home until we have sent all the Germans back to their home.”

Private A. Maskell writes to Ivy Tutton;

“Dear Friends, I am taking the pleasure of writing to thank you for the scarf knitted by you, which I received on New Year’s Day. It is a very nice scarf, and is just what I wanted to put round my neck at night when on duty, as it is very wet and cold here now. I hope the weather is much better where you are. Our boys spent a very happy Christmas considering we are on active service, and had a very nice Christmas dinner.”

NBT 1916 Feb. 15th Tue.

Mr. and Mrs. C. Smith, of Birchmoor Green, have received a letter from Private H. Felmingham, 12th West Yorks. He was formerly billeted with them, and writes from hospital in France;

“I have been in hospital for a fortnight with cold and rheumatism. I am going on all right now, and I might say we are now going back for a month’s rest. It will give me a chance to pick up again, as I am looking like a ghost. Thank little Freda for the cigs. My brother has been wounded in Egypt, but is getting better. Holiday Warren is all right; also Frank. I have been talking to Billy Warren and Ankers today; they wish to be remembered to you all.”

NBT 1916 Feb. 22nd Tue.

Formerly billeted in the town, a member the Royal Engineers has recently been stationed in France, and writes to friends in Woburn;

“We left our old billet in France two days before Christmas, and were in the train from the Thursday evening until Boxing Day morning, so you see we had not much chance of enjoying ourselves at Christmas. We then camped at Marseilles for a week, and then had a voyage lasting a week, and are now camped comfortably at Salonika. The others all wish to be remembered to you. Salonika is not such a bad place as I supposed it to be. We are having glorious weather, quite like May in England. It gets cold and freezes most nights, but we have an extra blanket to make up for that. I understand that further inland among the mountains the weather is much more severe. Our camp is close by the sea. The town is rather disappointing There are several good picture palaces and one or two nice streets, but the old town, which is by far the larger part, is very squalid and tumble down. The people are mostly Jews and Turks. The Greeks number only about one in five of the population. The Jews do the shop keeping, and usually run a money changing business in conjunction with whatever else they may do. They are a horrible set of rogues, and cheated us right and left until we got used to things. They always ask for much more than the thing is worth, and we have to stand and argue until we get somewhere near the real price of the things, even if it is only a box of matches we are buying. We get fairly good food, especially considering the difficulties of transport.”

W.E. 1916 May 12th

On the subject of ‘Boy Enlistment,’ in a letter to the ‘Times,’ from Woburn Abbey the Duke of Bedford points out that a boy volunteer may be sent abroad if the medical authorities consider his physique equivalent to that of a man aged 18½. However, a conscript cannot be sent out until he is 19. The Duke concludes; “So long as the existing inequality of treatment in the matter of age for foreign service remains, it illustrates the kindly care for the conscript, the lack of consideration shown to the volunteer, and the callous indifference to the waste and suffering caused by sending immature lads to the front, for no other reason except that they count one on paper.”

NBT 1916 Mar. 21st Tue.

A Lance Corporal in the Sanitary Service writes to a Woburn resident;

“I shall not be sorry when it is all over and we get back again. We have been having bad weather lately, quite a lot of snow, and we are looking forward to the spring. We have been at several different places since we have been out here, and have got quite used to sleeping in barns, with rats running about and pigs next door. It is difficult to write a long letter, as we are not allowed to say much. Everything is going on all right, and we have the Germans well in hand.”

NBT 1916 Apr. 18th Tue.

A Royal Engineer who was billeted in Woburn last summer, and is now in Greece, writes;

“It is a great change from being in France, as the people and language are so different. The Greek language appears to me to be an impossible quantity. We have not yet even learned the alphabet, and until we can do that we cannot even read the language, let alone understand it. We have been here since January. We left northern France on December 23rd and had three days’ train journey. We then embarked and came to the sunny land of Greece after a week’s voyage. One night we nearly collided with another ship, missing it by less than two hundred yards. As we were travelling without lights, they could not see us. We saw the other ships light close to us. Then one vessel swerved in a half circle very suddenly, completely out of her course. It was such a sudden turn that even the chaps lying down below in bed could feel it. Another night it was reported we were within a short distance of a German or Austrian submarine, which we dodged in the darkness. When we first came here it was pretty cold, especially at night, as our camp is near the shore, and there are a great many hills behind the town. The town itself is a mixture of East and West. The streets are very narrow and very badly paved. There is only about one decent shop in the place and that is a French book shop. All nationalities under the sun seem to be here, Greeks, Turks, French, Bulgars and many others, including Jews, who indeed are in the majority. There are plenty of soldiers about as you may guess, British, French, Serbian and Greek. The Greeks wear khaki. The Serbians also favour the same colour, but have different caps. Altogether, it’s not such a bad place to be in.”

Another Royal Engineer writes;

“We are now some miles behind Salonika, up among the hills. It is a year next Monday since I came to Woburn, and I have been on active service six months. I went into Salonika last week and found all well at the old camp. Your last letter was very welcome, as we have lost several mails in transit. We are following with great interest the new fighting in France and are hoping it will be the means of bringing the war to an end. It is very quiet up here among the hills, and there are hundreds of jackdaws.”

NBT 1916 April 18th Tue.

Walter Guess was employed at the local Post Office, but soon after the outbreak of war he enlisted in Kitchener’s Army, and went abroad last August. His relatives live at 90, St. Andrew’s Street, Leighton Buzzard, and have now received this official communication regarding his exploits;

“Your Commanding Officer and Brigade Commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself on 19th December, 1915, near Ypres. I have read their report with much pleasure.”

Dated March 28th, 1916, this was signed by the Brigadier General Commanding the 6th Division of the British Army in the Field. On account of his action, Private Guess, who is aged 21, was allowed a short leave, and describing the incident he said that his officers had asked for volunteers to take an important message over a particularly dangerous piece of country. The destination was a well concealed point, but although several men offered to go, they proved unable to find their way. Private Guess then said that he would ‘have a go’, and after starting off had to hide in ‘pot-holes’ several times, and cross, at the double, several bullet swept open places. He finally arrived on the point of collapse, and was barely able to tell where the paper was concealed.

NBT 1916 May 30th Tue.

From France, Lance Corporal George Gilks, of the 6th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, writes;

“It has been a rather lively time out here lately. We were fetched from our rest (which included hard work, making hurdles and felling timber from early morning till 4 or 5 p.m.; after that dinner, and, if nothing else to do, our time was our own till 8.30) and held in reserve the same night in the trenches; and about 2.30a.m. it was awful. I shall never forget it as long as I live. My Company got it about the worst; as luck would have it I was on with a party fetching things up, and if we had been five minutes earlier we should have been in the very worst of it. There were five of us, and one got killed; we other four hardly got hurt, though I got a black shoulder. After this I was fetched out of the trenches to go through another course of instruction, and sometimes I feel I could do with more rest.”

(Born at Woburn, but a resident of Great Brickhill, he was killed in action Saturday, July 15th, 1916, aged 32. His widow, Emma, lives in Station Road, Earls Barton, Northants.)

NBT 1916 June 13th Tue.

Corporal A. Britchford is a Woburn man, serving with the West Kent Regiment. At present, about ten miles from the firing line his company is billeted at farm houses, from where he writes to his mother;

“The liveliest time is when our bombers decide to send over 50 or 60 rifle grenades or bombs. Immediately after the enemy send a similar dose back with interest. One simply stands close to the wall of sandbags and waits. The nearest one falling to me was less than three yards away, but I only got a shower of lumps of earth.”

In a following letter he writes;

“I am now in a little dug-out with a telephone receiver strapped over my ear; I am in touch with all the companies and the artillery. By my side is a reservoir full of oxygen to use in case of gas attacks, and goggles in case weeping shells are put over. The Germans are only 50 yards away, two minutes walk, or half a minute’s run. The big guns are firing so fast that it is one continuous roar, and the ground is shaking; machine guns are crackling like millions of marbles being poured on a corrugated iron roof; the sentries are blazing away at their friends opposite, and continuous rockets light up everywhere like day. We have had eleven casualties, two killed and nine wounded - one fellow is recommended for the D.C.M. already (we have only been here since Tuesday). He climbed over the parapet and fetched a wounded comrade, although wounded himself! We had an observation balloon break away yesterday; it drifted over the German lines, but the two observers dropped out in a parachute, and saved the papers before they left it. Glad to see the lads rallying to the flag, though it is harder for some than others, but the German domineering spirit has got to be wiped out somehow, or the Lord help us and our children.”

NBT 1916 July 11th Tue.

Formerly billeted at Woburn, a Royal Engineer writes to a friend from Salonika;

“Really, there is not much news. I am back in Salonika again. I was with the old company for some weeks and am now at a small signal station in another part of the town. We are camped close by the sea and have a Y.M.C.A. tent in the camp, so we manage to have a fairly good time. The others are well and wish to be remembered to you all. I have been on the sick list for three weeks, but am nearly well now. You will doubtless know there is very little doing here, the blockade being the only event of interest. The local corn merchants have taken advantage of this and cornered all the available supplies. There is a great shortage of bread in the town as a result. This, of course, does not affect us as we have our own bakeries. Two Russians arrived in our camp this week. They had been prisoners in Austria for quite a long while, but managed to escape and to get right down here. I can’t imagine how they did it, as they must have come through the Bulgarians. Thanks for the cigarettes, which reached me all right.”

NBT 1916 July 11th Tue.

A few days ago, a little scholar of the Girls’ Council School was delighted to receive a letter from a wounded soldier, who had been the recipient of the egg that she had collected during the local egg collection;

“Dear Miss Irene Sibley. I have been asked to write and thank you very much for the pleasure you gave us this afternoon on “moving” the eggs you so kindly sent us. I am sure we all enjoyed them very much. It was very strange that part of the ward should also have some eggs from another lady in your town, and I suppose she has been written to in appreciation. Unfortunately, through my accident, I have missed my draft which went to France last week. It is a great disappointment to me I assure you. I have several times passed by your pretty little town by motor, usually stopping to appreciate the beautiful estate of the Duke of Bedford. I sincerely hope I may have the pleasure again when the war is over, wishing you all the good things you wish for yourself. Believe me, yours faithfully, F. Samuells.”

W.E. 1916 Oct. 6th

Saddler J. Gilks, of Woburn, writes from France to Mr. Morrison;

“I have had the pleasure of meeting with some of the Woburn boys. I heard they were in a village near by, so I fished them out; the first I met was Ted Ping, then William Haddon and John Chance, and with us is George Showler, and several from Eversholt and other villages. I thought it very strange, for I had not met or known anyone for many months, and then they all seemed to come near by. It is often difficult to see them if they are near, but we are also pleased to meet if only for a few minutes. We feel very much the loss of those who have gone from us, and I lost a close pal in Sergt. Gordon, who was wounded on July 1st, but I trust that he, with others, will soon recover, and gather strength again.”

NBT 1916 Nov. 7th Tue.

Mrs. Scott, of Woburn, has received a letter from her son, Albert, describing a narrow escape;

“We had taken up our positions, and a fellow asked me to change places with him as he wanted to be next to his two mates. That was at twelve at night - the next morning at six they were blown to pieces. I was just round the corner! Forty hours later I was in a section of trench with four others - three on my left were blown to atoms, the one on my right had half his face cut to pieces; I was only stunned, and had two or three little splinters of shell in the back of my head! Is it Providence? I think it must be. I deeply appreciate my good fortune. The sights and experiences we have been through these last five weeks will remain in my memory as long as I live. … Soldiers may be rough, reckless, rash, and may be blackguards, but God only knows what they go through, and whatever they may be they deserve the best of everything. A soldier sees his mate buried alive, crushed, and often blown to pieces. At first he trembles at every shell that drops near him, but after a bit he stands quite cool, lights his pipe, or cigarette; coolly wipes the dust off his rifle, cleans his bayonet, reads a letter, has a few minutes sleep, munches a biscuit, and says to himself, “Let ’em all come; if one hits me I shan’t know much about it, just my luck.” Glad to say I never enjoyed better health in my life, and am feeling like a youngster; but I’m getting as grey as a badger, but grey hairs are honourable, so the more the merrier.”

Before the war, Albert was an apprentice at Messrs. Fisher and Son’s printing works.

NBT 1917 Mar. 13th Tue.

Regarding the late Major Harry Lewis, Stanley C. Else writes to Mrs. Lewis from the Base Hospital, Sheffield;

“Dear Mrs. Lewis, - I was a subaltern with the York and Lancaster Regiment, and therefore knew and had a great respect for Major Lewis. This week I have come across Pte. Jefferies, who was with the Major for a long time on July 1st. Knowing you would like to have his story, I asked him to dictate it to me as follows: ‘About 8.15 a.m. I had been wounded twice, and was about fifty yards from the German first line when I saw Major Lewis. He was entirely alone, and I saw him put his hand to his left chest. I suggested getting some cover, but he said ‘I cannot,’ and fell. I pulled him to cover, behind a slight rise in the ground, but still 25 yards behind the German front line. I improved the cover with my entrenching tool, and put my haversack under the Major’s head. He was quite comfortable, conscious and cool. I believe he suffered no pain. I bandaged a wound in his hand, but could not touch his chest. I then got hit in the ankle, which made it impossible for me to get the Major any further, but I stayed with him until after he died. He was so quiet for such a long time that I cannot say exactly how long he lived, but he had certainly passed away by eight in the evening, when I commenced to crawl towards our lines. I am certain Maj. Lewis did not suffer much pain, and was perfectly peaceful.’ This is exactly as related by Pte. Jefferies. I hope it will relieve your mind somewhat.”

NBT 1917 Mar. 20th Tue.

Private S. Berry writes to Mr. Harry Indge, regarding details of the death of his youngest son, Bert, in France;

“I shall miss him very much, as he was the only one from Woburn in the battalion, besides myself. He was a good lad, and always cheerful; and his sergeant, who was killed the same day, always spoke well of him. I was not in the fight myself, but I saw Bert’s mates when they came out, and they told me he did not suffer any pain and that he died with a smile; and I hope it will be some consolation to you to know that he died happy.” Private Berry was the late licencee of the “Royal Oak,” Woburn.

(Serving with the 6th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment, Private Indge was killed in action on Saturday, February 17th, 1917. He was born at Woburn, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France.)

NBT 1917 June 26th Tue.

Corporal Stephen G. Rowberry, of the Lancers, who has charge of a machine-gun section in France, writes to his sister, Mrs. Blackwell, of Leighton Street, Woburn;

“We have been in action for the last fortnight, and I have had plenty of patrol and outpost duty. No doubt you have read of all the cavalry work that has been done lately. Well, I have been amongst it all and have come through without a scratch, though I have had some very narrow shaves, and have had two of my chums killed by the same shell. . . I am looking forward to all the goodies that you like to send me, for there have been times lately when we have been short of food, and for four days we had to exist on bully beef and biscuits. We are back now to give the horses a rest. Our rations are pretty good - we still get a daily issue of bread and biscuits, jam, cheese, bacon, bully beef or fresh meat; but one has not always the chance to cook, especially in trenches, and we are not allowed a fire in case Fritz should observe the smoke and shell us out of it.”

NBT 1917 Aug. 21st Tue.

Private E. Mann, of the 18th Casualty Clearing Station, in France, has written to Miss Yole, of Leighton Street, one of the contributors of eggs periodically sent from Woburn;

“On behalf of all my wounded comrades I take this chance of thanking you for the personal interest you are taking in the welfare of the troops out here by sending out foodstuffs which would otherwise be impossible to get. I am a patient in hospital, and I was very touched when I saw that the eggs we had for tea came from different persons in England.”

B.S. 1917 Nov. 17th

Among the ladies recently decorated by King George V, for valuable services to nursing, was Miss E. Livesay, matron of the Woburn Military Hospital, who was awarded the first class Royal Red Cross decoration.

NBT 1918 June 18th Tue.

Gunner Whiting, who is with the R.F.A. in Palestine, writes to Mr. Morrison to say that the land is not ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ The only milk they see is of the tinned variety, and they get a ‘stray’ pot or two of honey about once in a decade. As for the issue of blackberry jam, this is made from the berries gathered last autumn by local schoolchildren. Gunner Whiting has just received his papers from Bedford calling him to report to the town to join up, and great amusement was caused when he showed the papers, railway warrant etc. to the boys in the camp!

NBT 1918 June 18th Tue.

Mrs. Champkin has received a letter from her son, Private Leonard Champkin, saying that he was captured in ‘the big attack’, and was lucky to get out safely.

NBT 1918 Aug. 27th Tue.

News is received that Lieutenant P.L. Hobourn, Machine Gun Corps, has been honoured for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. For 48 hours he was in a heavily shelled position, which was attacked four times. Yet throughout all this he never left his guns, and largely due to the splendid example that he set the attacks were beaten off.

NBT 1918 Oct. 1st Tue.

Miss Ada Phillips, of Woburn, has already lost a brother in the war, and regarding a second brother a letter has now been received from Captain Gunn, Canadian Mounted Rifles. He writes;

“Your brother had been in my company in the old Buffs since he enlisted, and I may say I know him as well as is possible for an officer to know a man, and in our Canadian Army we carry democracy to the extreme. Knowing your brother that well I can say unhesitatingly that I always found him one of the best of soldiers, cheerful in his quiet way, and always ready to do his full share of any work that was in hand. On August 5th he was advancing with his machine gun section, and we had all pushed well into the German lines when your brother was hit by a stray enemy shell and instantly killed. He was buried near Hangard - a small French town in the Amiens Roye Sector on the river Luce. He now lies among his pals, with the boys who so grandly did their duty on the first day of our big advance. I can ill express my feelings of sorrow and sympathy, but they are heartfelt. So many of the Buffs boys were killed and wounded. I am heart broken.”

(The above probably refers to Jack Phillips.)

NBT 1918 Dec. 24th Tue.

Telling of the great privations that were suffered, Private D. Janes has arrived home from captivity in Germany, and the eruptions on his body caused by the shortage and bad quality of the food have yet to heal. He states that in German hospitals sometimes wounded soldiers were tied down for amputations to be carried out without anaesthetic.