A card from Private Harold King this week states that he is still in good health.

Mrs. Bridgement has a brother, a sergeant, fighting at the front.

His eldest brother, Pte. Fred Bridgement, of the 1st. Northants, was admitted into the same hospital two days later with a fractured hip and a broken leg. For some time it was feared that he would lose his leg, but we are pleased to report that he is now progressing favourably, it is hoped that he will be in an English hospital by Christmas.

Pte. and Mrs. Bridgement have one other son serving in the forces, viz., Pte. Percy Bridgement, of the 6th Northants,and he also is in France.

The father, Pte. F. Bridgement, of the 3rd. Northants, is stationed at Strood, and is in the Military Police.

It will thus be seen that all the family are serving with the colours, and Mrs. Bridgement has three brothers, Ptes. C. Bryant, F. Bryant, and H. Bryant, also on active service. Another of her brothers, Company Sergt. Major H. Bryant, was killed in action on January 16th.

Mrs. King has four more sons on active service and we are glad to report that so far none have been wounded.

The first news was contained in a letter to Mrs. Attley, of Pemberton-street, Rushden, whose son Pte. Ralph Attley was Pte. Bryant’s chum.

The news was confirmed in letters which the deceased soldier’s wife received from the Lieutenant in his platoon, from one of her cousins at the front, and also from Pte. Attley, and is also commented upon in several other letters received from the front by different townsfolk.

From what can be gathered of the different letters it seems that Lance-Cpl. Bryant was with a working party who were out at night. When on the return journey the party were caught in gas fumes which were being sent out of the German trenches. Lance-Cpl. Bryant was missing and was found afterwards the next morning lying with his gas helmet on. It is assumed that he was unable to put his helmet on in time to escape the asphyxiating fumes.

Lance-Cpl. Bryant joined Captain Stocken’s 8th Northants Battalion while they were in Rushden, and was drafted to an active service battalion and left for France about five weeks ago. It is believed that he was the first of Captain Stocken’s Rushden recruits to fall in action.

Before enlisting he was employed by Mr. A. Sudborough, shoe manufacturer of Higham Ferrers, in the lasting department.

This (Friday) morning Mrs. Bryant has received official news of the death of Lance-Cpl. Bryant.

His farther and mother went to see him last Saturday, and found he was progressing favourably.

This is Pte. Bodman’s second time in hospital, as he was wounded at the battle of Loos.

Pte. Hornsby enlisted in Sept. 1914, and up to the “big push” has escaped without a scratch, having been out about 16 months.

A brother of Pte. Harold Hornsby, Pte. Sidney Hornsby, is also serving with a machine gun section of the Northants Regt., in France, and another brother, Pte. Alfred Hornsby, is on home service with the Signal Troop, Yorkshire Mounted Brigade, now at Beverley, Yorkshire.

Pte. Harold Hornsby formally worked for Messrs. Robinson and Son, shoe manufacturers, Rushden. He is 22 years old. His wound is mentioned in a letter of another wounded soldier, Pte. William Dickens.

Pte. Dickens is 21 years old. He enlisted in Sept., 1914, and formally worked for Messrs. Nurrish and Pallett, Rushden. His father, Driver S. Dickens, is serving with the A.S.C. in France, having joined on the 25th of February 1915.

He was reported missing on April 13th this year, and Mr. and Mrs. Forman have received several communications from Germany from their son. He gives the information that he is being treated fairly well and there is no need for worry. The name of his camp is “Baraque 2 B, Camp des Prisonniers de Guerre, Friedricksfeld (bei Wesel, Rheinland ).” The prisoners, according to one of his letters, are allowed to write four postcards and two letters a month and no more. They are made to work by the Germans, and he says any parcels of food or even money would be very welcome to them. He is 25 years old. Mrs. Foreman has another son serving in France with the Royal Engineers.

Died For His Country - Rushden Hero Killed In Action
“A Most Willing Lad” - Company’s Sympathy And Officer’s Tribute
It is with regret that we report the death in action of Pte. E. E. Campion, 22937, Northants Regiment, son of Mrs. Campion, of 62, Glassbrook-rd. Rushden. Mrs. Campion received the news though an officer in the same battalion as her son, and we take the following extracts from the letter he sent :

“Dear madam, - I regret to inform you that your son, Pte. Ernest Edward Campion, was killed instantaneously this afternoon. Though it is but a few weeks since he joined my platoon I have found him a most willing lad, always ready to do his duty. The platoon and myself share with you in your grievous loss. He will be buried in an English soldier’s cemetery.

“To you it will be a bitter loss, yet his name will go down on the list of those who came forward willingly, dying a noble death for his country. From officers and men of the --- company, please accept deepest sympathy. ---Second Lieut. C.R. Handsley.”

Pte. E.E. Campion is the second son of Mrs. Campion to be killed in the war, Jim Campion being killed in May 1915. Another son, Driver Bert Campion R.H.A. who is married, is now serving in the Balkan theatre of war.

Pte. E.E. Campion enlisted just after last Christmas, being employed by his brother, of Messers. Asford and Campion, heel-makers, Newton-road, Rushden. He went out to France shortly afterwards, but stayed at the base a few weeks, the doctor declaring him not quite fit for trench services. Eventually the doctor reported him fit and he took his place with a Northants battalion in the firing line, but not with the battalion in which he enlisted.

Mrs. Campion received two letters from her son Ernest as late as last Thursday, one dated Aug. 11th and the other dated Aug. 13th both stating that he was quite well so evidently he was killed last Friday (or possibly Thursday afternoon) as Mrs. Campion received the officer’s letter on Sunday.

The former writes :- “Just a few lines to you to let you know that I am Bill’s pal, and I am sorry over your son because he was killed by a sniper on Sept. 9th I could not write before as we were in the trenches, and never got relieved till Sept.11th As soon as I heard the news I was done and I was bad for two or three days.”

Pte. Gibson writes :-“ I am very sorry to say that I was with your son on the night of Sept. 9th We had just advanced towards the German trenches but were compelled to take cover in a shell hole because of the heavy firing. We had lain there for just over two hours together. At about 7-15pm the same night a German sniper shot him, and hit him in the head. He was killed instantly and I had to stay there till 3 o’clock the next morning before I got back to our trenches. I am very sorry for both you and him as he was liked by most of the chaps in the regiment. If you would like to hear any more about him I will try and do my best to tell you as I was the last to see him alive. I got through safely except for a slight shrapnel wound in the chest, which I got as soon as I got out of the trench, but I have not gone into hospital. I am still with the regiment.”

The late Pte. Sears had only been at the front three weeks when he got killed. He was employed by the Maypole Dairy Co. at Rushden prior to enlisting in November 1914. He was for several years a drummer in the Wellingborough-road Mission Band. He was only 17 years of age when he enlisted, so that he has given his life for his King and country at the early age of 19 years.

Mr. and Mrs. Sears and family desire to express sincere thanks to those kind friends who expressed sympathy in their bereavement.

"I am in receipt of your letter inquiring for particulars of the death of your son, who was killed in action. I very much regret that I cannot give you the details of how he died, as one cannot notice particularly the fate of other men when the rush is made in the trenches, for if we hesitated on these occasions undoubtedly we should all have been annihilated. I can only learn that your son was mortally wounded in going over, and when the stretcher bearers found him he was dead."

“I hope you will find consolation in knowing that your son died fighting for his country and the nation, who, with their Allies, are fighting for right and justice”.

“You may not know that the Regiment went over and made an attack on the German trenches in the afternoon, and they did all that was asked of them, viz., drove the Germans out of this particular trench and consolidated and firmly held it against counter-attack. I have heard it said by other independent individuals that the companies in question went over the top just as if they were marching on parade”.

“It must seem very hard for you and his wife to lose him on this third occasion of his coming out here, and I wish to express my deep sympathy with you and yours in your bereavement. May it be some little satisfaction for you to know that the glorious Armies of the Allies are abundantly avenging the loss of their gallant sons. The papers tell us how our armies are completely overwhelming the Germans and that our soldiers are still imbued with the spirit of our forefathers, and are upholding the reputation of the British Armies. I shall miss your son from the Company, for he was always a good soldier, very willing, and liked by his comrades.

Pte. Ireson enlisted in the County Regiment twelve months ago under Lient. L. Perkins, but was subsequently transferred to the East Yorks. and was drafted to the western front about two months ago. Up to the time of enlisting he was employed by Messrs. Robinson Bros. boot manufacturers, Rushden. Pte. Ager writes:- “I am very sorry to inform you that your son George has been missing since November 13th after an attack on the German line, but I cannot say exactly what became of him. He may be wounded or he may be a prisoner, as they took just a few who were unfortunate enough to advance too far. Being one of his best pals, having come from Northampton with him, I think it my duty to tell you, hoping for the best. He was a good pal and I miss him very much, and I offer you my deepest sympathy in your anxiety.”

Mr. and Mrs. Ireson will be grateful to any of their son’s comrades who can send them further information concerning him that will relieve their trepidation of mind.

The late Pte. Knightall, who was 25 years of age, enlisted in Kitchener’s Army at the outbreak of the war, and he had been at the front twelve months when he met his death. He had not previously been wounded. Prior to enlistment he was in the employ of Messrs. Duncan and Davidson, Sartoris-road, Rushden. The late Pte. Knightall was a member of the Rushden Athletic Club, and was connected with the club’s gymnasium class for many years.

Mr. Knightall has received a very nice letter of sympathy from the committee of the club.

Pte. Baker enlisted in the Essex Regt. twelve months ago, and up to the time of receiving this news his relatives and friends understood that he was in the Hampshires having been transferred to that regiment from the Essex Regt. There is therefore an element of uncertainty about the chaplain’s letter and though the chaplain gives Pte. Baker’s right number, the soldier’s relatives and friends have found in it a ray of hope, and think it may be possible that the chaplain has made a mistake.

Pte. Baker went out to France last August. Previous to enlistment he worked at Marlow’s shoe factory, Rushden. For seven months after reaching France he was engaged in a military shoe shop, and then went into the trenches, having been five weeks there when he was killed.

The late Pte. Clarence Baker who was 19 years of age last April, and his brother Edgar, who is 29 years of age, joined the Colours on the same dayin January lastprior to which they both worked at the shoe factory of Mr. William Claridge.

Pte. Clarence Baker’s death is referred to in several letters which have reached Rushden from comrades, including one which was written at the request of Pte. Edgar Baker by a chum.

Additional sadness is added to the event by the fact that Mr. William Baker is a widower, his wife having died about 18 years ago, leaving nine children, who were brought up by the father.

A letter sent by Pte. Burgess, of Rushden, to Miss Robinson gives the information that he and Mr. Baker's two sons were in a sand-bag shelter, which was struck by a shell and blown in. Pte. Burgess was uninjured, although buried, but Pte. C. Baker was killed instantly by a shell splinter in the heart, and Pte. Edgar Baker was wounded in the left hand.

This morning Mr. Baker received a card from this son Edgar addressed from the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, to say that he had arrived in England.

The late soldier, who was at one time in the employ of Mr. Fred Corby, currier, of Rushden, was called up when war broke out.

Fighting Family at Rushden Private Harry King Wounded Five Other Brothers with the Colours
Mrs J King, of 42 Glassbrook-road, Rushden, has received official news that her son Pte. Harry King, of the Northants regiment, in Egypt, was wounded on November 27th.

Pte. King, who joined the Colours about 2½ years ago, fought through the Dardanelles campaign, and subsequently went to Egypt with his battalion. He has once previously been wounded, viz., on April 19th 1916, when he was injured in the thigh, but he was not sent home; in fact, he has not seen his mother since he went abroad. Before enlistment he was in the employ of Messrs Jaques & Clarke, boot manufacturers, Rushden.

Mrs King has five other sons serving their country, viz., Pte. George King, of the Canadian Contingent, who was seriously wounded on February 3rd, 1916, and who is now stationed at Bramshott; Pte. J E King, of the Beds regiment, who is in France; Pte. Arthur King, Northants Regiment, in Egypt; Pte. William King, of the Royal Marines, who is out with the Fleet, and Pte. Harold King, of the Highland Light Infantry, in France.

Rushden Footballer Honoured - Cpl. F. W. Walden Wins The Military Medal - Afterwards Wounded By Shrapnel
Corpl. Fredk. William Walden, of the Northants Regt. son of Mr. and Mrs. William Walden, of 112, Glassbrook-road, Rushden, and whose wife resides at 17, Hatton Park-road, Wellingborough, has been wounded by shrapnel in the leg, and is now in hospital at Boulogne. Just a week before his relative received the news that he had been wounded they had been informed that he had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry on the field.

Corpl. Walden joined His Majesty’s Forces two years ago last November, and although he has been on the western front about 18 months he had until last Monday week, August 5th, come through without a scratch. Before joining the colours he was employed at the Co-operative Boot Factory, Wellingborough. Corpl. Walden was formally well known in Rushden as a footballer, playing first for St. Peter’s F.C. and later for the Rushden Windmill F.C.