Sailors and Their Friends
Strict secrecy is being maintained as to the movements of the Home Fleet. A Rushden sailor named Bert Howes writing to his parents this week explained that correspondence between sailors and their friends at home is now being inspected by the War Office. Any letters to sailors have to be sent to the War Office, and, after perusal, they are forwarded to the ship, wherever it happens to be.

Rushden Gentleman’s Useful Work
Teaching Soldiers the French Language
Mr. Alec Scott in the Y.M.C.A. Camp

At home for a brief spell after six weeks of service work in the Y.M.C.A. camp at Luton, Mr. Alec Scott, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Scott of Park-road, Rushden, gave a representative of the “Rushden Echo” some interesting statistics in connection with the management of the camp which is for the benefit of soldiers. There are 30,000 “Tommies” stationed in the place and they evidently make good use of the facilities attended by the Y.M.C.A. camp. The postal department has dealt with 54,000 letters during the past six weeks. Postal orders to the value of £... and stamps to the sum of £350 have been issued. Note paper and envelopes are given here to the soldiers, and over 60,000 of each have been used. The officials of the camp have lately devised the splendid scheme of holding classes for teaching the soldiers the rudiments of the French language. While no attempt is made to give a knowledge of more than a few useful sentences, the men are very enthusiastic about the idea and turn up in hundreds to pick up what they can of the learning thus imparted. Mr. Scott is at the head of the whole arrangements and it is no little credit to him that the work is so highly successful.

Rushden Soldier With The Mediterranean Force
Writing to his mother (Mrs. Richardson, of 1 Essex-road, Rushden), Pte. Albert Richardson, G Company, 3rd Northamptons, says:-

“Writing paper is very scarce out here. The only writing paper you can get is from home, and it is four or five weeks before it reaches us.
[part of a longer report - see soldiers' notes 1915]

The Soldiers at the front write to us that they want lead pencils. Will some kindly disposed people help us to send them? We can send to the Northants or Bedfordshire Regiments, to the R.W.F.’s, or to the Herefords. For every shilling sent to the “Echo” Office, Rushden, we will forward 18 penny pencils. All contributions will be acknowledged in the “Rushden Echo”.

Mr. Arthur Taylor, of Rochester, U.S.A., formerly of Rushden, has been appointed to a responsible post on the staff of the Y.M.C.A. in connection with their work among the soldiers.

Rushden Echo, 11^th January 1918, transcribed by Kay Collins

North Street Roll of Honour - Soldier’s Thanks
Pte. J. T. Shortland, Royal Sussex (now in Kent): We are getting on very well down here, and we get some good food, but it is a long time from tea to breakfast. We have a very good Y.M.C.A. hut here, where we can get something at night, so the gift will go towards the supper. There are quite a lot of Rushden men in the Royal Sussex, and I think the majority of the men are from Northamptonshire. [part of a longer article]

The Rev. E. F. Walker, pastor of the Congregational Church, Rushden, has been invited to take up work in connection with Y.M.C.A. in France.