Reading Standard Etc 01-1918

WAR CASUALTIES.

KILLED IN ACTION.

ALLAWAY, Pte. Henry James, Oxford and Bucks L.I. of 92 Sherwood Street, Reading, adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Steele, 11, Cardiff Road, Reading. On December 6, aged 26. Ste. Allaway had only been serving about eight months; he had previously been employed for ten years on the G.W.R. His officer writes:-
He was an excellent soldier, greatly respected and loved by all, especially those in his section, who were more intimately acquainted with him.

BLACKWELL, Gunner. C.A. Tank Corps, 59, Waldeck Street, Reading. Aged 23. Before joining up he was employed by Messrs. Elliott's, Caversham. His officer writes -
As his crew commander for ten months I can say he was the best, hardest working and cheeriest of fellows to work with. He is an irreparable loss both to his crew, company and battallion. His Captain writes:-
He had not been under my command long, but I found him a very hard working and willing soldier. You may rest assured that he died whilst doing his best for his King and country.

EATON, Pte. William, Oxford and Bucks L.I. Lower Green Cottages, Twyford. On November 20, aged 38.

EELES, Sergt. A., Coldstream Guards, of 82, Weldale Street, Reading. On November 27th. Aged 23. His officer writes:-
Sergt. Eeles was my platoon sergeant and I can not speak too highly of all his work. Whether in the line or out he was always excellent. His loss is not only felt by myself but also by all the other officers in the company and the men of his platoon. He was acting-company-sergeant-major during the attack on Fontaine Notre Dame of November 27th, when he was killed instantaneously by a sniper, being shot through the head. I am very grieved about his loss, as he was so valuable as a sergeant and always wonderfully cheerful.

MARKS, Pte. F.A., Royal Warwicks, second son of the late Mr. F.C. Marks, chemist, Wantage. Previously reported missing, is now reported killed on October 26th.

MURRELL, C.S.M., S.C., 9632, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, of 12. Hatch Ride, Crowthorne. On Nov. 20th. C.S.M. Murrell served with the 16th Division in Gallipoll and two years in France.

ROYAL BERKS REGIMENT.

HEWETT, Pte. Sidney, son of Mrs. W. Hewett, Newney Green, Kidmore End, near Reading, who also has two other sons discharged from the army and one 19 year old who has been serving 18 months in France. Pte. Sidney Hewett was killed by a shell on Dec. 2nd. Aged 23.

HOCKLEY, Pte. Joseph, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Hockley, of Starwell Farm, Moulsford. By a machine gun bullet. Aged 19. His Captain writes:-
He had been for some time with me as a battalion orderly and was doing exceedingly well. On the very morning of the day he was killed he was a sentry outside battalion headquarters under very heavy shell fire, and was personally congratulated by the Commanding Officer on the good work he did. He was a brave and loveable boy; and lost his life through volunteering to take an important message under heavy machine gun fire. I can only say that we all miss him tremendously and sympathise most deeply in the grievous loss you have sustained. He died the noblest death a man can die, going into danger to save his comrades' lives, and he delivered his message before he was hit and killed instantly by a machine gun bullet.

JUDD. Sec. Lieut. F.K.

WYKES, Sec. Lieut. E.A.I.

WALTERS. Corpl. A.E., adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Fulker, of 66, Silver Street, Reading. Aged 21.

DIED OF WOUNDS.

CHIPPERFIELD, Pte. Edward, Coldstream Guards (Signal Section), of 6, Queen's Cottages, Queen's Road, Reading. On November 30th, in France, after three years two months of service.

PINCHIN, Corpl., Sidney, Hussars, of Hurst. In France on Dec. 1st. Corpl. Pinchn was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Pinchin, and had served in France since Sept., 1914. His Major writes:-
I have known him a long time, ad always found him willing and ready to do anything which was required of him. I looked on him as one of the best soldiers in the squadron. He was always cheerful in the most trying circumstances, and made himself proficient in all the many new forms of warfare which have been introduced during the present campaign. I know he was greatly liked by his comrades and I think in spite of the rough times we often had that he liked soldiering; at any rate he always seemed happy. He was shot down by a machine gun while leading a patrol in front of me.

WOUNDED.

AUSTIN, Spr. A., R.E., of 40, Blenheim Road, Reading. On Dec. 4th. Left foot amputated.

MISSING.

ROYAL BERKSHIRE REGIMENT.

JONES, Sec. Lient. E.R.

MORTON, Pte. Percy G., has been reported missing in France since Nov. 20th. Amy information will be gladly received by Miss Morton, Wyld Farm, Hampstead Norris.

POPE, 201544 Corpl. E.T., of 22 Blenheim Road, Reading. Since Dec. 2nd. Amy information gladly received by his wife, Mrs. Pope, at above address.

SCHOFIELD, Sec. Lieut. H.

SICK.

MEARS. Gunner S.V., Berks R.H.A., of 4, Box Court, Coley, Reading. Gunner Mears was wounded once in France and is now suffering from trench fever.

INVALIDED.

Pte. G. W. LAWRENCE, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, of 83, Broad Street, has been invalided home from East Africa with rheumatic fever, and is now at Southwark Military Hospital, East Dulwich.

GALLANT DEEDS.

Military Medal.

P.c. OLIVER BIRT, R.G.A., of the Reading Borough Police force, has been awarded the Military Medal for "remaining with wounded, dressing their wounds and helping to get them to the dressing station, under very heavy shell fire on Dec. 11th."
He was decorated by his colonel on Dec. 24th, and his wife, in a letter to the Chief Constable of Reading, says: "I am very glad that he has some through safely without a scratch."

NEW YEAR HONOURS AND PROMOTIONS.

ROYAL BERKS REGIMENT.

The King has been pleased to give directions for the following appointments to the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and St. George for services rendered in connection with military operations in the field (dated Jan. 2st, 1918):

Major and Brevt Lieut.-Col. ROBERT JOHN COLLINS, D.S.O.

Lieut.-Colonel ROBERT JOYCE CLARKE, D.S.O., to be C.M.G.'s.

The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the following rewards for distinguished service in the field (dated Jan. 1st, 1918):-

Major (temp. Lieut.-Col.) W.B. THORNTON D.S.O., to be Brevet Lieut.-Colonel.

Captain S.G.M. SHARPE to be Brevet Major.

CAPTAIN HAIGH M.C.

We are now in a position to publish news of the great honour which has been conferred upon Capt. Richard Haigh, M.C., Tank Corps, son of Mr. W. Haigh, of "Llanarth," Hamilton Road, Reading. Capt. Haigh has been selected from all the officers of "His Majesty's Land Ships" to take charge of the tank which has been touring Canada and the United States to help boom the second U.S. Liberty Loan. He and his crew, all of whom, by the way, have been wounded, have been touring the chief cities of the Republic for the past three months popularising the great loan which our Allies have been raising. Such work is, of course, of the highest responsibility, and the fact that the gallant officer has been entrusted with this duty speaks well for his ability and for the confidence which the authorities place in him.
Educated at Reading School, where he distinguished himself in every form of athletics, particularly long distance running and football. Capt. Haigh obtained a commission in the Royal Berks Regt. just after the outbreak of war. He was wounded at Loos in 1915 and again on the Somme in 1916. In January of last year he was awarded the Military Cross, and for the last twelve months he has been attached to the Tank Corps.


Pte. M. GREGORY, 19, Wokingham Road, Reading. - Wounded and missing. Information will be welcomed by his parents at above address.

Pte. H. LEA, 20, Liverpool Road, Reading, who has 15 months' service to his credit. He is now in Italy.

Lce.-Corpl, A. COULING, Royal Berks Reg., Vicarage Garden, Sunningdale. - Missing since December 2nd at Passchendaele. Information gratefully received by his parents at above address.

Pte. A. KEEP, Norfolk Regt., late Berks Yeomanry, Newbury. - Wounded.

HEATH, Pte. THOS. HENRY. Somerset L.I., of 70, Edgehill St., Reading. Missing.
Pte. Heath was recently wounded and had only been back from convalescent camp about a fortnight. Before joining the Army he was employed at Messrs. Milward and Sons' boot warehouse, where he had been for 14 years. Before that he was for five years at Messrs. Venners. Any information will be gladly received by his wife, Mrs. T.H. Heath, at the above address.


PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPLAINS.

Quite a number of ministers who have laboured in the Reading Primitive Methodist Circuit are now serving as Army Chaplains in the field. The Rec. G. Standing, M.C., A.P.C., who was stationed at Cumberland Road a few years ago, is now with the British Army on the Italian front. Another former Cumberland Road minister, the Rev. S___ Mowforth, is in Mesopotamia. His many friends in Reading and district will be interested to learn that his work is much appreciated by the troops in that far-off land. A Primitive Methodist local preacher and now a staff sergeant, writes: "There are splendid religious organisations here. I soon discovered that a non-conformist service is held in the church tent on Sunday evenings, and on my first Sunday I attended a most refreshing sermon, and great was my delight to find that he conducted this service alternately with a United Boars chaplain, who is none other than Rev. S.E. Mowforth, one of our own church. I had known Mr. Mowforth during his ministry on my home circuit, and to meet him in this far-off land has been one of the greatest treats of my army life. I have gleaned many details of his army work, and want to testify to the magnificent service he is rendering. I have heard fellows of no religious profession speak in glowing terms of his addresses and lectures at Sheik Saad, and of his first aid work and healing ministry on the battlefield in the great advance. throughout this area he is most highly respected and worthily represents Nonconformity." Still another Cumberland Road minister, the Rev. W. Green, C.F., who left Reading for Driffield, Yorks, two years ago, left for France recently, having been attached to the 9th K.R.R.C. The Rev. P.J. Fisher, C.F., has been on the Western Front for a considerable period, being attached to the 165th Infantry Brigade.


YEOMANRY v. TURK.

Letter From a Caversham Corporal.

Lce.-Corpl. A.S. Wise, of the Yoemanry, writes an interesting letter to his brother, who lives at 20, Conisboro' Avenue, Caversham Heights. He says:- Just a few lines to let you know I am still on the map. I am now in hospital with a touch of malaria, but am going on well and am quite comfortable. It took me five days to get down the line, travelling first on a camel, then in an ambulance cart, motor lorry, motor ambulance, and finally to the hospital train. So you can guess it's some job. Everyone was very willing to do anything for you all the way, and thanks to the British Red Cross we had some fags given us, and that was the first smoke for three weeks. When I got to hospital I had a hot bath, clean clothes, then got into a lovely bed with real white sheets. It was just like heaven, and I am now quite comfortable and am feeling much better. I think I have just spent the roughest five weeks of my life chasing Johnny Turk, and no doubt you have seen reports in papers, also read of our charge. You will be very sorry to hear I lost my old horse; he got shot as we were galloping into action, but the bullet was meant for me, so he died a hero. I am sorry to say our regiment suffered pretty severely and several of my best pals lie beneath the shades of the Olives in Syria. We also lost some good officers, including the Colonel, who is buried by the side of an ordinary Tommy. I consider myself very lucky, for after five weeks hard fighting I have not had a scratch.


Thanks from Men in the Field

Captain M.L. Porter, Secretary of the Berkshire Territorial Force Association, has received the following letter from Lieut.-Colonel J.H.S. Dimmer, commanding --- Battalion Royal Berkshire Regt.:- Seiatica, Rheumatism, Gravel, Dizziness and all Kidney Trouble. Get a box to-day. Can be obtained at J. Cross and Oo., 83, Oxford St.; R.A. Norris, 35, King's Road; G.B. Osborne, Broad Street; and Boots' 555 Branches, 1s 3d. per box, or post free, in plain wrapper, direct from Baker's Medicine Co., Ltd., 1, Southampton Row, London, W.C.

All ranks of the --- Battalion Royal Berks Regt. (Terr.) send their heartfelt thanks to the President, members of the Berkshire Territorial Force Association, and those residents in Berkshire who have so very kindly subscribed and sent to them the sum of £50 for a Christmas gift. This has been added to the Christmas Dinner Fund, to which is a most welcome addition. The Battalion was on the move at Christmas, and so it was not possible to have dinner then, but it is hoped to have it on December 30th.
The Association's telegram conveying Christmas greetings was received on the evening of our return from the line, immediately hectographed and copies issued to all ranks, and received with the greatest enthusiasm.
That those at home remember us, and so kindly shew their appreciation of our efforts is a source of greatest comfort and pride, and you may rest assured that all ranks will ever do their utmost to not only uphold but to add to the traditions and glory of their Country Regiment.


A SOLDIERS 42 DAYS IN HOSPITAL.

Sergeant H. Bryne, of the 44th Co. of Royal Engineers, tells a remarkable story. He suffered from excruciating pains in the back, due to kidney trouble. At last he got so bad that he was obliged to go into hospital, where he lay in constant pain for 42 days. He now writes:-
"I have not been in trouble with my back since taking Baker's Backache Pellets. Altogether I was in hospital 42 days, but I did not improve until I took the first box of Baker's Backache Pellets. I was out of hospital four days afterwards. I was completely cured and never had to take any more." Baker's Backache Pellets are a positive cure for Backache. Lumbago, (...)