28th April 1916, pge 2 CORPORAL GUTTERIDGE HAS A NARROW ESCAPE In a recent letter home Corporal Gutteridge relates a narrow escape he had. He says: “I was conducting a sergeant of a certain regiment (who was taking over our trenches) to a listening post in front of our firing line, when the Germans opened fire on us with a machine-gun, and I, being near the parapet, at once jumped over. Being dark, I did not notice a rifle and bayonet that a sentry had left on the fire-step, so…
Category: News
Tribute to Captain Ross
10th March, 1916 page 10 CORPORAL GUTTERIDGE’S LETTERS: TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN ROSS Last week we had two communications from Corporal Gutteridge, of Bromley, 1324, B Company, 8th Royal West Kent Regiment, whose cheery and optimistic letters are always welcome, although indeed they are but characteristic, as our readers know, of all the letters from the men at the Front. It is only the less hard-worked civilian at home who finds time, and thinks he has cause, for grousing. One of Corporal Gutteridge’s letters, referring to the death of Captain Ross,…
He died a soldier’s death
3rd March 1916 (page 5) CAPTAIN W URQUHART ROSS – an officer respected by all his men As will be seen in the following extract from John Gutteridge, He had great respect for this commander of the regiment and spoke very highly of him: Another tribute to the deceased officer came to our hand only yesterday, from Corporal Gutteridge, of B Company, 8th Royal West Kents. In a letter which he says #“We are having a busy time, but the Germans have had a busy time as well dodging our shells.”…
People hardly know how we appreciate such comforts here.
25th February 1916 (page 2) OUR WARMEST TIME Our genial correspondent, Corporal Gutteridge, Royal West Kent Regiment, says:- “Deart Sir, – Have been very busy. Have been relieved from the trenches after being away from the rest camp for twelve days. My word! It has been our warmest time. The Germans have done nothing else but shell us, the shells dropping right in our trenches. But we have been very lucky. They must have sent, in all, something like a thousand shells; and we only had six casualties. We expected…
Private George Bumstead
Son of Mr C H Burns, and one of one of 3 brothers on active service. Private George Bumstead lived on Addison Road, Bromley. Member of the 3rd Dragoon Guards – stationed in Egypt, but is now with the Expeditionary Force Sources www.militaryancestors.co.uk Bromley & District Times – 20th Nov 1914, page 3
Their work was deserving of the highest praise
28th January 1916 COMMENDATIONS FOR WEST KENTS Corporal Gutteridge, of the 8th West Kents, who has recently returned to the trenches, after a brief visit home on leave, writes: “I thought probably you would like to know that two of our fellows have been commended for special work. While the regiment were in the firing line at ___ Private Calaw and Private Watson crawled from our own lines to the enemy’s, and sketched their firing trench, and arrived back in our line quite safely. I might say that their work…
Dinner, Concert & Football
26th January, 1916 p2 The company had a dinner and concert. Sergeant Gutteridge, of the West Kents, writes home another of his cheerful letters, in which he says they are all merry and bright. “Had a great time yesterday. The company had a dinner and concert. The boys did justice to the food provided by the colonel of the regiment, and the concert was a great success, the chief item being an original chorus by the sergeants of ‘B’ Company, entitled ‘The Nine Point Two,’ which caused some fun. Today…
William Henry Thatcher
Son of Mr & Mrs J Thatcher of Great Elms Road, Bromley, and one of 5 brothers. Member of the Nigerian Land Contingent. His military service during the war was in Nigeria employed on the Government Railway. Source: www.militaryancestors.co.uk Bromley & District, 30th October 1914, page 4
Jolly Boxing Night
7th January 1916 (page 3) A LUXURIOUS EVENING FOR THE MEN WHO DESERVED IT With the 8th West Kents Corporal Gutteridge, of Bromley, 1234, B Company, 8th Royal West Kents (the glorious West Kents) sends us an account of the Company’s concert, which took place on Boxing night, in an empty room adjoining a farm. “Decorations were supplied by the boys, who had them sent from home in their Christmas parcels; tables were provided by the owner of the farm, refreshments were served out during the evening – cakes, Christmas pudding,…
More tales from the Front Line
12th November, 1915 page 2 “The Germans opposite me are starving. They shouted across for food, and sometimes they got it. It all depends what regiments are occupying the line” More notes from Lance-Corporal John Gutteridge, on life in the trenches during World War one. “A few lines from our mud camp, somewhere in Belgium. Our regiment have this time occupied the reserve trenches, which means they have been doing fatigue work for the companies in the firing line, carrying rations, timber, &co. Sounds nice but the boys would sooner…