14th April 1916, page 8 I ran across one of the Bromley boys last week, and we had a jolly good time, in fact the best I had spent since being out here. As ever cheerful and optimistic, Gutteridge writes to the Bromley Times of life in the trenches. Dear Editor:- APRIL FOOLS DAY I wonder who will start the games today. We have had a quiet week, owing to being moved to another part of the line. The weather being of the best recently we are having a good…
Category: Extracts
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…
15th October 1915 – Letter from Gutteridge
I wonder what we fellows will do after the war Also printed on 15th October, 1915, Gutteridge gives us an interesting insight into life in the trenches. “Our regiment has just returned from the trenches, and had a very peaceful time; a change from the bayonet scrap we had on the 26th of September, we coming our this time with a complete roll. The only danger we had was when we relieved the —, and when we were relieved by the —, as they (the Germans) have machine guns sighted…
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,…