FROM THE CONTEMPORARY LOCAL NEWSPAPERS OF NORTH BUCKS (BUCKS STANDARD, NORTH BUCKS TIMES, WOLVERTON EXPRESS)
With today’s internet a wealth of official information is available regarding those who served.
In an age before local radio and television, families often allowed letters to be published in the local press from their loved ones on active service.
However, for their descendants the letters reveal a more personal aspect, graphically describing the experience of the people and providing an insight into their personalities.

W.E. 1914 Dec. 4th

Private Charles Jelley, of the 1st Northants., is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Jelley, of Cosgrove. He is now in hospital at Liverpool with a leg wound, but during his active service he sent several letters home to his friends. The following extract was written in No. 1 General Hospital, France, where he remarks that he is being well looked after by the British Red Cross nurses;
“There have been several fellows of our regiment killed who come from roundabout Cosgrove. We have had some close fighting, and have often used our bayonets, but it is a job to get near the Germans, as they do not like the bayonet; when they see we mean business they run like rabbits. They try all sorts of fakes to try and surprise us. Sometimes they dress up as English and French soldiers, but it is generally a dear game for them as they do not catch us napping.” “You would be surprised to see how interested the fellows are out here as regards football, and when they get the papers one can hear them shout along the trenches and ask how so and so got on, and they don’t seem to trouble much about shells and wounds.”

(In the Bucks Standard of 1914, November 28th, this version of the above appears;

“There have been several fellows of our regiment killed who come from roundabout Cosgrove. We have had some close fighting, and have often used our bayonets, but it is a job to get near the Germans, as they do not like the bayonet; when they see we mean business they run like rabbits, so that you have to be a good sprinter to get near to them. They try all sorts of fakes to try and surprise us. Sometimes they dress up as English and French soldiers, but it is generally a dear game for them, as they do not catch us napping. How are you going on with football this year? I suppose they have all joined Kitchener’s army. You would be surprised to see how interested the fellows are out here as regards football, and when they get the papers one can hear them shout along the trenches and ask how so and so got on, and they don’t seem to trouble much about shells and bullets.”)

Recently written in the Royal Southern Hospital, in another letter dated Monday, November 23rd, he explains that he was wounded in the shin at Ypres, but that he is going on well;

“All the time I was out there I enjoyed the best of health considering the tough time we had, as we were in the thick of the fighting, and at one place we were in the trenches for 33 days, and the first week we were in the battle of the Aisne it rained day and night, but we had got our trenches so well made that it was like living in a house. It began to get cold the last week or two.”

(In the Bucks Standard of 1914, November 28th, this version of the above appears;

“It was three days before I could have it properly seen to, and we were very lucky to get away at all. We were sent to the railway station and were just ready to start for hospital when the Germans started to blow up the station, and several of our men who were already wounded were killed. All the time I was out there I enjoyed the best of health considering the rough time we had, as we were in the thick of all the fighting, and at one place we were in the trenches for thirty three days, and the first week we were at the battle of the Aisne it rained day and night, but we had got our trenches so well made it was like living in a house. It began to get cold the last week or two.”)

Before the war Private Jelley was employed in the Gas Department at Wolverton, but being in the Reserve he was called up at the outbreak of hostilities. Two of his brothers have enlisted in the New Army, and his father is an army pensioner, who went through many campaigns with the old 58th Regiment (2nd Northants.) In fact he took part in the Zulu War of 1879, the Boer War, and was present at the battles of Laing’s Nek and also Majuba Hill, in which he was wounded and taken prisoner.


W.E. 1915 May 21st

On Saturday, a telegram was received stating that 32 year old Captain William Henry Jepson St. Leger Atkinson, 1st Royal Dragoon Guards, had been killed on Wednesday. He was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Jepson Atkinson, of Cosgrove Priory, and having been in the Army for 12 years, eight had been spent in India, where he was A.D.C. to the Governor of Madras. He was also A.D.C. to the General in the riots of Johannesburg. Being Commander to the signalling troops, he had been at the Front for six months, and had fought in both battles of Ypres.

On Sunday afternoon, May 30th, a memorial service would be held in Cosgrove church, attended by practically all the villagers, and persons of titled and local note. Having read the lesson the father of the deceased officer would then pay the following and moving tribute;
“My son was killed in battle with a smile on his face, so his brother said. As a soldier he was respected; he was fearless, and he is a loss to the Army and the country, as his General says. His Colonel (Colonel Steele) was killed with him. There is not a real man here who will not wish for such an end as his, and who does not thank God with me for having given me such a son.”

(The cousin of Captain St. Leger Atkinson, Captain and Adjutant A.W. Foster, Royal Horse Guards (Blues) has been seriously wounded, resulting in the amputation of a leg. He is the son of Colonel and Mrs. Foster, formerly of Spratton.)

(Whilst in India, Captain St. Leger Atkinson served with Corporal A. Tubbs, of Wolverton, who has now been commissioned from the 1st Royal Dragoon Guards to Lieutenant in the 2nd Bucks Battalion, Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry.)


W.E. 1915 Oct 8th

From a clearing station, Sister G.M. Allen has sent news of the death of Private Joseph Brown, Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry. In a letter to his parents she writes;

“I am so exceedingly sorry to have to tell you that your son, Private Brown, of the Oxford and Bucks L.I., died this afternoon (September 28th), gas gangrene following on wound on his leg. We did everything that could be done for him, but a patient with gas gangrene stands very little chance. He was such a good patient. I told him this morning I was going to write to you and send you his love. He remembered the sister who nursed him. He was in Northampton Hospital for an operation when she was there. He will be buried in the churchyard here (Hazebrouck). You have my sincere sympathy with you in your sad loss.”

Born at Cosgrove, Private Brown would have been 22 in November, and was the youngest son. He had been wounded in the thick part of the leg by a gas shell. Well known in his home neighbourhood, he was a keen footballer, and apart from playing for Wolverton Town, formed part of the cup team when Cosgrove won the North Bucks Football League. For a while he had been employed at Wolverton Carriage Works, and was under steward at the Social W.M.C. for seven months. His sister is Mrs. Gee, of 50 Peel Road, Wolverton, and two of his brothers are in military service.


W.E. 1916 Sep. 22nd

Following the death in action of Private Reginald Childs, the following letter has been sent by Captain W. J. Littledale to Mr. A. Child;

“I am afraid I have some very sad news about your son, Pte. R. A. Child, of “C” Company, Oxford and Bucks. L.I. He was killed in action early in the morning of the 8th September; he was hit by a bullet and died at once. I wish I could express the sympathy we feel for you; we shall miss him very much. He was a bomber, and was one of those who always did their very best at his work. He was buried in a cemetery which is very well looked after, and a cross is raised over his grave. I have requested the Graves Registration Committee to send you a photograph of the same. Would you kindly let me know if you receive it safely, or if you do not within six weeks, I intend to visit the grave myself as soon as I have time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do, as I am only too pleased to do anything I can to help the relatives of the brave men who have fallen for us. – Yours sincerely, W. J. Littledale, Captain.”

(Private Childs had been born at Cosgrove, and on Sunday evening a memorial service took place in Cosgrove church, a large congregation being present.)


W.E. 1916 Sep. 22nd

Aged 31, Lance Corporal William “Laddie” Brown, 7th Battalion, Oxon and Bucks Light Infantry, was killed in action on Saturday, August 19th. A native of Cosgrove, he had been a keen sportsman, and some years ago played some ‘sterling games’ for the Cosgrove and Wolverton football clubs. His parents, William and Margaret Brown, of 62, Peel Road, Wolverton, have now received the following letter;

“Dear Mrs. Brown. – It is with feelings of heartfelt sympathy and deepest regret that I write to tell you of the death of your ever brave and cheerful son ‘Laddie’ (he was known as ‘Laddie’ throughout the whole battalion and was immensely popular). On the night of the capture of Horseshoe Hill, your son went with me and the rest of the left-half company through an intense barrage of shrapnel and high explosives which the Bulgarian batteries were sending over. We were carrying tools so that we could get ‘dug in.’ We managed to get there and had to dig in solid rock. Everything seemed hopeless, but ‘Laddie’ and the rest of the boys stuck it, even though we were being shelled all the time and were without water or rations. On the afternoon of the 18th Captain Martin, Mr. Steele and myself were discussing how we were going to hold the position in the event of the counter attack being made, and your son was less than three yards away on our left. Suddenly an immense 3.4 high explosive shell burst about 15 yards to our left, and your brave boy was hit in the abdomen and in the leg. He rolled over and fell at my feet, and gasped,”Oh! I am bleeding to death.” We tried our best but, Mrs. Brown, it was a hopeless case and your gallant boy died in twenty seconds. His death unnerved the rest of the platoon as he was such a favourite amongst us all, and took from me bits of the best of good fellows (sic). The Oxfords, who got through, have lived through absolute hell, as we were exposed to frontal fire, enfilade fire from both flanks and defilade fire from our left flank by the Bulgarian batteries, which were absolutely raining shrapnel and high explosives on to us. Some of the high explosive shells were ??, and never will I be able to realise how the fellows got through that barrage of fire, how they escaped casualties in repelling two counter attacks made by 600 Bulgars, and how any of us got out of that hell-spot alive. I have other letters to write to the relatives of my wounded men, so I will conclude after once more expressing my deepest regret. I am, yours very sincerely, A.P. Boor, Lieut., O.C. 15th Platoon. “D” Co.”

The deepest sympathy is extended in the village to the bereaved parents, who lost another son, Private Joseph Brown, at the battle of Hooge nearly 12 months ago.

(Private William Brown is buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.)


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