Andover Advertiser January 1919

A SAD BLOW. – On January 10th Mrs Wedge heard from the War Office that her son, Lance Corporal Henry Goodyear, 2nd Hants, was killed in France on October 14^th . It has been an anxious time, for he was first reported wounded, then as wounded and missing, and after some suspense came the notification of his death. Much  sympathy has been extended to the relatives in their great loss. Lance Corporal Goodyear joined up in the first year of the war, and has seen service twice in France and once in Italy. He was 37 years of age. The usual expression of sympathy from the King and Queen accompanied the official news.

Andover Advertiser 13th December 1918

WELL WON HONOURS. – Captain W.R. Tovani. M.C. elder son of Rev. W.T. Tovani vicar of Hurstbourne Priors, with St Mary Bourne, has been awarded a bar to his Military Cross. He has also been appointed Lecturer of Modern history and Literature at the First Army School, B.E.F. France, and is graded as a Staff Captain. He received his commission in the 7th  Battalion the Black Watch (Fifeshire Territorials) a few weeks before he graduated M.A. at St Andrew’s University in July 1915, being then placed first in the first division in Modern History, and received the special University Medal. He was in the 7^th  Battalion until the end of the fighting at Beaumont Hamel, 1916, and with the 9th Battalion when severely wounded at Frezenberg in July, 1917, winning his M.C. at that time. At the severe fighting 24th, 25th and 26th October last he commanded a company of the 6th Battalion Black Watch, winning then his bar to his M.C. He has therefore had all his fighting experience in the famous 51st Division. His many friends are pleased that he has been spared to receive war honours, and congratulate him on his present appointment. His younger brother Captain L.C. Tovani, Loyal North Lancs. Regiment, was one of General Shea’s aides-de-camp when Jerusalem was taken, and for some time was Adjutant at Mustapha, Egypt.

Andover Advertiser 29th November 1918

WAR HERO DIES FROM PNEUMONIA – We regret to report the death from pneumonia of Sergeant Frederick George Thring, son of Mr and Mrs Thring of the Post Office, who succumbed on Tuesday to an attack of pneumonia, which only lasted seven days. He was in Australia when war broke out, but on 11^th  August 1914, he joined the 20th Battalion A.I.F. and saw much service in German New Guinea, Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai Desert and France. He was twice wounded and received his discharge in Australia 2nd August 1917. In March of this year he and his wife left the Antipodes to come to England, and when nine hours from Liverpool the ship was torpedoed and they lost   everything. Much sympathy is extended to the young wife and the other relatives. At the time of writing the deceased’s father was lying very ill with the same complaint.

Andover Advertiser 13th December 1918

DEATH OF MR THRING – It is our painful duty this week to report yet another death in the Thring family, that of Mr Thring who passed away after a somewhat prolonged and painful illness during Monday night. No wonder those who are left are overwhelmed in their great grief, for this is the third bereavement within a year. Towards the end of 1917 a son lost his life in the war. About three weeks ago Sergeant Thring, of the Australian Imperial Forces, who had seen service in German New Guinea, Gallipoli, Egypt, Sinai Desert and France, been twice wounded, and once   torpedoed, died at his parents’ home of pneumonia following influenza, and their father now has passed out of a world of pain. The sympathy of a very large number of friends and villagers will go out to the bereaved ones in their great trouble, and our prayer is that God will comfort them in their sorrow.

Piccadilly in the Front Line

Towards the end of September 1918 I was one of a party of nine men and an officer taking part in a silent raid in the Ypres sector, a little in front of the well-known spot called Swan and Edgar’s Corner.  The raid was the outcome of an order from Headquarters demanding prisoners for information.

Everything had been nicely arranged.  We were to approach the German line by stealth, surprise an outpost, and get back quickly to our own trenches with the prisoners.

Owing perhaps to the wretchedness of the night – it was pouring with rain, and intensely black – things did not work according to plan.  Instead of reaching our objective, our party became divided, and the group that I was with got hopelessly lost.  There were five of us, including “Ginger,” a Cockney.

We trod warily for about an hour, when we suddenly came up against a barbed-wire entanglement, in the centre of which we could just make out the figure of a solitary German.  After whispered consultation, we decided to take him prisoner, knowing that the German, having been stationary, had not lost sense of direction and could guide us back to our line.

Noiselessly surmounting the barbed wire, we crept up to him and in a second Ginger was on him.  Pointing his bayonet in Fritz’s back, he said, “Nah, then, you blighter, show us the way ‘ome.”

Very coolly and without the slightest trace of fear, the German replied in perfect English, “I suppose you mean me to lead you to the British trenches.”

“Oh!” said Ginger, “so yer speak English, do yer?”

“Yes,” said the German, “I was a waiter at a restaurant in Piccadilly before the war.”

“Piccadilly, eh?  You’re just the feller we want.  Take us as far as Swan and Edgar’s Corner.”

R. Allen (late Middlesex Regt., 41st Division, 7 Moreland Street, Finsbury Park, N.4

Andover Advertiser 12th July 1918

SERIOUSLY WOUNDED – Mr and Mrs Barnes of Ivy Cottages, have received news from the War Office that their son, Pte. Barnes 2^nd /4^th Oxford and Bucks , has been severely wounded and is now in hospital in Birmingham. This is the first news they have heard of him since 4^th April. All their friends hope he will have a speedy recovery.

s.

Andover Advertiser 7th June 1918

DEVOTION TO DUTY – Sergeant W.C. Holdway of the 2nd King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, son of Mr and Mrs Holdway of Link, has been awarded the D.C.M. under the following circumstances :- For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a counter attack. During the advance through a heavy barrage he moved about from section to section of his platoon, guiding them through the wire and inspiring them by his cheerfulness and utter disregard of danger. When the company, after capturing the objective, was much troubled by an enemy sniper, he worked his way out to a flank and succeeded in putting him out of action. He set a splendid example to his men through out the operation. All of us congratulate Sergeant Holdway and hope he may be spared to return home with further honours.

Andover Advertiser 31st May 1918

GIVEN HIS LIFE – Above we reproduce the photograph of Private Frank Willis, R.A.M.C. son of Mrs Edward Willis (formerly of St Mary Bourne), who was killed in action on 29^th  April 1918 near Ypres, His Commanding Officer, writing home, says ; “He was one of my best lads. He always did his work cheerfully and well”.

Andover Advertiser 3rd May 1918

PRISONERS IN GERMAN HANDS – Last week we mentioned that Pte. A. Biggs R.M.L.I. had written home to say that he was a prisoner of war at Limberg. Three other local men are now known to be prisoners of war in Germany. 2nd Lieut. J.R.H. McIntosh, Private Fred Annals and Pte. Richard Davis of the Inniskilling Fusiliers, son of Mrs Brown of Lower Rank. A card was received from him on Thursday morning saying he was quite well, and he was taken prisoner.