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On three successive days this week sad new has reached Burton Latimer homes, telling that three young men had been killed in action. These are Corpl. Bob Mason, Pte Jack Goodman, and Pte Reg Dicks. Corpl. Mason, who was 23 years of age, was the son of Mrs A Miller of Duke Street, and had been eight years in the Army, in the Royal Fusiliers. He went to France with the first Expeditionary Force, in August, 1914, and fought at Mons and many other places. He was wounded under the eye with shrapnel, which kept him at the base some time. "Bob," as he was known by his many friends, was a popular lad, and had recently been home on leave, during which period he wrote two or three letters to the "Evening Telegraph" on the question of strikers at home. Three weeks from leaving home his life was ended. "He was killed on Sept 26th, with his section officer" (both by the same shell), says the writer, "and we are all very sorry to have to lose him, for he was such a splendid fellow, and respected by all." Another comrade writing says: "I have been constantly with Bob for two years, and I know that he was an all-round favouriite in the company, and one of the best N.C.O.s. He was on duty by his gun when an enemy shell exploded." Four brothers are in the trenches.
The next was news that Pte Jack Goodman, who was 28 years of age, and joined up in January, 1917, had been shot in the stomach, and killed instantly. He was in the Machine Gun Corps, and trained at Grantham. He was last home in August, and had been in France about five weeks. Pte. Goodman was well known and populr in football circles, having played with the Working Men's football team for many years. Pte Goodman leaves a widow to mourn her loss. His officer, in a letter, stated that he was killedon September 27th. "Your husband," continued the letter, "had only lately joined my section, and was already popular with the other lads. It may be a consolation to know that he was killed instantly. Owing to the severity of the action it was not possible to bring back his body, and he was buried on the battlefieldThe third case was that of Pte Reg Dicks, only son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Dicks, of Station Roaod. He was but 19 years of age, and joined the Suffolk Yeommanry in September, 1916, being eventually transferred to the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. He set sail for France on August 21st 19917. Ptge Dicks was killed on the 29th of September by the bursting of a German shell in the trench. By the time his last letter (written on the 26th) reachehd his poarents Pte Dicks had given his lifie. In his letter he states that before they had been in the trenches a quarter of an hoour three of them were buried, and once when coming out shells were dropped within five yards of them, but, falling in soft earth, were well embedded before the explosion. He was employed by the Kettering Co-operative Clothing Society, whose manager (Mr H Daniels), in a letter of sympathy, speaks of him "as one of their most promising young men." The whole village is deeply touched by these and occurrences, and the greatest sympathy is being extended on all hands to the relatives of these unfortunate young men. |
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