Lemsford News January 1916

War notes.- Up to the time of writing, as far as is known, all our men at the Front are safe and sound. We ought to be very thankful to God for the wonderful way in which He has hitherto preserved them. Few parishes from which so many men have gone can have escaped so lightly, but how can we expect a continuance of God’s mercies unless we humbly thank him for these that he has already shown. Cecil Whitehas enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, Christopher Wren in the Bedfordshire Regiment and Alfred Skeggs in the Royal Engineers. Armourer Sergeant Herbert Young has gone to the Front since our last issue.

Lemsford News February 1916

War notes.- Gunner A. Wallis is again on the sick list and is in hospital in Cheltenham. Pte. R. Sear has returned from the Front to undergo an operation in London; this has been successfully performed and he is going on well.

Lemsford News March 1916

George and Albert Hawthorneand Alfred Tyler have enlisted since our last issue.

Lemsford News May 1916

War notes.- George and Albert Hawthorne, Alfred Tyler, Henry Rhodes, Leonard Crawley, Henry Hilland Frederick Wilmot have joined the army since our last issue.

Lemsford News  July 1916

We regret to announce that the following have been killed in action.2nd Lieut. W. J. Strong of the East Lancashire Regiment, elder son of Mr and Mrs Strong of Water End.Lance Corporal James Halsey of the 49th Canadians, a former resident of this parish and brother of Mrs Cochrane of Church Hill, Lemsford.Bombr. Frank Mardle R.F.A., youngest son of Mr and Mrs Mardle of Cromer Hyde.Artificer-Engineer Thomas Cole R.N. who went down in the Black Prince in the naval battle off Horn Reef. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Cole of Brocket.We thank God for the gift of these gallant men, for their work and example: and pray that we may be found not unworthy of them. All four of them exceeded in gallantry and good work, where all do so well. One and all will sympathise with their sorrowing relations and friends: though indeed there is more cause for pride than for sorrow.
Those who remember him will be interested to hear that Sergt. William Halsey has been awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous bravery at Gallipoli. Sergt. Halsey, who is in the Hampshire Regiment, is now stationed in Egypt.Lieut. Guy Kinnell has been promoted Captain

Lemsford News August 1916

War notes.- Since the last issue of the magazine casualties among our boys have been very heavy. Our sympathy is with Mrs Freeman of Stanborough in the loss of her son Herbert, who was in the Bedfordshire Regiment and was killed on July 7th. Cecil White was wounded by shrapnel, in the face, but has now recovered. Percy White, a younger brother, was wounded in the shoulder, and is now in hospital at Newport, Monmouth. Gus Wren was wounded severely in the hand and leg, and at present is in hospital at Edenbridge in Kent, and is going on satisfactorily, after two operations. Fred Wren was wounded in the hand and is at present in hospital in France. Chris Wren, we are sorry to hear, is officially posted ‘Missing’, not a very cheering announcement, but there is still hope that we may hear from him. Ernest Wilding, another old boy, is in hospital in Dundee, and although shot through the chest, we are glad to know that progress towards recovery is satisfactory. We are also very sorry to hear that our organist, Mr G. Panter, is officially recorded as ‘Missing’. we sincerely hope that better news may soon be forthcoming. Other recent departures are: Frank Lines, Royal Fusiliers; Henry Smith, 3rd Essex; Alfred Nash, Bedfordshire Regiment; John Halsey, Kings Royal Rifles.

Lemsford News September 1916

Herbert Freeman – By the kindness of Mrs Freeman, we are enabled to print the following letter from Private Freeman's captain. He speaks with feeling and knowledge of Private Freeman, and his testimony must be consoling to the stricken parents. We offer our deepest sympathy to them in their heavy trouble in the loss of so gallant a son.
“Dear Mrs Freeman. I have received your letter of the 20th inst., and regret I can only confirm the news of your son's death, as reported by the War Office. He was killed by a bullet in the attack on the German Trenches on the 1st July, death being instantaneous. He was buried with a number of his comrades on the battlefield, about half a mile north-west of Carnoy., which is a little village about four miles east of Albert, his name being written on the cross over his grave. All his private possessions have been forwarded to the base, and should reach you in due course. Your son, Private Freeman, was one of the most useful members of my Company, and has, on several occasions, done most excellent patrol work during the winter. It may be some consolation to you that he died most gloriously in the foremost of the attack, which commenced on the 1st, and which or Battalion had the honour to lead. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of the Officers of his Company and myself in your sad loss. Yours truly, A.E. Percival, Capt.”
War news.- No further casualties have occurred among our soldiers from the village so far as we are informed up to date. A. C. Wren is in hospital in Edenbridge, Percy White at Newport, Monmouth and George Rosher at Cambridge, All these are doing well. We may indeed be thankful to God that the Great Advance was not more costly in lives to us at Lemsford. Of those whose homes are actually in the village, Frederick Spriggs, who has endeared himself to so many of us, is the only one whom we know definitely to have laid down his life for his Country: though Herbert Freeman, whose home is only just outside the parish and who attended our school as a boy has also given his life. No news has yet been received of Chris Wren and of our organist, G. M. Panter. Our sympathy and prayer are with these upon whom this great burden of anxiety rests. Sergeant A. Freeman has returned from South Africa and is shortly going to the Front in France. James Cochrane, A. Smithand T. Rhodeshave gone there since our last issue. We greatly miss our sexton, Mr. John Sear, who has joined up.

Lemsford News October 1916

We regret to have to record the death in action of Private Cecil White. After being twice wounded, he returned once more to his duties, and fell, gallantly upon the field of battle. our other loss this month is Private Christopher Wren, who has long been reported ‘Missing’, but is now reported ‘Killed in Action’. we are proud of these two brave young fellows who have laid down their lives for their Country. We shall never forget them, and we pray that the memory of what they have been and what they have done may make us all better. Our deepest sympathy is extended to Mr. and Mrs White, and Mr and Mrs Wren in their great loss.

A short memorial Service was held on Wednesday September 20 in memory of these men belonging to this parish and neighbourhood, who have fallen in the war:- Thomas Cole, Herbert Freeman, James Halsey, Frank Mardle, Frederick Spriggs, James Strong, Cecil Whiteand Christopher Wren.