Dedication of Buckley Garden of Remembrance In Memoriam (p2)"

Hawkesbury Garden, Mill Lane, Buckley

9 September 1951

See Kelsall, Peter, 1 in this list for Number 87, Private John Roberts whose sister is mentioned in the following report.

Pioneer News

31^st August 1916

GIRL WORKER'S MISFORTUNE

Miss Florrie Roberts, whilst attending to her duties at a Queensferry factory, on Monday, was unfortunate enough to accidentally slip her hand into some machinery, the limb being severed above the wrist. She now lies in the Royal Infirmary, Chester, making satisfactory progress. She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs William Roberts, of Brunswick-road, and a sister to Private John Roberts, whose death in France was reported in the last issue of this journal.

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The following account is of a letter written by Harold Iball. A William Harold Iball is mentioned elsewhere in this entry (Kelsall, Peter - Introductory Text). Is this the same person?

Albert IBall and William Harold Iball are not listed in the main document of this entry.

31^st August 1916

ALL VERY OPTIMISTIC

Private Harold Iball, writing to his brother from France, says:-

"The weather is scorching hot out here now, and as you remark in your letter, we are feeling the effects, and of course, work goes on as usual. We are fortunate enough to be in canvas tents for a short period - quite a change from the French barns, I can tell you. I was indeed sorry to read of so many of the boys from home getting wounded and killed, but if you could but see what I have seen you would be able to realise what an advance means. Still, I saw as many, if not more casualties among the Germans in the attack we made and when you read about the Germans throwing their hands up and asking for mercy is quite true, for I saw it with my own eyes. They will fire at you until you get within a few yards of them and then they are as helpless as a crowd of children. We are all very optimistic in regard to when the war will finish."

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7^th September 1916

A MEMORIAL SERVICE was conducted at St. Matthew's Church, on Thursday, by the vicar (the Rev. Gilbert Heaton, M.A.), to three of the fallen who were Sunday School scholars and communicants of this church, namely Lance Corpl. Randle (sic?) Jones, Royal Welch Fusiliers, who fell in Mesopotamia; Riflemen Jesse Evans and John H. Jones, King's Royal Rifles, who fell in France. They were former members of the Church Lads' Brigade. A large congregation assembled. The vicar made touching and sympathetic references to the brave dead. The Church Lads' Brigade and Bugle Band were in attendance to pay their last tribute to their former associates. At the close of the service, the organist, Mr Tyson, played the "Dead March."

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21st September 1916

RECOVERING FROM SHRAPNEL WOUNDS

Private Tom Lewis, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, is home on a few days' leave from Devonport Hospital. He was wounded in France on July 16th, his arm, legs, and back being damaged by shrapnel. He is nearly convalescent again, and looks well considering all he has gone through. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Lewis, Church-road, Buckley, and is 23 years of age.

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28th September 1916

PENSIONS COMMITTEE SECRETARY

Mr J. Lindop, 65, Brunswick Road, Buckley, has been appointed the secretary to the Hawarden and District Committee for the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act 1915. These District Committees will as from the 1st October take over the work that had previously been performed by the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association. The area of the committee comprises the parishes of Hawarden, Hope, Buckley, Higher Kinnerton, Marford and Hoseley, East Saltney, West Saltney, Connah's Quay and Sealand.

MEMORIAL SERVICES were held at the Primitive Methodist Church, Drury, Buckley, on Sunday, for the late Private Joseph Tomlinson, killed in action on August 20th. The Rev. Wm. Watson preached a most impressive sermon to a full church. At the close of the service the congregation stood up while the organist (Mr Robert Hewitt) played the "Dead March." Mr Thomas Rowlands also preached a sermon at the United Methodist Church, Penymynydd, in honour of Private Sam Wilcock, R.W.F., who was killed in action somewhere in France on August 18th.

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5th October 1916

FIGHT FOR SUPREMACY

BUCKLEY NON. COM'S OPTIMISM

Drum-Major W. Roberts, of Buckley, who has been out in France with a battalion of the R.W.F., acting as sergeant with the stretcher-bearers, writes to a Buckley friend:-

"I am pleased to say that all the Buckley lads are going on well. I feel sure you will welcome the fact because there are a great many here from Buckley and district doing their little bit. We are in a very notorious part of the line, and in close proximity to the enemy. We have all been baptised in fire, and now are immune from any feeling of peturbation.

"You may take it for granted that the war will soon be over. The fight for supremacy is ended we are now living in the hopes of being amongst you once again, when we shall be able to relate our experinces in safety.

" I still have my old cornet with me, and Elvet Rowlands has a violin. When we leave the trenches for a rest, we manage to have a little rehearsal on our own. There is both the bright and melancholy side to war, but you can always count upon the Buckley boys showing to advantage, whether in attack or Concert Hall."

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12th October 1916

"I DUNNO KNOW"

On Tuesday, charged before Mr H. T. Roberts with being an absentee from the camp of the Royal Welch Fusiliers, Edward Parry, a Buckley man, was detained to await the arrival of an escort. Asked why he absented himself, the defendant replied, "I dunno know!"

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30th November 1916

A GUNNER'S VISIT

Gunner Tom Wynne, of the Royal Field Artillery, is home on ten days' leave from France. He has served nearly all through the campaign on the Western front. As a reservist he was called up at the outbreak of war, and this is his second leave. He is a married man, and his home is at Globe Cottages, Liverpool-road, Buckley. Before joining up he worked at Messrs J. Summers' works.

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14th December 1916

AN ENGINEER'S REST

Lance Corporal Frank Hopwood came home on Tuesday on a ten days' leave. He enlisted soon after the outbreak of war in the R.W.F., but is now attached to a company of the Royal Engineers, who are doing mining work on the French front. He has been on active service for 12 months, and can relate quite an interesting account of his experiences. He is the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Hopwood, of Padeswood-road, Buckley.

Author: Downey, James

Dedication of Buckley Garden of Remembrance In Memoriam (p2)"

Hawkesbury Garden, Mill Lane, Buckley

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