Shortmead Street [Z1130/16/58]
Easter Sunday 23rd April 1916: Mr and Mrs George Cartwright Wells
of West’s Yard, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade, have received notification from
the Records Office, Warley that their two sons Private Howard A C Wells and
Private Frederick C Wells, of the 8th Bedfordshire Regiment, had been reported
as missing, place not stated. A comrade, who also hails from Biggleswade, wrote
home saying they were missing(1). The brothers Wells are widely known in the
Biggleswade district and their many friends hope that their worst fears will
not be realised The younger brother, Fred, was formerly in the employ of
William Jackson(2) and came home a few weeks ago on leave. The elder brother
has been gassed since being at the front. He was formerly engaged on the golf
links, was a keen angler and figures on the Cricket Club’s Roll of Honour. The
brothers enlisted together in the 8th Beds and after training at Shoreham etc
they went to the Continent together and fought at Loos. Much sympathy is felt
for the parents and brothers and sisters(3).
On this
Easter Sunday we pray that God’s mercy may extend to a wretched suicide.
Private Bruce Standley Moseley of 10th Battalion, a conscript and single man from
Norfolk hanged himself at Dovercourt yesterday leaving a letter asking people
to forgive him for his sins and advising others not to be misled(4).
Source: Bedfordshire Times 12th May
1916; Biggleswade Chronicle 5th May 1916
(1) No doubt
in the disaster of 19th April,
(2) A saddler
in Shortmead Street
(3)
Fortunately both men were prisoners and survived the war.
(4) He is buried in Dovercourt churchyard.
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