Biggleswade Brothers Safe

Friday 9th June 1916: Readers may remember we reported on 13th May that brothers Private Herbert A C Wells and Private Frederick C Wells, of Biggleswade were missing following the attack on 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, on 19th/20th April. Private H A Cartwright Wells has written home to say that he is a prisoner at Darmstadt. We are very glad to know that Herbert, like his brother, is safe and we trust that in due course these Biggleswade soldier brothers will return to their parents at West’s Yard, Biggleswade.

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 9th June 1916

I am Lucky to be Alive

Shortmead Street, Biggleswade [Z1306/16/18/1]

Tuesday 16th May 1916: In the above terms of Private Dick Bryant of the 8th Beds, writes to his chum, Mr G Boness, at Biggleswade, from Herne Bay Hospital. Bryant was formerly an Ampthill Camp recruit and in the big scrap on April 19th he sustained 13 wounds and narrowly escaped with his life, a Bible and a tobacco box in his breast pocket being much damaged. He says: “I am lucky to be alive. Sometimes out there you wish anything, but I have wished ever so many times they had not hit me, for I have been very queer two or three days. I began to think my leg was going the wrong way, but I am going on alright today. It is lovely weather here and I long to get out in the air. I asked the doctor if I could go out and they are going to wheel me out this afternoon. I have got to be operated on, a bit of bone has to come out. He said if he did not do it I shall be six or seven months and then not right. I am glad F C Wells is not killed. His brother Herbert, poor chap, would be with me(1), he claimed me for a mate the first night I joined them. I had got no rent (money) so he said “Come on, I have plenty”. He took me out every night until we went into the trenches. He was a bomber in the same lot as Brown of Hitchin and I see he is missing”(2).

Source: Biggleswade Chronicle 26th May 1916

(1) See 13th May.

(2) 17027 Private Francis Frank Brown of B Company was killed in action and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Two Missing Sons

Shortmead Street [Z1306/16/8/6]

Saturday 13th May 1916: Mr and Mrs George Cartwright Wells of West’s Yard, Shortmead Street, Biggleswade last Saturday received notification from the Regimental Office, Warley that their two sons, Private Herbert A C Wells and Private Frederick C Wells, of the 8th Bedfordshire Regiment, had been reported as missing, place not stated(1). A week previously a comrade, who also hails from Biggleswade, wrote home saying they were missing. The brothers Wells are widely known in the Biggleswade district and their many friends hope that the worst fears will not be realised. The younger brother, Fred, was formerly in the employ of Mr William Jackson 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 etc. Much sympathy is felt for the parents and brothers and sisters

Source: Bedfordshire Times 12th May 1916

(1) Presumably at Ypres on 19th/20th April.