Part Two: The Early Years (1915-16)
As the war ground on through 1915 and 1916, the optimism of those first months faded. The front line became a maze of mud, wire, and shellfire, and Geddington’s losses began to mount.
Harry Patrick, Frederick Simons, and Henry Reece all fell in the early battles of 1915. That same year, Arthur Allett, Wilfred Allsopp, Albert Butler, Bertram Chapman, and Sidney Rich joined the growing list of local names who would never return.
Two brothers, Frederick and Rowland Stanton, were killed on the very same day – 26 September 1915 – a tragedy that struck deep into the heart of our small community.
In 1916, the horrors of the Somme brought further grief. Fred Clipstone, William Elson, and Thomas Cooper were among those who died as the great offensive raged across northern France. Later that year Arthur Patrick fell, just before Christmas.
These were the years when hope gave way to endurance – when families in Geddington learned the long silence that follows a telegram.
Read more about Geddington’s Roll of Honour:
We will remember them