Major Saul of the Royal Field Artillery has forwarded to Mrs Fawcett, of Willow Street, Waterfoot, a letter giving fuller particulars of the death of her son, Bombardier George W. Fawcett, whose death has been previously reported.
The letter says:- "Bombardier Fawcett was killed by a shell. He sustained severe wounds to the body, one touching the heart. Although the doctor worked a long time over him he said from the first there was no hope. The explosion of the shell had buried him in the mass of earth which it lifted and many of his comrades helped to dig him out. Major Armstrong and Lieut. Glynn also took party in the rescuing party. Your brave letter has touched our hearts. You are a true British mother who, having sacrificed her own son to a noble cause, still finds words of encouragement for others."
“Yes, your son did his duty to the full extent of the word. His death deprived the battery of a good fighter. He has left an example which will be followed. Your letter will be read on Battery Parade. I am sure that those of your son’s comrades who are still with us will find in the sentiments you express renewed strength to be worthy of those have gone before them, and to face danger and death in the will of God”

Mr and Mrs Joseph Feber, of 38 Dean Lane, Lumb, have received the sad news of the death of their eldest son. Pte Wilfred Feber. He died at the Canadian Clearing Station, France, on September 27th. The late Pte. Feber enlisted on May 14th 1916, and although he was only a C3 man he was sent out to France on June 10th 1917. He would have been 21 years of age had he lived till December. He was formerly connected to Acre Mill Baptist Sunday School, Stacksteads, and was the recipient of many prizes for regular and punctual attendance at the Sunday school. The sad news was conveyed to his sorrowing parents in a letter from the chaplain, who said he was sorry to inform Mr and Mrs Feber that their son Wilfred died at 8-15 on September 27th. Pte. Feber had many wounds, and did not long survive his admission to the clearing station. He was buried in the Lyssontweck Cemetery in Belgium. His other brother is serving in the Army.

This report is a continuation of that of J. A. H. Fenton (see entry below)

The other son, Harry Fenton, was also a wireless operator, but in the mercantile marine. He had been following the sea for some years, and had risen to an important position. The precise details which accompanied his death are not known, the only information which, as yet, has been received being to the effect the he died off Sierra Leone, West Africa, on May 10th last, and that his body was buried at sea.
At the time of his death he was wireless operator on board the steamship “Elmina” belonging to the Elder Dempster Company.
Deepest sympathy is felt for Mrs Fenton in thus being tragically bereft of both sons within a very short period of time.

In a recent issue of the "Free Press" the anmouncement was made that Pte. James Fenton of the Manchester "Pals" Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Fenton, of 6 Rosedale-street, Reedsholme, had been killed in action in France on February 8th. The following letter has recently been received by Mrs. Fenton, detailing how her son met his death:-

Dear Madam - Your letter, received safely, has been handed over from the officer to me to write to you regarding your son. I was the last man with him. I am a strecher bearer, and buried him. It will be of some consolation to you in your sad bereavement to know that he was buried properly and decently, and that he died like a good soldier for his country. He was buried in a soldier's grave, with a board to denote his identity, and is amongst a number of his comrades. He died without pain from shrapnel wounds. I can assure you his comrades miss him, but you know , we never know the minute we keep falling; but no matter, so long as we are dying for our country - I remain, your truly

W SKILLICORN

The photos given herewith are those of the two sons of Mrs Fenton of Paramatta Street, Rawtenstall, both of whom made the supreme sacrifice in the great war. It may have been remembered that the remains of Sapper J. A. H. Fenton were interred in the Rawtenstall Cemetery last week, having died in a London hospital from wounds received in France some weeks before.
Sapper Fenton had the distinction of being the first young man to enlist in the Royal Engineers at Rawtenstall recruiting station. That was in August 1914, only two or three weeks after war was declared. He was drafted out to on the 1st of September of the following year, attached to the artillery. Subsequently he became a wireless operator to the South Africans, but at the time he was wounded (April 26th last) he was with the Canadians. For six weeks he was in the 1st Canadian hospital at Etaples in France, and then removed to London, where he died a week later. At the time he enlisted he was engaged in the office at Waterfoot Goods station, and was a young man who was much respected and esteemed not only by his employers but by all who knew him.
In a letter which Mrs Fenton has received from the Officer Commanding the Wireless Section, the write states:-
I was on my way to visit your son’s station this morning taking up three more operators to relieve those who had been there for a few days and noticed, whilst a mile or so away, that the village, or what remains of it, was being shelled rather more heavily than usual. I was very sorry indeed to find, on getting to the place, that a shell had penetrated into the cellar and had hit several men, amongst them your son, about half an hour before. A piece of shell had hit him on the head and he was unconscious I think, though he may have recognised me. Some R.A.M.C. men had dressed him, however, and I ordered that he should be got back as quickly as possible. This was done; he was in hospital in a few hours, and was leaving in a motor ambulance for the Base and, I hoped, home, when I went to the hospital this evening. I am very sorry indeed to lose him, for he has always been one of my best people.

This report continues in that of Harry Fenton (see entry above)

Official information has been received from the Record Office, Preston, by Mrs Fielding of Reedsholme, that her husband Pte George Swire Fielding, of the 6th Batt. East Lancashire Regiment, had died from wounds received in Mesopotamia on February 26th. Pte Fielding, who was 31 years of age joined the colours in June 1916, and went to Mesopotamia in September. Prior to enlisting he was employed by Mr W. Broadley, painter and decorator, Rawtenstall. He leaves a wife and two young children. The deceased soldier was very well known in Rawtenstall and district, and highly respected. He was connected with St Mary’s Church.