Top row L to
R - Pte H Stoddart, Pte H Morgan, Pte L Boustead, Pte F
Robinson, Lcpl E Rigg
Front row - Pte B Vickers,
Pte "Kitty Boustead", Sec Lt R R Hayes, Sgt G Blamire - Pte`s
D T Rigg and Walker were unavoidably absent.
Above is a picture of keswick
lads who are on the Somme front, all in the 7th battalion Border
Regiment of Lieut R. R. Hayes, son of Mr T. R. Hayes, chairman
of keswick Urban Council.
On the 20th of December Lieut
Hayes hunted up his Keswick comrades before going into the
trenches and entertained them to a " Keswick night " of their
own. The supper which consisted of steak and chips, cauliflower
with sauce, sardines on toast, custard and fruit, cigarettes,
etc - not bad even for a Christmas party at home - was thoroughly
enjoyed. One of the lads Pte Bousfield son of the Keswick
council foreman , was so pleased he broke forth into song in
praise of the event.
Lieut Hayes in a letter home,
speaks very highly of these sons of keswick, and especially their
work in the trenches.
Sgt Blamire he says is extra
good and the company commander places great confidence in
him.
Lance Corpl Rigg is great on
the Lewis gun, and carries the heavy gun up the trenches with
never a complaint about its weight, and he will readily take a
extra turn of duty on the gun if there is a likelihood of
catching the Boche on the hop.
Pte Stoddart is the champion
shot in the Btn and is specially selected for work in the
sniper`s section. He won the brigade shooting competition not
long ago.
Pte L
Boustead helps L-Cpl Rigg work the Lewis gun and carries most of
the ammunition.
His brother " Kitty " is one of
the pluckiest fellows I`ve ever met, and however fagged out he
may be he will cheer up the fellows round him with a joke, and he
is a real son of his father in the poetry line.
Pte Robinson s a good signaller
and a fine chap. Pte Vickers is a great lad and although
smallest of the lot is not lacking in pluck. He is a good cross
country runner, and will carry his heavy pack and never give in
or fall out on the march.
Pte Morgan is not with the Btn
as he has been specially selected for work on the trench mortar
gun.
Pte D T Rigg is a fine lad ,
and keeps any party alive with jokes and fun.
Pte Walker is a good chap and
is on special work making roadways near the
trenches.