PRIDDY SOLDIER KILLED.
HIGH PRAISE FROM OFFICERS.

Private James Baker, Wiltshire Regiment, of Priddy {whose mother resides in Sonth-street, Wells), has been killed in action in France. He was 26 years of age, and leaves a widow and one child. As the following letters show, his officers speak very highly of his worth as soldier.

Writing to Mrs. Baker, from Somerville Hospital, Oxford, Captain Alington says:—“I am afraid I am rather late in writing offer you my sympathy for your husband's death, but I am in hospital myself, and only just able to write. Your husband was killed instantly, shot through the head by a sniper. I was hit at the same time and lay beside him, and I sure that he felt no pain. I cannot tell you what a great loss he will be to the company. He was one of my runners, and was very often round the line with me at nights. He was certainly one of the bravest, coolest, and most trustworthy men in the company, and always ready take on any job, however unpleasant, and however tired he might be.”

Second Lieut. Hobdell says of him:—“ I have always regarded your husband as one of the finest men I have ever met. I knew him, I might say, intimately, as I have been at times in parts of the line where the officer and man are cooped together in a post, and the formalities between the two cease and both are merely men trying to stick it the best they can. I always regarded your husband as a companion. The night he was killed I was going with my Company Commander, my servant, and your husband to visit the posts. We lost direction, and were surprised by a German post, who fired on us, killing your husband and wounding the Company Commander and my servant.”

The Chaplain of the Battalion, the Rev. B. H. T. Drake, thus refers to the late Private Baker:—“He was such a splendid soldier that I a sure [sic] he must have been equally excellent at home.” His letter proceeds: “As you probably already know, his Captain was wounded at the same time, and another officer had a very narrow escape. This makes it all the more sad that your husband should have met his death, but you know we cannot now understand the working of God’s way, but some day we shall. I can only trust that God will make his way clear before you and that you will see His love, even through your great sorrow.”

PRIDDY

FUNERAL.—The funeral of the late Farrier Sergt.-Major Simmons, Priddy, took place on August 1st. It will be remembered that deceased was thrown through his horse tripping over some wire. He was found in an unconscious state and died the same day. Deceased was brought to Wells from Winchester and was buried at Priddy. The officiating clergyman was the Rev. W. H. Creaton. Members of his regiment, the Army Veterinary Corps, acted as bearers, and number of wounded soldiers from the Cedars Hospital, Wells, attended. The coffin was of polished elm and the breastplate bore the inscription: “Far. Sergt.-Major E. Simmons, died July 26th, 1918, aged 49 years.” The coffin was covered with the Union Jack. There was a number floral tributes. The late Sergt. Simmons served for 28 years in the Army, 10 of which were spent in India and 5 in South Africa. He obtained warrant rank before the outbreak of the present war. Farrier Sergf.- Major Simmons took part in the retreat from Mons and was mentioned in dispatches by Lord French.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

1939 - 1945