Page 48 - WW1 - 1916

Redditch Local History Society Remembering Redditch Residents & WW1

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The Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch Messenger – Saturday 1 July 1916

Mr & Mrs Thomas Wadams of the Lodge Farm, received a letter on Tuesday morning
from their son, Sergeant H. (Peter) Wadams, of the Worcestershire Yeomanry, stating that
he is a prisoner of the Turks, and suffering from chest wounds, but is making good progress
and being well treated by the Turks. Sergeant Wadams was in the fight at Katia on Easter
Sunday, and no official news of him had been received.

The following letter dated 7th May, was received on Tuesday by Mr W. Hawkins,
New Wharf, Tardebigge, from his son, Trooper Edgar Hawkins, Worcestershire Yeomanry,
who took part in the battle of Katia, after which he was officially reported as “wounded and
missing.” Nothing further had been heard of him until a letter arrived this week, transmitted
through the *Comite International de la Croix – Rouge Geneve:
“Dear Father and Mother and all at home. – At last I am able to write you a few lines. I
expect before you get this letter you will have heard all sorts of rumours about us, as we had
a battle a fortnight to day, and I am sorry to say I was wounded and taken prisoner, but I
consider myself very lucky that I came out of it alive, as there were a lot killed, but you will
see that for yourself in the papers, I expect. I am sorry to say my pal, was one of them. I am
in hospital at present with some more of our chaps, and we are being looked after very well
and I shall be all right again now; so whatever you do, do not worry about me. When we get
settled I shall be able to write to you regularly, I think, and you will be able to send to me. –
Your affectionate son, Edgar.
P.S. My wound is in my left leg, but I am pleased to say it is nearly well now, thanks to the
care we are being taken of. There are three Red Cross Nurses here.”

(*Comite International de la Croix – Rouge Geneve – International Committee of the Red Cross and was
founded in 1863 in Geneva

Ancestry site Military records

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Private Charles Simmons, 15684, 10 Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment, killed in action, 3 rd
July 1916, Western European Theatre. Mentioned on Thiepval Memorial, Picardie, France.
Son of James Frederick and Sarah Jane Simmons.
Remembered on St Stephen’s war memorial.
(On 1911 census Charles Frederick Simmons aged 12, sholar, lived with his parents Frederick and Sarah Jane
Simmons at 39 Edward Street, Redditch.)

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Private Charles Osborne, (14376), 1 Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and
Derbyshire Regiment), born and resided in Redditch, enlisted in Worksop, Notts., killed in
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action, 5 July 1916, Western European Theatre. Mentioned on Thiepval Memorial, Picardie,
France.
Remembered on St Stephen’s war memorial, Redditch.

Private Alfred Hunt, (2974), Worcester Yeomanry, (The Queen’s Own Worcestershire
Hussars), Household Cavalry and Cavalry of the Line (incl. Yeomanry and Imperial Camel
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Corps), born in Tardebigge, resided in Redditch, enlisted in Worcester, died, 8 July 1916,
Egyptian Theatre.

Page: 48 © RLHS 2014