Lives of the First World War

March 1919 - April 1919

THE SAD DEATH OF A TICEHURST SOLDIER Action by Major Courthope, M.P. The Rev. E. H. Gray, the Vicar of Ticehurst, has been in communication with Major Courthope, M.P., in reference to the sad death of Private Fitzell, under circumstances which caused a good deal of feeling in Ticehurst and Stonegate parishes. Mr Gray took the matter up at the request of parishioners, and Major Courthope has consented to his letter in reply being published in the Ticehurst Parish Magazine and in the “Courier,” as appended:- Whiligh, Sussex 24th March, 1919 Dear Mr Gray, I am sorry to say that there were several sad cases of death from exposure on the journey home from the Front during the bitter weather a few weeks ago. The Army Parliamentary Committee, of which I am a member, took the matter up with the War Office. A special report was made on the subject by Sir Douglas Haig and the Army Medical Authorities. It appears that there was a great deal of influenza in the Army on the Rhine, and many men who were due to come home either developed influenza during the long journey, or started during the early stages of the disase [sic]. They, quite naturally, in their anxiety to reach home quickly, did not take the opportunities of going into hospital for treatment, and a number of cases of pneumonia resulted. A report got about that these men were travelling in open cattle trucks. This is not the fact. All troops in France are conveyed in the special covered military coaches, which have always been in use by the French Army. These carry 40 men apiece, and during this winter have been fitted with stoves. The idea that they were cattle trucks arose from the fact that these same trucks, with the addition of the necessary fittings, are used for the conveyance of Army horses. I have frequently travelled in them myself, and although one cannot describe them as luxurious, or even comfortable, they are well constructed and completely covered. Sir Douglas Haig gave a definite assurance that at no time have any British troops been conveyed in open trucks. It was made quite clear by the Field-Marshall’s report that everything possible was done to protect the returning troops from the severity of the weather. Yours sincerely G.L. Courthope

Created by: , Trevor97969