Notes |
- Below is an excerpt from a letter that I found at the Crypt Chapel of St Johns Collecge in Houghton.
"How the Winslow Brothers were killed in action on 26 September, 1914, at Stettin. During the German South West Africa Campaign, East of Luderitzbucht
Taken from a letter written by the Winslow's commanding officer, Lieut AM Holloway. Imperial Light Horse
"I am sure that the long before this reaches you that you will have heard news of our being in action... loosing... both Winslows. It is awfully pathetic, but war has no distinction. We were out on an all night patrol. The next morning we ran across a raiding party of Germans - about seven of them. They immediately opened fire. Croon was
hit in the chest. Another man, Gronan, who had already been wounded in the morning, then fell. he appeared to me to be dead., but he was not. Rex Winslow, who was just a little round a small kopje, was next shot clean through the heart
"Wilfred Winslow, his brother, ran round to him, and as he stooped down to raise his brother's head to give him water, he was shot dead - through the neck - and fell on his brother with his arms round him. He was a brave boy, and they were both of them two of the best boys I had, keen and absolutely fearless. It is a dreadful loss to their mother, but she may be somewhat comforted to know that they died like brave men and soldiers. The whole affair lasted a few minutes and the result is I have lost four men from my troop. Out of the seven Germans we killed four, captured one and two got away, both badly wounded.
"We brought the bodies in here, and this afternoon they were buried. We dug two graves in the Cemetery here, at Stettin. The Winslows were in one grave. Wilfred is on the right, Rex on the left; the other two were in the other. All the brigade turned out, and the Rev Mr Hill, who is with the ILH, read the burial service. It was most impressive, and I felt much affected.
"I do feel so much for Mrs Winslow. I am afraid that I left them on the
field, I kissed them both for their mother. So I want her to know that they were buried with their mother's love and a kiss from her. WE are having their graves properly fixed up, and it will have the ILH verse on it.
"Tell England, ye who pass this monument,
That we who lie here, serving her, died content."
*Stettin is also known as "Grasplatz"*
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