A quiet day with little to report, other than a short burst
of German shelling about 8.30am, which saw around fifteen 5.9” shells directed
against the support trenches, but causing little damage.
A memorial service was held at the Parish Church,
Bolton-by-Bowland for Trooper Reggie Killen, who had been killed in action on
25th January. Reggie was the younger brother of Pte. Harry Killeen who had been one of
Tunstill’s original recruits. Harry himself had been wounded on 14th
January and had only been transferred to hospital in Manchester three days
earlier (see 3rd February).
The Craven Herald subsequently
reported on the service:
“At the Parish Church on Sunday evening, the Rev. C.
Broadhurst made feeling reference to the loss the village has sustained. His
text was St. John. ii. 25, 'I am the Resurrection and the Life.' He continued
"When he who has parted this life is laid to his rest, whether amidst the
roar of artillery, or whether he be in the quiet of our own country churchyard,
the first words of the Burial Service are words, not of death, but of life. 'I
am the Resurrection and the Life.' It does not say I promise to bring the
Resurrection of Life, but I am the Resurrection and the Life - an absolute
certainty, which God alone could say. Surely it is as a thought to help us in
the hour of sorrow that he whom we loved, losing his life, has gained it. That
the boy which fought a brave fight for his country rests in peace, but this
soul - his real life - lives in Paradise." In spite of an exceptionally
wet morning, special constables from Gisburn, Bolton-by-Bowland, and Grindleton
attended the service at the conclusion of which the organist played the Dead
March in 'Saul’.”
 |
| Trooper Reggie Killeen |
No comments:
Post a Comment