March 2, 1915

Western Times

A SOLDIER’S DEATH

Funeral of a member of the Sportsman’s Battalion at Exeter

At his billet, in Exeter, on Wednesday, there passed away, after a short illness, one of the members of the very fine corps of Fusiliers being raised in the West by Captain A. E. Dunn, and known as the Sportsman’s Battalion. The funeral took place in Exeter yesterday with military honours, the whole battalion, about 200 men and officers, being in attendance under Captain Dunn. The Devon band, under Bandmaster Cox, preceded the gun carriage, playing funeral marches. The coffin, which enclosed the body, was covered with the Union Jack, upon which was placed the deceased soldier’s cap. A firing party was provided by the Devon Regiment, and the buglers sounded the “Last Post.” The Rev. F. W. Gegg was the officiating clergyman. The chief mourner was the father of the deceased, Mr. Powers, of Torquay. The polished elm coffin bore the following inscription on the breastplate: “Private Thomas Powers, of the Sportsman’s Battalion, Died February 36th, 1915, aged 20 years.”

Daily Mirror

CANNOT PUT IT DOWN.

Readers’ High Praise of New “Daily Mirror” Serial Story That Will Make Soldiers.

Our splendid new serial, with its stirring message and charm of romance, has made an instantaneous success!

It is always pleasant to know that our readers are pleased, and throughout yesterday there was abundance of proof of that “Richard Chatterton, V.C.” had found hearty favour.

There is no doubt that it is one of the best serials that have ever been published. Miss Ruby M. Ayers has accomplished a splendid piece of writing.

Many telegrams and letters of congratulation reached The Daily Mirror showing that our readers are in full agreement with our opinion that the new serial is a great story.

Sir William Robertson Nicoll, editor of the British Weekly, telegraphed: --

“The story opens excellently, and I am in the warmest sympathy with its object. It should be read by every shirker to shame him out of his inaction. I look to women with confidence o send their men to the field. I don not doubt you will show the way.”

Another telegram came from the Rev. A. J. Waldron, the vicar of Brixton and the author of “Should a Woman Tell?” His message was:

“Your new serial is very strongly written. It grips from the commencement. You feel that you cannot put it down; you must go on with it. It should prove of great value to both sexes – on behalf of enlistment particularly. I am very pleased to see that it deals with the woman’s side of the war.”

Major H. H. Enderby, Adjutant of the 2nd Sportsman’s Battalion, wired: --

“Your powerful new serial, with its recruiting message, should attract everyone. The interest taken by your paper in the burning question of the hour – the enlistment of soldiers – is laudable in the extreme.”

The further you proceed with the story of “Richard Chatterton, V.C.,” the more you will realize that is it one of the greatest human serials every written.