Thomas Haworth PRESTON

30 October 1914

SETTLE

Thanks – The following note is from Captain Preston, of Mearbeck, Long Preston, the only man from the parish, probably, actually at the front:–

East Lancashires, 11th Infantry Brigade, British Expeditionary Force, October 17th.

“Dear Sir, – I should be much obliged if you would kindly insert in your columns this note of thanks to all those in and around Long Preston who have so kindly sent out so many, shirts and clothing for men in my Regiment, which will be much appreciated by them in the coming cold weather. I also send my best remembrances, should like to say I am fit and well, though we are having a fairly strenuous time at present. – Yours truly, T.H. PRESTON.”

27 November 1914

PRESTON – Killed in action in Flanders, on the l7th inst., aged 34, Captain T. H. Preston, Lancashire Regiment, only surviving son of the late John Preston and Mrs. Preston, Mearbeck, Long Preston.

27 November 1914

LONG PRESTON OFFICER'S DEATH

Captain T. H. Preston, East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders on the 17th inst. aged 34 years. He was the only surviving son of the late John Preston and Mrs. Preston, of Mearbeck, Long Preston. He served through the Boer War in South Africa, received the Queen's Medal with 3 clasps, and was mentioned in despatches. Last year he was awarded the Royal Geographical Society’s Diploma. His only brother, 2nd, Lieut. J. S. Preston, 1st Battalion Royal Scots, died in his country’s service at Dewetadorp during the South African War.

A memorial service was held in the Long Preston Parish Church on Sunday morning. Amongst a very large congregation were a cadet corps and soldiers in uniform.

The Rev. R. Shipman said that Thomas Howarth Preston was the first from that village to give his life for his country. He was in many ways a typical Yorkshireman, slow to reveal his character to a stranger, but when once he had given his friendship he revealed more and more the sterling qualities within. He had worked hard for the restoration of their church, journeying to Stamford to buy the oak, then seeing to its being sawn up, and stacked at Mearbeck. They would all sympathise with the widow who had lost the second and last of her soldier sons. She had week by week kept her anxious vigil whilst he had seemed to lead a charmed life is the battles of Mons and Aisne, until the end, in that ghastly slaughter of Flanders. In a previous battle he had had his field glasses smashed by a bullet!

The 'Dead March' from 'Saul' was played on the organ. The flag was at half-mast on the church tower.
The annexed telegram was received by Mrs. Preston, of Mearbeck, on Monday:–

Buckingham Palace, 12-5, 23rd Nov.,
Mrs. Preston, Mearbeck, Long Preston.

The King and Queen deeply regret the loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your son in the serving of his country. Their Majesties truly sympathise with you in your sorrow.

PRIVATE SECRETARY

25 December 1914

LONG PRESTON – THE LATE CAPTAIN T. H. PRESTON

The lamented death of Captain T. H. Preston, of the East Lancashire Regiment, who was killed in action in Flanders on November 17th, was sincerely regretted by his many friends ………. and the deepest sympathy has been shown his family. He was the only surviving son of the late Mr. John Preston, and of Mrs. Preston, of Mearbeck, Long Preston, and served through the Boer War, receiving the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and being mentioned in despatches. His only brother, Lieutenant J. S. Preston, lst Battalion Royal Scots, died in his country's service at Dewetadorp during the South African War. --The following are extracts from letters sent to his mother by the late Captain Preston.

A 40-Miles March

September 25th

“We have been told that we can now mention in letters any place where we were at a week ago, so I will let you know as far as I can what has happened. It has all been practically stated in the English papers. I landed in the country with the first reinforcement one day after the battalion. The battalion went nearly to the Belgian frontier by train, to Cambrai, beyond St. Quentin, and there fought rearguard action near Ligny and most of the way back to within about 20 miles of Paris. You will have seen the list of officers who were wounded. They were Major Collins, D'Esterre, Seabrook, Chisholm, Salt, and Hooper. I went by train to Amiens to catch up with the battalion, and was then sent back to Rouen, and again to Le Mans, which is south of Paris. I then went back to Coulommiers, and from there we did a 40-mile march along the flank of the German Army and joined the regiment near Chevril which is about 20 miles east of Paris.

“From thence we followed the Germans, our artillery coming into action several times, to La Ferté; on the river Marne, where the enemy blew up the bridge over the river and left a rearguard to oppose us. We took a lot of prisoners there besides inflicting many casualties, but unfortunately our Colonel, Le Merchant, was shot from a house. Our loss there was comparatively trifling, though the Germans opened with four maxims from across the river. My company got some good long-range shooting at La Ferté, as the enemy had to retreat up a narrow road, and we nearly made them abandon a gun on the road. They had great difficulty in getting it away.

“About ten days ago we crossed the river Aisne at Boucy, about four miles from Soissons which the Germans shelled, and they broke up the houses full of civilians. Aeroplanes are much used by both sides to observe for the artillery and locate positions of troops and batteries. Of course they get shelled tremendously, and it is a pretty sight in mid-air, though they seldom get hit. I went on a river reconaissance the day before yesterday. I get a great deal of that sort of work on account of my having the Geographical Society's diploma. We have had nine days' heavy artillery fire round here.

“The above will give you a general idea of what has happened. I cannot give you details, as that would not be allowed by the Censor. I will tell you more later when it does not matter.”

Colonel Sniped

September 30th.
“You will gather more or less from the papers where I know am. I can tell you now fairly well what occurred two weeks ago when we crossed the river Aisne. We marched from La Ferté sous Jouarre on the Marne to the Aisne in two days. There was a picture in the 'Sphere' of September 12th of one of the bridges at La Ferté at which we had some fighting. I think l told you they opened on us with four machine guns there. My company afterwards caught them retiring up an enclosed road at long-range, and we gave them a bad time, but I regret to say they sniped our colonel Le Marchant. When at length we got into the town we found many dead Germans in the streets, and about 40 wounded in a hospital by the bridge close to the road up which we had caught them retiring. Our guns across the valley also accounted for several.

“It was very different at the Aisne, however. We crossed at Boucy, about four miles east of Soissons. The bridge over the river was partially blown up, so we had to go across man by man, on a girder. We crossed in the night fortunately. It was the worst night march I have ever had. We had been marching all day in the rain; and then stayed for two hours in a church at Citmont, about six or seven miles south of the Aisne, from 8 to10 p.m., and then started off in the dark ‘mid pouring rain and marched to the rivers, and crossed as I have described. Our brigade, the 11th Infantry, took up a position on the top edge of the high ground on the north side.

Like the Ribble Valley

“The Aisne is very like the Ribble Valley at Mearbeck in contour. As soon as it was light we became engaged all along the front by the German artillery, which is good. My company was on the outskirts of a wood and to the edge of the valley. An aeroplane came over. I kept quite still, as I thought it might not see us, but in five minutes we got a lot of shells among us. The first pitched a yard or two in front of me, and I got a smack on the back from a piece of earth or sod or something, and the next few hit nine of the men. We then moved a little to our flank, and got no more. They also shelled the remainder of our troops opposite the valley up from the river.

“We then entrenched ourselves on the edge of the valley all along the line, and our trenches, the villages, &c., have been bombarded for many days. The French were on our left at Soissons and Croucy, their Turcos and Zouaves being next to our brigade, which consists of East Lancashires, Hampshires, Somersets, and Rifles. The German position was about a mile and a half distant when we occupied the ridges.

“What we need as much as men is more guns, as the fighting chiefly resolves itself into an artillery duel. We had two batteries of field howitzers which took up a position near to a church at Boucy, but an aeroplane spotted them, and they were shelled out by some huge guns we imagined the Germans had brought up for the siege of Paris. Some of the shells were of 260lb. weight.

“Our aeroplanes have also done most excellent work. The Germans fairly hate them, as they discover the enemy's positions and spot for our artillery. Whenever our aeroplanes or French ones go near they get scores of shells, though they are rarely hit. I counted one which had nearly 200 shrapnel fired at it in about four minutes. The aviators are very good, and take little notice, but they cannot approach too close.

“All the windows in the church at Boucy are smashed, and the church itself badly damaged. I should like to know how many thousands of shells I have seen and heard fired here – a good many hundreds of thousand I think. In fact, there’s heavy cannonade going on whilst I write. Col. Seely, ex-War Minister, who has a billet on the Staff, came two days ago and took tea with us. About five minutes before he arrived at our mess dug-out, a shrapnel came partly through the roof, having burst just above, but no one was hit. The French officer in charge of the Turcos who have relieved the Zoaves, took tea with us. Colonel Lawrence who has been promoted colonel of our regiment arrived out to join us yesterday.”

24 December 1915

LONG PRESTON – IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE

In the Parish Church on Sunday morning the service was in memory of Geoffrey Taylor, lst 6th Duke of Wellington’s, who was killed on 4th December. The Cadets were present. Lieuts. Ward and Sharples read the lessons. The Rev. R. Shipman said the village had been singularly fortunate; it was more than a year since the boys were there in uniform (after the death of Capt. Preston) and some time since they went to the Baptist Chapel to pay tribute to the memory of Harry Evans. There was no distinction between the Private who served faithfully and the Field Marshal. Geoffrey Taylor was an orphan, though indeed he had found a home and a new mother in the parish, and the lad’s life there on earth had been immeasurably gladdened in that Long Preston home. A year ago last November he spoke a few words particularly to the boys. There would come a time of trial in all their lives, and some of the older ones who were with them a year ago had gone to respond to the call of a noble patriotism. He hoped no more of them would have to go, but their comradeship and training would teach them to do things which were sometimes irksome, cheerfully, and be a great help to them in forming character. They need not think that the men in the trenches liked it; they could not like it; but they were there to see it through and to hang on until the work was thoroughly done.

28 July 1916

SETTLE – DEATH OF MRS. PRESTON OF MEARBECK

The death took place on Saturday of Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Preston, of Mearbeck, Settle, at the age of 66 years. During the latter part of her life she had much trouble, which greatly affected her health. Her eldest son, John Starkie Preston, died in the South African War from enteric fever, and her remaining son, Thomas H. Preston, who was a captain in the East Lancashire Regiment, was killed in the present War. She was of a gentle nature, and will be long remembered for her many kindly actions. She also took a general interest in the churches of the district. Much sympathy goes out to her daughter, Miss Preston, who is left to mourn her loss.

The funeral took place on Tuesday at the Parish Church, Giggleswick, where many people congregated. The service was taken by the vicar, the Rev. T.P. Brocklehurst. The coffin was of panelled oak, and the funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs. Parker Bros., of Settle. There were no flowers by request.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS: CAPTAIN T. H. PRESTON

East Lancs. Regiment, son of the late John Preston and Mrs. Preston, Mearbeck, Long Preston. Killed in action in Flanders November 17th, 1914, aged 34 years.