William OGDEN

23 October 1914

ADDINGHAM MAN KILLED IN ACTION

It is with regret that we report the death of Private W. Ogden, 1st West Yorkshires, Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment, who was killed in action in France on September 20th, at a place not stated. Private Ogden, who was only 21 years of age, joined the Army about four years ago. In his last letter dated September 14th, he said he was very well and not doing badly. He had not been in any engagement, but they were waiting their turn, and there would be trouble when they did start. The humour of the situation struck him, for he said: “We have plenty of fun, chiefly with the French people when we try to make them understand when we want to buy something. We can get nothing but bread here. It is laughable to see all the boys marching with loaves of bread as big as a baby on their backs. You know we cannot tell you where we are, or the letter would be stopped. Love to all at home. Give my regards to all the boys.”

24 December 1915

CRAVEN’S ROLL OF HONOUR – ADDINGHAM

Pte. Wm. Ogden, 1st West Yorkshire Prince of Wales’ Own, killed in action September 26th 1914, aged 21 years. Son of Mrs. T. Barnes, Main Street, Addingham.

14 April 1916

TO THE MEMORY OF ADDINGHAM COMRADES

The following lines have been written by Corpl. Sylvester Selby, R.E., of the British Expeditionary Force, France.

“To the memory of our dear comrades from Addingham who fought so valiantly, and died so nobly in the sacred cause of freedom, justice, and liberty.”

We shall meet our loved ones gone some sweet day bye and bye.
Be ye not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not.
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more sorrow, neither death.”

LOVED ONES GONE

Have they gone for ever, from us,
Shall we never see them more,
Never catch the gleam of sunshine
As they did in days of yore?

Why have they been taken from us
In the fullness of their youth,
When all earth seemed full of gladness
To young hearts all full of life?

Dragged from home, and friends, and loved ones,
In far distant lands to fight
For the glory of old England,
And for honour, and for right!

On the burning plains of Egypt,
On the muddy fields of France,
On the watery bogs of Flanders,
British boys have done their part.

Done it nobly, never murmuring,
In the cause of freedom’s right,
Battles, of most bloody nature.
They have fought with gallant hearts.

Men of England! Men of Empire!
Rise in this our common cause!
Come, and smite this haughty tyrant,
That he may no more defile
Heaven’s good gifts and mankind’s God.

As we march along the country
And the devastation see,
Ruined churches, shattered houses,
Graves, with little crosses fixed.

Make us cry “O God, in Heaven,
Let us of Thy vengeance see;
Give us strength that we may carry
Justice right to victory.

Men of England! Men of Empire!
Come and help us in the strife;
Help to win a glorious victory
For the weak and for the right.

Onward, ever always onward,
Till the common task is done,
Till to those who have so suffered
In the cause of freedom’s right
Have been surely liberated
From the thraldom of his might,
Till for brothers, gone before us,
He has paid a fearful toll.

Shall we ever more behold them
In that told-of spirit land?
Where they say there is no sorrow,
Neither death shall be no more?

Let us each be all the stronger
In the hope of such great gain,
Let us carry on our labour,
Sure we’ll meet our friends again.

Corporal Sylvester Selby, R.E.
France, April 8th, 1916.

29 September 1916

IN MEMORIAM

OGDEN – In loving memory of Willie Ogden, aged 21 years, who was killed in action September 26th, 1914.

Although thy hand we cannot clasp,
Thy face we cannot see;
Yet let this little token show
We still remember thee.

Mr. and. Mrs. T. Barnes and Family, Addingham.