AS THE First World War continued to rumble on amongst the battlefields across the Channel, the Daily Echo continued to keep readers abreast of progress being made by our gallant men.

As well as reporting the latest communiqués from the thick of the fighting, the Daily Echo was also documenting life on the front line through the many pictures and letters that were sent to the newspaper at that time.

These Southampton Pictorial images published one hundred years ago, shows a photograph titled “Our Gallant Garrison Artillerymen” sent direct from the front by J. McLennan, of Freshwater, Isle of Wight, who snapped his comrades of the Hampshire R.G.A. Heavy battery, who had been holding a very important position since the outbreak of the war.

The Pictorial also featured, under the headline “More Local Units on Active Service”, a pair of photographs with the first showing a group of local artificers of the 1st Hants Royal Horse Artillery on active service, who had gathered around the anvil to pose for the photograph to their families back home.

The second picture, on the right, was the “C” section of the 26th Field Ambulance Transport, late 3rd Wessex.

The central figure in the back row added a bit of humour to the picture by wearing a German cap and cape and a false moustache to complete ranks in the April 1915 photograph.

In addition to the many photographs being sent in to the Echo for publication, the newspaper also received a great deal of other correspondence from the Front, including this touching letter penned by Rifleman F. Hailey, of Portswood, Southampton, who was serving at the front with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade.

Daily Echo:

Left, a group of artificers of the 1st Hants Royal Horse Artillery and right C section of the 26th Field Ambulance Transport, late 3rd Wessex. 

The poignant note, which was addressed to the fiancé of Rifleman Hailey’s lost chum, Rifleman Percy Redman, breaks the news of how the young soldier had fallen victim to the bullet of a German Sniper.

In the letter to Redman’s fiancé, Hailey wrote: “I hope you will forgive me if I am taking a liberty in writing to you, but as Percy was my chum I think it is my duty to tell you of his death.

"He died in my arms, and did not have a chance to say even a word, as it was all so sudden. We had both got though the attack all right, and I can assure you it was terrible, and one of these days, if you will allow me, I will write and tell you all about it.

"The day before Percy was killed we had captured five Germans in a Cellar. You can take it from me that Percy died a soldier’s death, and wasn’t a bit afraid of death or the Germans.

"You have the satisfaction of knowing that he was true to his country to the last.

"He was killed by a sniper, and was buried in the firing line at Neuve Chapelle, and all the time he was being buried the Germans were shelling us. I want you please to accept my deepest sympathy and that of his officers, who are very much upset over it. Percy was loved by all his Company, and I know I shall never forget him.

"I am sending his cap badge, which he was always saying was for you, and also your photograph and lock of hair, which I took from his pocket.”