Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, Belgium
NEWS ITEM in Jersey Evening Post of Saturday 10 March
1917
Roll of Honour - Two Jersey Riflemen Killed
in Dugout. Yesterday afternoon two Jersey families who
were eagerly awaiting the delivery of the delayed mail
for news of their loved ones, who were members of D
Company 7th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, were plunged
into sorrow on receiving the tragic information that
the Riflemen had been instantaneously killed. Rifleman
Winter Garde, youngest son of Mr & Mrs Garde of
14 La Chasse, and Rifleman Charles Parker son of Mr
Parker of 41 Broad Street, are the soldiers who have
made the supreme sacrifice. They left Jersey to join
the Jersey Company in Ireland during 1915 and from the
information received were resting in a dugout last Sunday
afternoon when a direct hit from an enemy shell killed
them instantly. The late Rifleman Garde was in his 24th
year and was formerly employed by Mr S J Laurens as
a driver, he was wounded in the shoulder during last
year and whilst in hospital sustained an accident which
kept him in bed for some time. Shortly before Christmas
he was in the Island on leave and immediately afterwards
rejoined his old unit at the Front. The sad news was
conveyed to the parents in the following letter from
Captain D Scollard, Officer Commanding D Company, the
former Jersey Company
"4th March 1917. Dear Sir, I
very much regret to inform you of the death of your
son, 8072 Rifleman W Garde, who was killed instantaneously
this afternoon by a shell which hit a dug out in which
he and a companion, named C W Parker, were lying, his
companion was also killed. It may be some slight consolation
to you to know that your son suffered no pain. We all
feel his loss very keenly for he was a fine soldier,
a gallant man and a good comrade. All the officers and
men of the Company join me in sympathising with you
and your family in your great loss. I am dear Sir, Yours
very sincerely, D SCOLLARD, Captain Commanding D Company".
To the aged parents and the other members of the family
we tender our sincere sympathy. Peculiar sadness surrounds
the death of Rifleman C W Parker, for letters received
here recently stated that he was the next in turn for
leave and his father, who was on the quay yesterday,
quite expected that his son might be on the morning
mail steamer, but on returning home he was confronted
with the following letter from Regimental Sergeant Major
J Le Breton "
4/3/17 Dear Mr & Mrs Parker, It
is with deep regret that I have to inform you of the
death of your son, Rifleman C W Parker, who was killed
in action today, death being instantaneous. He was buried
in the English cemetery and our Chaplain read the service.
He was killed with another of our Company, Rifleman
Garde. Charlie was a good lad and a fine Lewis gunner.
He was coming on leave as soon as leave started. He
was everybody's favourite and all are greatly grieved
at the loss. You can rest assured that everything was
done for him. Please accept our deepest sympathy to
you and the family in your great trouble as yours is
a great loss. If you wish for anything I can do for
you I will be pleased. On behalf of the Jersey Company
I am, Yours faithfully J LE BRETON, RSM 7th Battalion
RIR".
Captain Scollard writing to the bereaved
parents a similar letter to that sent to Mr & Mrs
Garde states "It has been a great shock to us
all and all the officers and men of the Company feel
very distressed at the loss of your poor boy and join
me in offering you and your family our sympathy. He
was a good little man and was well liked by everybody".
The late Rifleman was only 21 and was
of a fearless disposition. He, with Rifleman Garde,
was well liked by all the officers and men of the Company
and both had scores of friends in Jersey who will hear
of their decease with regret. Another sad feature of
the death is that the late Rifleman was a brother-in-law
of Mrs Parker of Seaton Place whose husband died recently
and whose brother was drowned at sea during the last
month. To the bereaved families we tender our heartfelt
sympathy.
