Darwen

Z/1891 Rifleman Thomas Standen, 2nd Rifle Brigade. Killed at Neuve Chapelle on 17th March 1915. Son of Mr. T. and Mrs. Ellen Standen, of 9, Hollins Row, Darwen.

Information has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Standen, of 9, Hollins-row, in the form of a letter from a friend which states that their only son, Rifleman T. Standen, of the Rifle Brigade, has been killed.



The letter states that he was struck by fragments of a shell whilst placing shamrock on St. Patrick's Day, on the graves of some of the men, whilst three others on the same mission were wounded. Rifleman Standen, who was formerly employed at Moss Bridge Mill, and was a favourite friend with many, enlisted on the 1st September, and had been in the trenches since the beginning of December.
(Darwen News, 3 April 1915)
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Martha Emily Jenkins, Stewardess, Mercantile Marine S.S. "Aguila" (Liverpool) Died 27th March 1915, aged 42. Daughter of Fanny Jenkins, of 27, Punstock Road, Darwen, and the late Joseph Jenkins. Born at Liverpool.

SINKING OF THE AGUILA.

DARWEN LADY THE STEWARDESS.

A TERRIBLE END FEARED.

BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN KILLED BY SHRAPNEL.

The sinking of the British s.s. Aguila, 2,114 tons, belonging to the Yeoward Line, when on passage from Liverpool to Lisbon as the result of being torpedoed off Pembroke at 6 p.m., on March 27th, brings sadness to a Darwen home. Twenty-three of the crew and three passengers are missing, and amongst these it is feared is the stewardess, Miss Emily Jenkins, of Punstock-road, Darwen. At least a survivor says: -
I saw a boat with ten men, the stewardess, and her woman friend, who was a passenger, come to grief. The woman passenger cried out, "I'am shot." The next moment heavy seas capsized the boat, and neither of the women was seen again. It is believed that both were killed by shrapnel.



Still further, a telegram received yesterday afternoon by the family of Miss Jenkins in reply to one forwarded by them to the Steamship Company read: -
Miss Jenkins not reported saved.
Miss Jenkins, who resided with her mother and family in Punstock-road, had been one of the voluntary workers at Moss Bridge Hospital, and it was probably in consequence of the training she received there that a few weeks ago she secured a position as stewardess on the Yeoward Line. She left home on Thursday last to join the Aguila, to which she was attached, at Liverpool, this being only her second voyage out. The steamers of the line generally sail on Saturdays, but in a letter home she stated that orders had been received to sail on Friday. Why, she did not know. Strange to say Miss Jenkins visited most of her friends before leaving Darwen last week to bid them good-bye, to an extent, in fact, which caused her mother to comment upon it. She also took with her most of her personal belongings, including all the photographs of herself, with one exception, and this we reproduce above. A married sister of Miss Jenkins is also engaged on the Yeoward Steamship Line, whilst strange to say a brother, who is a carpenter, should have sailed on the ill-fated Titanic when that vessel went to the bottom in April, 1913. At the last minute, however, he was not included amongst the crew and thus avoided a watery grave.
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ANGRY PIRATES.

SHOTS WHILE BOATS WERE BEING LOWERED.

AQUILA SURVIVORS' ACCOUNTS.

Captain Bannerman and nineteen of the crew of the steamer Aquila, Yeoward Line, were landed at Fishguard on Monday. The vessel was sunk by a German submarine off the B on Saturday evening. The crew left the sinking steaqmer in two boats, and one was picked up by a trawler, but the owners have no information concerning the second boat which over-turned twenty-three men. It is hoped that they may have been rescued by another vessel which has not yet reached port.
The Aguila left Liverpool for the Canaries on Friday night in charge of Captain Bannerman, of Rockferry.
Survivors were brought to Fishguard in the steam trawler Ottilie, Captain John Randall.
They stated that the submarine fired across the Aguila's bows, but Captain Bannerman speeded up to fourteen knots. The submarine, however, made eighteen knots, quickly overtaking them. This action of the Aguila seemed to enrage the pirates' anger.
The submarine opened fire, which was kept up rapidly, while the crew of the Aguila were launching their boats. This action of the Germans resulted in the following being killed.
Engineer Edwards,
Boatswain Anderson, and
Donkeyman Kirkman.
Two women, the stewardess and a woman passenger, were also killed by shell fire.
Asked if he could suggest why the pirates

A WOMAN'S CRY

One of the crew who had helped to launch the boats said he saw a boat with ten men, the stewardess, and her woman friend, who was a passenger, come to grief. The woman passenger cried out "I'm shot." The next moment heavy seas capsized the boat, and neither of the women was seen again. It is believed that both were killed by shrapnel.
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Z/2377 Rifleman Percy Hornby, 4th Rifle Brigade. Missing on 15th March 1915, aged 20.

FORMER MEMBER OF HOLY TRINITY CHURCH LADS' BRIGADE.

Mr. and Mrs. Hornby, of 9, Kelvin-street, on Tuesday, received an intimation from the depot of the British Expeditionary Force to the effect that their son, Rifleman Percy Hornby, of the Rifle Brigade, was missing after an engagement on the 15th March.
Rifleman Hornby enlisted at the beginning of September, prior to which he was employed at Belgrave Mills. He had been a member of the Holy Trinity Church Lads' Brigade for six years and had been awarded a long service medal. He is twenty years of age and had been in the trenches six weeks.
(Darwen News, 3 April 1915)
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5051 Private Bernard McCann, 1st Irish Guards. Died 31st March 1915, aged 18. Son of Bernard and Rachel McCann, of 4, Oxford Street, Darwen.

DANGEROUSLY WOUNDED.

On Monday morning Mr. and Mrs. McCann, of 63, Greenway-street, received intimation from the War Office to the effect that their son, Private Bernard McCann, of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards, was wounded in the head on March 19th, and is now in hospital in Boulogne. A later message states that he is dangerously wounded.
Prior to the declaration of war Private McCann was employed at Woodfold Mill, and he enlisted early in September and has been at the front since the beginning of February.
(Darwen News, 3 April 1915)