In the February issue of “A Message from God” there is a picture of English prisoners on La Grande Place, Bruges, page 29. The magazine and picture were seen by Mrs. Huish, the wife of Pte. William Huish, No. Ply/3/2037 Royal Marine Light Infantry Battalion, 63rd (R.N.) Division.
She told me she thought, and so did a friend of hers, that they could identify her husband in the photograph, the man next to the prisoner with the bandaged head. Her husband had enlisted on March 30th, 1917. He went to France August 6th, 1917. He was reported killed on October 26th, 1917. On November 1St, 1917, she received the following letter:—
2nd Bn., R.M.L.I., B.E.F.
1St November, 1917.
Dear Mrs. Huish,
It is with very real regret that I have to inform you of the death in action of your husband. He laid down his life for his country on Friday last (26th), when the Battalion took a large part in the recent successful operations. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of the Officers, N.C.O.’s and men of this Company in your very great loss. Yours very sincerely, B. C.W—, Captain.
On November 12TH she received from the Record Office, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, the official news of his being “killed in action.”
In January, 1920, she wrote to the War Grave Commission to ask where her husband was buried. To this letter she received the following reply:—
Winchester House, St. James’s Square, London, S.W.1.
January 20th, 1920.
Madam,—In reply to your letter of recent date, I am to express regret that the grave of Private. W. Huish has not been located, but inquiries are being made, and I will write to you again if I am able to obtain any information. I am very sorry not to be able to send you a more satisfactory reply.——I am, Madam, your obedient servant, R. E. E—
Directly she saw the picture in the “Message” hope sprang up in her breast that her husband might perhaps have been taken prisoner, and she asked me if I could do anything to find out if he were really dead, and if he were dead, where he was buried. I told her the only thing I could do would be to make it known in the “Message from God.” I am reproducing Pte. Huish’s photo, and perhaps one of his comrades or friends may be able to tell her more about her husband. Mrs. Huish’s address Isa. 16, Oakfield Street, Heavitree, Exeter, in case any might wish to write to her, or friends can communicate with Dr. Heyman Wreford, The Firs, Denmark Road, Exeter.