" SITA"RF.SPEARE'S MEN " ON THE SOMME. (To THE EDITOR
OF rue " SPECTATOR."] Sia,—Your contributor Mr. R. B. Marston mentions several families that have been represented both at Agincourt and on the Somme. The casualty-lists of the rank:and-file are a perfect mine of ancient English names. For instance, Percy and Widdrington, represented, I think, at Chevy Chace, are, or have been, in the rank-and-file of the Northumberland Fusiliers on the Somme. At
the other end of the country, though Tre, Pol, and Pen seem to be rare in modern Cornwall, the well-known Devon trio who " when the Conqueror came were all at home " have all been abroad, somewhere in France; and in the Somerset lists one sees names that were ancient long before Sedgemoor. And so with other counties in which the mixed population of great towns does not predominate. In fact, these county regiments contain many humble but long-descended rustics who have fought " all fearlessly and well " through our whole history.—I am, Sir, &c., ECHICOLA.
Previous page
