Death of Gunner Frederick A. Rout, of Nelson - New Zealand -  at the Somme, France - 25 September 1916.

The following is a letter from Lieutenant (later Captain) Cyril M. Rout - elder brother of Gunner Fred Rout, to his father George M. Rout - at Nelson, New Zealand - telling his father about Fred's death.

It was published in the Nelson newspaper 'The Colonist' - on 17 November 1916 - 7 weeks after the death of Gunner Rout at the Somme, France on 25 September 1916.

The newspaper article (and letter) read:

Mr George M. Rout has received a letter from his son, Lieutenant Cyril Rout, who gives particulars of the death of his younger brother, Gunner Fred Rout, on the Somme battlefield on September 25. In the course of his letter Lieutenant Rout says:

"When our New Zealand boys advanced in their glorious long charge on the 15th there were two batteries who galloped up immediately behind the advancing line and swang into action in support of our line. They were the 12th (Fred's battery) first, and then the 11th. How much that meant to us cannot be estimated. They had to gallop through the remains of the Delville Wood and through a storm of shells. They lost 20 Officers and men killed and wounded but their noble work is the admiration of our infantry. Fred's Captain was killed, and his Officer (Mr Vial) wounded. An opportunity  offered - they built up some gun pits in the little valley they were in. Fred did a hero's work in serving his gun night and day, the gun doing great execution at times. Our guns were always an object of attention from the Hun guns, and on last Tuesday, a beautiful sunny day, a shell landed near a small group and killed three or four instantly, wounding several others. Fred's death was absolutely instantaneous so he suffered no pain. His mates buried Fred close to his gun, and made a neat little grave, and I have arranged for a lasting cross to be put up, marking the site. The Officer in Charge of the Graves Commission will keep a record of the spot, and I am arranging for him to have a photograph taken as soon as it can be done".

Reference: Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand); 'The Colonist'; Vol LVIII; Issue 14262; 17 November 1916 : Titled: 'Gunner Fred Rout's Death - Our Artillery in Action in France'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett