The story of a 102-year-old World War One family heirloom

A piece of World War One family history has been preserved for over 100 years.

Whilst many men did not return from the fighting, a number of their precious keepsakes did, often being retained by close friends and family members.

This is the story of one Rochdale man’s treasured family possession.

Fred Waining was left the small Book of Common Prayer by his grandfather, Frederick James Waining, who served in World War One with the 9th battalion Royal Fusiliers.

Written in pencil at the front of the book are the words ‘this belongs to Pte.F.J.Waining 9th battalion Royal Fusiliers’ whilst the rear fly leaf bears a small inscription: "Presented to Percival Hutton by his Mother, Alice Hutton, 19 Whatmough St, Rochdale, Oct 4th 1916."

A short prayer follows:

Father of thy tender mercy

Look upon my boy I pray

Guard him,keep him,

Help him, save him

Bring him home to me some day

From Mother

 

 

Fred explained: “When I first received the book, I read the front fly leaf and thought, ‘ok what you'd expect’, when I read the rear fly leaf, I realised that the book had not originally been my grandad’s.

“This got me wondering how did my grandad come to have this book?

“It was only years later that I discovered that it was common for close friends to retain a keepsake in the event of one or other being killed, and I assume this is how my grandad came by it.”

Fred then set about researching Percival, discovering he was killed in action on 7 October 1916 – just three days after the date written in the small book by his loving mother.

The 26-year-old private was killed in action as his battalion attacked Bayonet Trench, Gueudecourt. He has no known grave with his name inscribed on Pier and Face 8 C 9 A and 16 A of the Thiepval Memorial.

• www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/105404/battles-of-the-somme-october-1916-littleborough-and-wardle-soldiers-who-fell

“This really affected me as I presume that he had never actually received the book from his mother and had not therefore read the verse,” Fred added.

A letter from Private Hutton’s officer stated "he had been with him since he had been on active service and had felt his death very keenly. He was killed by a German shell in a trench on the Somme front and his body was recovered and buried.”

As his body had been recovered and buried, its location must have been lost.

Fred’s grandad, Frederick James was severely wounded at the same time and was later invalided out of the Army in November 1916, later re-enlisting in the 5th Royal Fusiliers before he was discharged at the end of hostilities.

On a visit to France, Fred and his family left an engraved plate adjacent to Private Hutton’s commemoration plaque - inscribed with his Mother's prayer.

Fred commented: “I never expected to ever see a photo of Percival and it sent a tingle down my spine. Thank you Rochdale Online for publishing the article and photo on 4 October: I have downloaded the photo which will stay with the book.

“If there are any members of the Hutton family who wish to see the book, they are free to contact me.”