Private Jesse Maynard of Aspley Guise

The Square, Aspley Guise c.1906 [Z1306/3a/21/6]

Monday 14th February 1916: Mr. George Maynard of Aspley Guise has received a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel Brighten telling him the circumstances of his son William “Jesse” Maynard with the 5th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment at Anzac in September 1915. Colonel Brighten writes:

“I have tried to get together some information about your son’s death. He was wounded in the trenches on the 12th September, at Anzac. Another man had just been hit, and I think your son went to help him, thereby getting into the line of fire. He was only hit in the arm – his right elbow being fractured, and it was not thought serious; and as he died the next day I fear he must have died of shock, or some other complication, immediately following the wound. He died at the 16th Casualty Clearing Station, and was buried at Anzac by the R.A.M.C. You will see from the above that your son really lost his life through helping a comrade, so that while mourning your loss you have the consolation of knowing that he met his death doing his duty.”

Source: Leighton Buzzard Observer, 22nd February 1916