In the autumn of 1914, a 19 year old John ‘Herbert’ Ogden, from Blackpool Lancashire, enlisted in the newly formed “Kitchener’s Army” to fight in the “Great War”. Like hundreds of thousands of other young men Herbert firmly believed it was his duty to fight when his country called.
Herbert was born in Oldham, the second child of Thomas and Edith Ogden. Thomas was a successful licensed victualler and had sent his son to a boarding school in Scotland. Herbert had three sisters and two younger brothers who all admired the tall, good looking and refined young man that Herbert became. Herbert’s mother had passed away in 1912, so was not there to see her sons join up one by one.
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Herbert after joining up |
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In this photo Herbert, in the foreground, is wearing a stylish knitted cardigan |
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Herbert is on the left of this photo leaning on the post |
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herbert is standing third from the left looking away from camera in his natty knitted cardigan |
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Herbert on the right looking older and more serious than previously |
Herbert fought in the Battle of Arras in France on Easter Monday 1917 and ever since the family, including my husband, Gavin – Herbert’s great nephew – have believed that that is where Herbert died in battle. Herbert’s war record like almost 70% of others from before 1940, was destroyed in a fire at the War Office so details of his movements had been hard for the family to trace. And more significantly, no one thought to doubt handed down oral stories of Herbert’s tale. Where Herbert was buried was sadly unknown.
Only two or three weeks ago an amazing family treasure came to light. Buried in a box deep in the attic, a photo album belonging to Herbert’s sister Edith was unearthed. Edith was also the sister of Florence – Gavin’s grandmother. In it are numerous photos of a smiling, handsome, well groomed young Herbert in uniform. Amongst these photos are even a number of Herbert at the training camp in Mansfield (shown above). But one photo in particular made me decide to write Herbert’s story.
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Herbert in a hand knitted scarf |
This photo of an elegant Herbert was taken in 1915 during Herbert’s training. Under his coat he is wearing a thick, warm looking hand knitted scarf. Knitted by one of his sisters or by one of the hundreds of thousands of women who knitted for the troops during the WW1 conflict? Dorothy Peel in her book “How We Lived Then” (1929) writes of women knitting socks, mitts, body belts, hats, scarves – ‘comforts’ as they were known – for the soldiers. Knitting took place everywhere, in trams, trains, theatres and parks. In “All Quiet on the Home Front” (Richard van Emden and Steve Humphries, 2003) it tells the story of a minister being asked by local women if it was right or wrong to knit socks on Sundays for the soldiers. The minister told them it was quite right, which they were very pleased about. In his “A History of Hand Knitting”, Richard Rutt explains that wartime knitting hit a peak in 1915 and was further fanned by an appeal by Queen Mary for hand knits for the troops in 1916. In fact, troops apparently received so many hand knitted comforts that socks and gloves were used as dish clothes and tea towels!
Herbert’s simple scarf really doesn’t need a pattern but I went through my patterns anyway to see if I could actually find a pattern for a garter stitch scarf. The most likely place was the first edition of “Woolcraft” published by J and J Baldwin shortly before the outbreak of war in 1914, and which before the end of the war, four years later, was on to its third edition but I was unable to locate a scarf pattern like Herbert’s. In “Knitted Comforts for our Sailors, Soldiers & Airmen” by Scotch Wool & Hosiery Stores is an almost identical scarf to Herbert’s, but the copy of the book I have is much later in date, although I believe it may be a reprint of an earlier booklet as the yarn recommended is “Wheeling”. In Richard Rutt’s book he has described this as a coarse woollen-spun yarn, usually 3 ply, a description which he in turn probably got from one of the earliest Woolcraft’s where it is described as:
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the battlefield of Passchendaele |
Why should jolly soldier-boys complain?
God made these before the roofless Flood –
Mud and rain.Mangling cramps and bullets through the brain,
Jesus never guessed them when He died.
Jesus had a purpose for His pain,
Ay, like abject beasts we shed our blood,
Often asking if we die in vain.
Gloom conceals us in a soaking sack —
Mud and rain.
15 Responses
Maria (viola33)
Thank you for sharing this story. I think it's important for people to remeber their past.
Mim
Thank you for sharing Herbert's story. He may not have a grave, but as long as he's remembered he'll never be lost.
knutty knitter
I lost a great uncle in both ww1 and ww2. I don't know an awful lot about the first world war uncle except that he must have been very young. I should look him up and find out a little more.
I do have a ww2 knitting manual for the air force. I have used the sock pattern and modified it for school teaching use (steiner schools knit socks on 4 needles as part of their handwork curriculum). I suspect it was supplied for my grandfather who was air force but as he spent his entire war years on or near the equator, I suspect it wasn't used much 🙂
viv in nz
Gwenynen
What a lovely post, thank you! A coincidence also, as I cast on for a muffler for my partner just like this a few weeks ago. He is involved in re-enactment groups, and has started doing French Foreign Legion 1914. I find I end up knitting quite a lot for him! I have a couple of pdfs of pattern books from 1915-1916, so I found some French Navy wool in my stash, and have cast on 54 sts in dk with 4mms. He's 6'3, so my scarf has some way to go! He's also had a pair of Rifle Mittens from the same source. I can only bodge things together, though, because I don't have your extensive experience with translating vintage patterns. Thank you for all your fascinating posts.
Anonymous
I was completely captivated by your story of Herbert, and likewise, the story of so many others. It's so hard to imagine what it was really like in that war, how awful the conditions were, how terrible it was. It was heartbreaking to read Herbert's story after seeing the date of his death and knowing he wasn't a survivor. So poignant and moving. Thank you for sharing!!
Shearer's Girl
This is a beautiful tribute. Thank you for sharing Herbert's story.
Jenny
There are so many sad stories like this from that war. My great uncle Jim ( James Creighton) perished in No Man's Land, at the Battle of the Somme only a few short months after joining up and leaving his home in Tasmania. So very sad.
Your scarf is lovely tribute.
Felicity Ford
How extraordinary to read this drawing together of the history of knitting, WW1, and the personal narratives of your family tree.
I love how you have tied these themes together, and I am delighted for Edith's box of photos and for your knitting pattern, which are a beautiful tribute to and reminder of Herbert and all the young men like him who died in the foulness of the trenches.
fabriquefantastique
well done Susan, I always stop by a war memorial, when I see one, and read a few names…its the very least one can do.
superheidi
That's such a moving story.
I've been interested in WWI after reading some wonderful novels. After visiting some battles grounds, monuments and grave yards (actually also Arras, Ypres, Paschendale, Vimy) made it all more impressive.
Love your idea!
Lynn
This is such a moving and inspiring story. I wanted to share a photograph my brother gave me of women knitting for soldiers during WWI. I posted it here-http://fidlstix.blogspot.com/
Tracy
That's a wonderful post about Herbert Susan. Its so important to remember the enormous sacrifice a generation of young men made on our behalf. My Great Grandfather Joseph Hughes died at Arras April 1917 and is commemorated on a memorial in the town. If we remember and appreciate them they will live on x
LandGirl1980
What a wonderful post indeed! My Gramps was also in the Royal Fusiliers- and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial. I have loved reading a little bit about your heritage. Nice to have so many photos of him 🙂
Freyalyn Close-Hainsworth
Thank you for this thoughtful and sad post.
Kelly
Thank you for Herbert's story and scarf. I will knit this scarf and think of him and so many others while I do.I am a teacher. Teaching History is my first love. I have often had my students interview older generations to get a first hand perspective from these "treasured witnesses of time." Thank you again.