Lance/Corporal Herbert Gavin
6238 8th East Lancashire Regiment "D" Coy
Born in Manchester
Killed in Action 15th July 1916, aged 19
Lived at 135 Barden Lane
Buried in Pozieres British Cemetery, France Plot 3 Row F Grave 30

JUVENILE EFFORTS (BURNLEY EXPRESS & ADVERTISER 12/2/1916)

Accompanying a letter of thanks for a parcel, Lce-corpl. H Gavan (sic), 8th East Lancs Regt., forwarded the following verses

The men who stay at home at ease,
Can go to bed just when they please,
Have lots of ‘bacca and of beer,
But yet I’d rather be out here.

The chaps that stay at home and dine,
Have lots of victuals and of wine,
With walnuts “shelled” and all good cheer,
But it’s better to be “shelled” out here

The chaps who stay - the lucky dogs,
Can stroll about in tailored togs,
But though my make-up may be queer,
I’d rather be a scarecrow here.

The chaps who stay at home can play,
At tennis throughout the summer’s day,
And ne’er fall, bleeding to the rear,
Yet it is finer to be bleeding here

Sweethearting - oh ! You lucky chaps,
Who go a-wooing ! Well perhaps,
Unless I get a nasty scratch,
I’ll get a girl when I come back.

Why yes ! Who knows ? There still may be,
Some girl to love a bloke like me,
There’s a girl I know would shed a tear,
If I went under way out here.

The men who stay at home at ease,
May list, or enlist as they please,
For me - oh Heaven ! With conscience clear,
I much prefer to die out here.

WOUNDED IN JUNE, AND NOW MISSING (BURNLEY EXPRESS AND ADVERTISER 19/8/1916)

The Parents of Lance-Corpl. (6238) Gavin of the East Lancashire Regt. , who live at 32 Ashfield -road Burnley, have received word that he has been missing since July 15. The soldier was reported slightly wounded on June 27 but he returned to duty, and was missing after an action on July 15. Before enlisting he was a weaver at Messrs. burrows Britannia Mill

2/5/1917 (P) Burnley News 23/5/1917