B.E.F April 27th 1917
Dear Mrs Maddocks,
It is with the deepest regret that I am writing to tell you that your son, Gunner G.E. Maddocks died
of wounds in hospital last night. He was hit by piece of shell yesterday evening, whilst mending a
telephone line between the battery and observation post. He was taken to hospital where it was
found that a small piece of shell had penetrated his lung. I trust that he suffered little pain and you
may be sure that while in hospital he was made as comfortable as possible.
He had only been with us a short time since 17th April, and had been doing duty on the telephone
lines. But he had shown us in that time that he knew how to act like a soldier. When he met his
death, he had gone out voluntarily under shell fire to mend the telephone lines. So that you have
this to console you and be proud of that he died like a soldier. He will be buried close to the
hospital where he died. His fellow telephonists who have been working with him ask me to send you
their deepest sympathy.
Please accept my deepest sympathy for you in your great trouble.
Yours sincerely,
Maurice S Lush
2/Lt. RGA 94th Siege Battery
GEORGE EDGAR MADDOCKS