Month: February 2015

This Week in World War One, 20th February 1915

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 19 FEBRUARY 1915

CHATTON

Patriotic Meeting,-The Rev W. Thorp, M.A., gave a lantern lecture on “Early Stages of the Great War,” in the course of which about seven dozen slides were used to illustrate the various aspects of the conflict. Mr J.R. Marshall, of Chatton Park, the chairman, referred to the suitability of the financial object of the meeting, namely; the helping of Belgian refugees, who will benefit to the extent of £4 as a result.  A feature of the meeting was the presence of four Belgian soldiers at present being cared for in their convalescence at Hetton House by Mrs L.H. Leather-Culley, who along with some of her Red Cross nurses, accompanied them.

LOCAL NEWS

Vessels Ashore.-About 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning the steamship “C.H.R. Christesen” of Copenhagen, 911 tons, and built in Flensburg in 1903, which was bound from Aarkuus for New York, via the Tyne, in ballast, ran ashore on the Longstone Point. The vessel was badly holed and is likely to become a total wreck.

The Holy Island lifeboat was launched at 6.15 a.m. to assist in landing the crew of nineteen on the Longstone. The crew were brought to the mainland by the Seahouses lifeboat and Berwick Harbour tug.

Bewick advertiser 19th feb 1915 shopkeepers advert
Recruiting advert from the Berwick Advertiser February 19th 1915

 

TWEED SALMON FISHING SEASON OPENS

Salmon fishing commenced on the Tweed on Monday morning, but the opening was not particularly bright, and only a few fish were caught. In the Norham district the opening was decidedly disappointing. Salmon sold on Monday at 2s per lb, this being the same as on the opening day last year. The fishing at the river mouth stations this year will be rather handicapped owing to the military authorities prohibiting fishing at these stations at night.

There has been no improvement in the fishing since Monday. On Thursday morning there was a spate in the river and in consequence of this the stations in the lower reaches were not working. Salmon was sold on Thursday at 1s 9d per lb. against 2s on the corresponding day last year.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

A parcel of cigarettes sent by the household servants at Wooperton (through Mr R. F. Henderson, Wooler), has been acknowledged by the “C” Squadron Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, and were much appreciated.

The 7th Welsh Territorials, who have been stationed at Berwick on coast defence since August, are preparing to leave the town for another station in the south. The men have become very popular during their stay in the town and their vocalists have taken a prominent part in many local concerts.

An armoured motor car attached to the Highland Light Infantry, stopped in Berwick on Wednesday evening for a short time on its way north. This is the first armoured car to pass through Berwick, and it attracted a good deal of attention.

 

Berwick Advertiser 1915 Feb 19th Pg2 martins stationary
Advert for Martin’s stationary shop, from the Berwick Advertiser 19th February 1915

A MARTIAL DISTINCTION TO AN OLD CONTRIBUTOR OF THE “ADVERTISER”

Thomas Burns, F.R.S.I., who has been a highly appreciated contributor to our columns for many years, and much of whose poetry has been published in book form, has just received a special letter of thanks from Lord Kitchener’s, from the War Office, London, for his poem entitled “The March of Kitchener’s Army,” which appeared in the “Advertiser” on the 5th of the present month.

During recent years there have been many honours showered upon our author in recognition of his labours in the sphere of poetry, and happily amongst them, compliments from sovereigns, scientists, philosophers, divines, and fellow poets, and other literateurs of the highest distinction.

But a recognition by, and a special letter of thanks from the superman of the moment, and such a moment, pregnant as it is with world wide destinies, which has enveloped and may constitute new boundaries, and determine vastly different conditions of life throughout the whole civilised world: such an honour is well fitted to bring a glow of pride that will kindle a new flame of courage in the poet’s heart though the fact remains, that since the beginning of time, the poet and the warrior have ever fought shoulder to shoulder on the same plane for the uplifting of humanity and for the light and liberty of the race.

Harris Lines of Arrested Growth

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The poor living conditions that many of the children at Stannington Sanatorium came from, outlined in our last post, can often leave physical markers on the skeleton, namely Harris Lines.

Harris Lines are an indication of periods of arrested growth whilst the body is still growing during childhood and can be displayed as opaque, transverse lines on long bones. These can be identified through radiographic imaging or physically on skeletal remains.

The appearance of these lines is considered to show periods in an individual’s childhood when the body comes under stress, which is usually attributed to malnutrition or significant childhood disease. In order for the individual to acquire Harris Lines, they have to have recovered from the period of stress, prolonged malnutrition or disease would not result in their appearance.

HOSP-STAN-07-01-02-1625-06
HOSP-STAN-07-01-02-1625-06

Numerous patients from Stannington Sanatorium demonstrate Harris Lines in their radiographs. One such example is seen above, patient 148/1948. Thi image was taken in November 1948, approximately 10 months after initial diagnosis of tuberculosis was made. On this patient Harris Lines are identifiable on both proximal and, to a greater degree, distal tibiae, as a brighter, opaque line close to the epiphysis.

This individual was admitted to the sanatorium aged 2 with a Primary Complex, primary infection in the mid zone of the right lung. Their medical history indicates that their father had been diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and subsequently died. The family, consisting of mother, father and two children were living in one room for the majority of the individual’s life, only moving to a two roomed house around the time of their admission to Stannington and on admittance to the sanatorium the child was described in the medical notes as being ‘thin’ and ‘ pale’.

Social conditions such as these would have attributed to the premise of the child undergoing one or more periods of stress during growth and alongside the description of the individual being ‘thin’, malnutrition is possible. A poor appetite or anorexia is often noted in the medical notes of patients as being symptomatic of tuberculosis, again suggesting possible malnutrition. However, the effects of the tuberculosis infection alone would have put the body under due stress and may, therefore, have contributed to the presence of Harris Lines. Both malnutrition and acute tuberculous infection are potential causes of the Harris Lines, alone and in conjunction with one another, and demonstrate the secondary effects that disease and social conditions can have on an individual’s body.

This patient was removed against medical advice approximately one month after admittance, only to be re-admitted seven months later with tuberculosis of the cervical vertebrae. They were eventually discharged in December 1950, two years later, but continued to be seen as an out-patient. No further treatment was required at Stannington Sanatorium.

 

For more radiographic images, view the ‘Radiographs from Stannington’ on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/99322319@N07/sets/72157648833066476/

Sources

Roberts, C and Manchester, K (2006). Archaeology of Disease (3rd Edition). Cornell University Press.

This Week in World War One, 12 February 1915

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 12 FEBRUARY 1915

 HOLY ISLAND

Patriotic Concert- Amidst a show of bunting and flags an entertainment was given in the schoolroom on Monday last on behalf of the War Funds. The first part of the programme consisted of a series of songs and recitations given by small children. Mr George Wilson sung the popular “Tipperary” song.

This was followed by the pageant “Britannia’s Reception of her Colonies.” The performers were all attired in costumes representing the various countries and performed their parts in a manner which called forth great applause. Mrs Marion Bell represented Britannia (whose train was borne by Florence Spencer and Maggie D Cromarty), to whom father Neptune (Mr Hollingsworth) presented the Ambassadors of Canada (Miss May Wilson), accompanied by the Negro (James E. Walker) and Red Indian (James Brigham). Australia was represented by Mrs Hollingsworth; New Zealand by Miss Fanny Douglas; India by Miss Lalla Bell; South Africa by Ralph Wilson; our ally Japan, by Miss Lulu Bell; On Britannia calling for the representatives of the homeland Mr R. A Wilson bowed to her in the character of John Bull and was followed by Miss Maggie Wilson for Scotland; Miss Rachael Kyle for Ireland; Miss Lalla Allison for Wales. The Army and Navy were seen in the persons of Messrs R Straughan and T. Cromarty.

The schoolroom was well filled with a very appreciative audience who afterwards requested that the performance might be repeated in the near future to enable others to enjoy it. Great credit is due to Mr Riley, who organised the entertainment and was ably assisted by Mr and Mrs Hollingsworth; Mrs Crawshaw; Mrs Riley and Miss Brigham.

 

The Market Square in Holy Island
Postcard of Market Square on Holy Island Ref: BRO/426/1068

 

 

ITEMS OF INTEREST

The family of Sergeant James Ramsay, R.F.A., of Berwick, has a fine record of patriotism. His Grandfather and father were in the Army, and his son is also in the R.F.A. His wife and daughter are both acting as nurses, and his son-in-law, Lieut. Weir, R.F.A., received his commission for bravery at Mons.

2nd Lieut. John Robertson, only son of Alex Robertson of Gateshead, has been promoted Lieut. 11th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. Lieut. Robertson is the grandson of the late John Robertson and of the late Joseph Currie, of West End, Tweedmouth.

 

Advert for films being shown at The Playhouse, Berwick
Advert from the Berwick Advertiser, 12 February 1915.

 

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