Back in 2015, we started the “Northumberland At War” project with volunteers searching our collections for stories, about the home front and soldiers who served throughout the conflict. One aspect was the big task of transcribing the school log books, which was a job that Hilary, one of our volunteers, undertook. Five years on, and years after the project finished, Hilary is still working one morning a week extracting these stories.
A pattern developed; you can see the spread of epidemics and illnesses the children endured. We were always going to write a blog on this, but time has never allowed it. There was always something to prevent me from doing it. That is until now! I have found a wealth of information from the log books and newspapers that I think will develop into a number of blogs.
This is what our ancestors had to endure just over 100 years ago. The name may have changed, the causes and prevention hasn’t though? We could easily have travelled back in time, the only difference, between 1918 and now is the internet!
The school log books show the children suffered a variety of illnesses; some fatal, others not. There were the usual cases of head lice and the nit nurse visiting the schools. Go on, some of you will remember them, I do! There were the odd instances of skin eruptions [sounds awful]: impetigo, chicken pox, the spotted fever, scarlatina, and scarlet fever. One of my favourites though is the ‘ITCH’. I’m sure you are now scratching, I am just thinking about it. [Definition – Many skin conditions itch, including dry skin (xerosis), eczema (dermatitis), psoriasis, scabies, burns, scars, insect bites and hives. This was prevalent in February 1917 in Red Row Infants School [Ref CES 283/1/]].
There was a serious outbreak of ringworm in Seaton Terrace Junior School [Ref CES 130/1/1]; they had 25 cases in May 1914. They also reported the deaths of Joseph Graham who unfortunately, had been knocked down and crushed by the bakers van and Flora Burton who died of diphtheria, in January 1916. Plus a bad breakout of measles with 13 cases reported November 1919.
Whooping cough was also rife during those years. Stakeford Council School reported 25 cases in April 1915 [Ref CES 240/1/1]. Stannington School also had 35 cases of measles in May 1915 [Ref CES 242/2/2].
However, the biggest mention in these registers is influenza [‘flu]. There were various outbreaks which were isolated in the early years, but then there were the two outbreaks in July 1918 and later in the year into the early part of 1919. East Ord County Primary School [Ref CES 16/2/2] recorded this in their log book:
12 July 1918 – The epidemic of Spanish Flu has arrived in the parish. There are 6 cases amongst the school and a large number of adults are affected by the disease, which fortunately so far has produced no fatal results.
Later they recorded: “31 October 1918 the epidemic of influenza has broken out in the parish 20 scholars are absent.”
Branxton County Primary School [Ref CES 82/2/1], a school of only 32 children, reported that only 19 were fit for school on 4 November 1918.
Heddon on the Wall Church of England School had gone through whooping cough epidemics from February to March 1914, when 20% of a school of 112 were suffering. Then on 22 November, the log book recorded: “The Influenza epidemic has broken out in the village this week and is spreading, 20 children are off with it.”
Wark County Primary School [Ref CES 91/1/2] recorded the following: “1 November 1918 – There are cases of cold here and there, but so far no influenza has been reported in the district.” However, by 8 November 60% of the school was off with the flu and by 11 November: “School closed owing to the unabated spread of Influenza. One of our scholars Christine Wilson died of pneumonia.”
