BERWICK ADVERTISER, 17 OCTOBER 1919

18/10/2019 by Northumberland Archives

WELCOME HOME AT FORD

LORD JOICEY PRESIDES AT MEMORABLE GATHERING

EX-SERVICE MEN RECEIVE HANDSOME MEMENTO

Over a hundred ex-service men were welcomed home by the parish officers of Ford on Friday evening, when in addition to an excellent supper, each man was presented with a handsome frame memento from Lord Joicey and family, and a high class concert given by Mr Jno. M. Dudgeon and his party from Berwick assisted by Mr. J. C. Collingwood in his famous “coster” numbers.

The old school, famous for its biblical paintings by Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, was tastefully decorated with the Union Jack and Allied flags, while on the tables set round the room a supper was spread calculated to please the most fastidious.

Lord Joicey presided, and was accompanied by his son, Lieut-Col, the Hon. H. L. Jociey, D.S.O., and members of the Committee and friends. Willing hands of ladies ministered to the wants of the men, and there was abundance of everything, served up in a first class orders. Beer and mineral waters were served at the supper, while at the concert which followed there was the “tot” with which to honour the toasts and abundance of cigarettes.

Supper having been cleared away, and the loyal toast of the King having been proposed by Lord Joicey, the toast list was embarked upon the items being interspersed by musical numbers provided by Mr Dudgeon and party.

THE FORCES

Lord Joicey was accorded a great reception on rising to move the toast of the Imperial Forces. His Lordship having referred to the magnificent services rendered by all branches of the Service, said we owed a great debt of gratitude to the Navy, which had kept our trade routes open. They often heard the House of Lords referred to as a body effete, but he wished to tell them that if it had not been for the House of Lords the Declaration of London would have been agreed to, and we would not have had a Navy able to do half the work which our navy had done in the war. (Cheers). They could never express what they owed to the Army, to the five million men who had never faltered in taking their stand against the attacks of an army which had been preparing for the last thirty years. (Applause). The Army well deserved the encomeums heaped upon it, not only the regulars, but volunteers of all classes. It was the great capacity shown by these people in connection with the army that enabled us to find ourselves in the comfortable state we did today. (Loud cheers).

Col. Joicey, who replied, spoke of the enormous sacrifices of mothers, fathers, and wives at home. Many would remember when the Germans launched their dastardly gas attack in 1915. Then even the stoutest hearts “over there” were rather up against it. It was then that they found doctors and chemists of this country endeavouring to meet this unlooked for situation. It was then that thanks to the devoted women of England that gas masks were supplied in 36 hours. (Cheers). That was the spirit of those at home. (Cheers). It was grand (renewed cheers). Col. Joicey then referred to the excellent fighting qualities of the British soldier. He hoped that the noble spirit shown by all in the war would be carried right through in the days of peace. (Applause).

LOCAL NEWS

The enterprising firm of Ford’s Garage and Cycle Co., Ltd., of Berwick-on-Tweed and Alnwick, who recently took possession of the Red Lion Hotel, have now made it into one of the most up-to-date garages and repair shops in the North.

The Lion garage can just be seen on the far right of this early 20th century photograph taken of Marygate. It was the home to Ford’s Garage and Cycle Co., Ltd. REF: BRO 1506-009

As will be seen from our advertising columns, they have been appointed authorised dealers in Ford cars and replacement parts for the Parliamentary Division of Berwick-on-Tweed, and with the splendidly equipped workshops and efficient staff of mechanics which they have at their disposal, they are in a position to undertake any repair.

TWEEDMOUTH

We have heard a very pertinent comment on the site favoured for the Tweedmouth War Memorial, viz., the railed-in plot at the Tweedmouth end of the Bridge. Is the Committee taking the new bridge into account? It would be a pity for the memorial to be hidden away under the new bridge, and when the new bridge is erected there will surely be a better site available.

The Tweedmouth War Memorial Fund now stands at over £420, among the latest contributions being £10 from Sir F. D. Blake, Bart., M. P. The architectural plans of the proposed monument and site are ready, and the scheme is being pressed well forward. Despite Berwick’s chilling reception to the proposal to hold a Flag Day in aid of the Memorials in the Borough, Tweedmouth has determined to stick to its plan, and arrangements for a Flag Day on Saturday, 25th October, are now well in hand.

W.A.A.C.’S DEMOBILISED

The members of the Q.M.A.A. Corps, some of whom have been in Berwick since the corps first came to town in 1917, have been demobilised, and are leaving today (Thursday) for their homes. Drawn from a wide district the girls who came from Edinburgh headquarters, will now be scattered all over the country, no two girls going to exactly the same place. They are very sorry to leave, and speak highly of the kindness they have received from the people of Berwick. During their stay, under the command of their officer, Miss Fiddes, they have led a most active life, and yet have found time to run several concerts in aid of various charities. They have spent a very happy time in the town, and will be greatly missed.

“I was an Unruly Slave”: Moses Roper, American Slavery and the Connection to Northumberland

18/10/2019 by Northumberland Archives

Moses Roper remains an unknown figure in the twenty-first century, despite his immense impact on the transatlantic world during the Victorian period.

For the last 6 years, I have been following the journeys of formerly enslaved African Americans to the British Isles, in an attempt to understand why women and men like Roper crossed the Atlantic, to find out where they visited, who they stayed with, and how they lectured on the Victorian stage. During the nineteenth century, numerous black activists spoke in large cities and small villages across the nation, to educate British audiences about the brutal and inhumane system of American slavery. As escaped fugitives, many sought temporary reprieve from American soil, while others remained in Britain permanently for the rest of their lives. Some gave lectures to raise money for specific antislavery societies on both sides of the Atlantic, or concentrated on raising money to legally purchase the freedom of enslaved family members, or even themselves. Others sought work with varying degrees of success. Black men and women made an indelible mark on society by holding lectures in famous meeting halls, taverns, theatres, churches, and the private parlour rooms of wealthy patrons across the country. They wrote and published narratives, stayed with influential reformers and ensured millions of words were written about them in the Victorian newspapers.

I have attempted to map some of their journeys on my website, www.frederickdouglassinbritain.com. As you will see from Moses Roper’s map, he travelled far and wide, crisscrossing through the rural villages of Cornwall and Wales, all the way to the Scottish Highlands. Nine hundred and eighty-five speaking locations have been mapped for Roper between 1838-1861. Between 1837-1848, he spoke in Baptist, Independent, Methodist and Quaker churches as well as town halls in nearly every county in Britain; in 1844, Roper wrote that he had lectured in over 2,000 towns throughout the country and sold over 25,000 English copies of his narrative, as well as 5,000 in Welsh. According to his listeners, “they [had] never heard a lecture more calculated to enlighten” the public on American slavery.

Roper was born enslaved in North Carolina in 1815, as a result of his enslaved mother’s rape by her white slaveowner. He suffered from extreme acts of torture and violence, and tried to escape (by his count) between 15-20 times; every failed attempt led to severe punishment, and he was thus described as an “unruly slave.” Roper’s courageous resistance eventually paid off, when he finally escaped from a Florida plantation in 1834 and travelled to New York.

Shortly afterwards, Roper came to Britain and conducted extensive lecturing tours until the 1840s, in part making a living by lecturing to audiences about slavery. During his performances, Roper highlighted the cruelties of slavery as well as the hypocrisies of American society. In one lecture, he stated: “You have heard the slave-holders’ story 250 years ago. Now, I think it is time for the slaves to speak. I have published an account of my sufferings and escape, and I have sent a copy of that book to every slave-holder whose name is there mentioned.” (The Leicestershire Mercury and General Advertiser for the Midland Counties, May 19 1838, p.2)

Roper believed it was time for enslaved individuals – and African Americans in general – to tell their side of the story by any means necessary. He had a duty to write and speak on the subject of slavery and convince others of its cruelty, and even took the bold move to send his former slave owner a copy of his autobiography, a symbolic gesture that simultaneously represented his liberty and his desire to shame all those connected with slavery.

Moses Roper in Northumberland

During the early to mid 1840s, Roper spoke in Northumberland several times to packed audiences about American slavery. In February 1846, Roper lectured in Belford, and the local newspaper correspondent wrote that:

“Mr. Moses Roper, an escaped slave, delivered a lecture in the Presbyterian church, Belford, on Wednesday evening week, on the subject of slavery, as existing in the United States of America. The audience was large, and during the delivery of the address, which occupied nearly two hours, the most breathless attention was given while Mr. R. related the monstrous cruelties which he himself had endured in a country professing to be the freest on the face of the earth.” (Berwick and Kelso Warder, 28 February 1846, 3)

In another lecture, the local correspondent described how “the greatest interest was manifested by the audience in the heart-stirring pictures drawn by Mr. Roper of the misery and suffering endured by that unfortunate class of human beings…” The correspondent ended his article with:

“Altogether, considering his bearing and address, and the horrors he has endured in his own person, he excites the greatest interest; and should he give another lecture in Berwick, we would advise our readers who have not yet heard him, to be present. We understand that a narrative of his adventures and escape will in a few days be published, and may be had at the booksellers.” (Berwick and Kelson Warder, 28 February 1846, 3)

The correspondent refers here to Roper’s autobiography. By 1846, Roper had published multiple editions of his slave narrative, first published in 1839. The book was ground-breaking for its use of visual images to depict slavery, including illustrations of chains and instruments of torture that had been enacted upon Roper himself. You can read the 1848 edition of Roper’s narrative online here, which contains a list of some of his speaking locations at the end.

After his last tour of Britain in the early 1860s, Roper returned to America and still lectured sporadically into the 1870s and 1880s. He suffered from illness towards the end of his life, and was found one night at a train station in Boston with his loyal dog by his side. He was taken to hospital, but died shortly afterwards in 1891. We should remember him through his relentless activism against slavery and white supremacy, together with his courageous desire to earn and defend his liberty.

Dr. Hannah-Rose Murray

University of Edinburgh

With thanks to Jane Bowen for her help and support with sourcing documents at Northumberland Archives for my research, and for a short article in the local newspaper.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 3 OCTOBER 1919

04/10/2019 by Northumberland Archives

THE RAILWAY STRIKE

Another lightning strike has temporarily paralysed the transport of the country, and the Government are taking drastic measures to cope with the situation. At ten o’clock on Friday night the North-Eastern men of all grades except the officials of Goods and passenger departments and clerks ceased work and by midnight traffic was suspended on the North-British Railway in a like measure.

The strike has the full approval of the A.S.L.E. and F. and N. U. R. (and is, in fact, the first authorised strike since 1911), and we believe that prior to the stoppage of work the officials of the Union received instructions to inform all drivers and firemen that engines should be uncoupled and left in good order safely housed in the sheds.

TRAINS LEFT ANYWHERE

This was carried out to the letter so far as engines were concerned, but rolling stock was left in all conceivable positions on the line, on main lines and over bridges and culverts. A goods and empty carriage train was left on the bridge at Highgate, Tweedmouth, the driver and fireman uncoupling and proceeding back to the sheds to book off. We are informed that one driver brought his train back to Tweedmouth from Newcastle for the sole reason that he wanted home himself, while another for the same reason brought back herring workers who had got as far south as Chathill and were likely to be stranded.

North-British men at Berwick were cut to a man, some of the men in the lower grades who for years have never missed a day at work being as enthusiastic on the strike “stunt” as youngsters.

An early 20th century image of a locomotive at Tweedmouth Goods Yard, which could have possibly been housed there during the strike. REF: Bro 2349-35-002

STRANDED PASSENGERS

A detachment of troops from Archangel and a dauntless band of fisher lassies from Cockenzie proceeding south to the herring curing were amongst the stranded travellers at Berwick. The soldiers were taken charge of by the military authorities and on Monday morning they were kept fit by having a march out. The fisher girls took their troubles with the true philosophical spirt of the Scotch fisher folk and they were looked after by Mr D. M. Rosie, Fishery Officer, who received every assistance from the Mayor and Sheriff. Accompanying the girls were one or two male fish workers, who with the aid of a pair of Bagpipes and Berwick ale, got themselves into an amiable frame of mind.

The girls were housed in lodgings in the town and left on Wednesday morning for the south, their passage being guaranteed by the Railway Company on trains driven by Inspectors.

Many other people found themselves stranded, but happily they were all able to get houseroom in the Borough.

LOCAL NEWS

Large audiences have visited the Playhouse during the past week, and have been charmed with the programme provided. Sergt. Learmonte, K.O.S.B., has been enthusiastically received in his vocal numbers, but we have heard him in much better voice. For next week a fine programme is promised, and the management are endeavouring to have the films forward in time, though this is a matter of difficulty, owing to the strike. From Monday to Wednesday there will be screened the thrilling drama, “The House of Silence,” in which features Wallace Reid, a star of the film world. The story is full of interest, and depicts a wealthy clubman being called to a mystery house, where murder has been done, and who, assuming the role of detective, probes the mystery at the risk of his life. “Tainted Lives” is another powerful picture well worth seeing. From Thursday to the end of the week there will be screened “Only a Girl,” a sensational story of the Gold Country. A pleasing film is also shown, entitled “The Eye of Envy,” a film away from the ordinary. There will be the usual comedies, and the vocal interlude will be provided by Miss Willins, a pleasing soprano.

AUTUMN HOLIDAY

Whatever may have been the feeling of the inhabitants of Berwick, cut off from the beauty spots of the district, towards the strikes, there was no bloodshed, however, and the Autumn Holiday passed off without any outstanding incident.

In the forenoon, those who were abroad in the upperpart of the town, were greatly amused by the reception given to those running the trains from Edinburgh by the strikers. Ironic cheers were raised, and the non-strikers in the crowd were greatly tickled when the firemen responded to the ovation by dancing a jig on the footplate.

The “aero mail,” too, caused a sensation and the pilot was loudly cheered by the younger children as he circled low over the housetops.

The pleasure grounds at Norham and Velvet Hall were deserted in comparison with former years, and there being no other option left to holiday-makers than to stay at home, they made the best of the day there.

The river was busy, and beaches at Spittal and Berwick, too, had their quotas, though the chill wind kept many from spending an afternoon by the sea. On the golf course there was a field day players of various grades of proficiency being out, lustily driving the “gutta” round the course, or losing the ball in the rough.

Those who were imbued with the sporting instinct were amply catered for. There were football matches at Union Park, Pier Field, and on the Stanks, where spectators were treated to exhibitions of goal-scoring rather than science. At Pier Field also Berwick Hockey Club had a good turn-out for its first practice.

Many, we learn, spent the day in their gardens and allotments, spending their holiday in the most profitable way they knew. Motors were busy during the day, but not for joy-riding, and heavy motor lorries throbbed through the streets going north and south.

MILITARY NOTES

BERWICK TERRIER’S MEDAL

Congratulations to Lance-Corporal George Weatherburn, late of the 7th N.F., who has been awarded the Territorial Efficiency Medal for over 12 years’ service with the Territorial Force. A keen territorial in pre-war days, he volunteered for service in 1914, and went overseas with the 7th N. F., with whom he had a good spell of active service. A railwayman in civil life he transferred to the L.E. (Railway Ordnance Depot), and till the end of the campaign was soldering on board an engine, Lance-Corpl. Weatherburn was asked by the Record Office whether he would have his medal sent by post or presented by a parade of troops, and he modestly chose the former course.

HONOURED BY FRENCH PRESIDENT

Lieut-Colonel A. J. Foster, C.M.G., C.B.E., a former Northumberland Militia officer, has been appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour by the French President. Colonel Foster commanded the 4th battalion Northumberland Fusiliers when they proceeded to France and until he was invalided home, being mentioned in despatches three times. He is now Assistant Controller in the Ministry of Munitions.

MACHINE GUNNERS RE-UNION

It is intended to have a Reunion Supper and concert in connection with the machine gunners from Berwick and Belford districts, who originally went overseas with the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers (T. F.) and who eventually were transferred to the machine Gun Corps. Major F. B. Cowen, M.C., has the arrangements in hand, and is being assisted by Sergt. T. H. Grey and Pte. C. Bradford. The anniversary of the armistice – a Tuesday – has been selected as the evening for the event.

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