Northumberland Archives

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS,1923

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BERWICK ADVETRISER, 18TH SEPTEMBER

RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Rural District Council met in the Board Room of the Workhouse, Belford, on Wednesday afternoon, Dr Macaskie, Medical Officer and Mr T. Dodd, Surveyor and Sanitary Inspector, were present.

INCREASE OF CANCER

Dr. Macaskie reported that he had received a circular from the Ministry of health dealing with the question of cancer, in view of the great and increasing amount of suffering and death due to this disease. The circular was a long one but he submitted important points. During the last 20 years cancer has increased by 20 per cent and tuberculosis had declined by 38 per cent.

The High Street, Belford, in the early 1900s. Reference: BRO 0515/39

The disease may to a certain extent be prevented by the removal of rough stumps of teeth or bad fitting dental plates, a change of habit in pipe smoking and attention to the functions of the stomach and bowels. Cancer in the early stages may be quite painless. This is a danger and leads to delay in seeking medical advice being generally sought too late.

ANOTHER SERIOUS FARM FIRE AT LADYKIRK

STEADING GUTTED AND EIGHT STACKS DESTROYED

Within a week from the last outbreak of fire on a farm in the Ladykirk district, another configuration took place in the early hours of Saturday morning on the farm of West Ladykirk, occupied by Mr Fleming. The fire had got a good hold on the steading buildings when it was discovered shortly after two o’clock and the farmer immediately came off by motor to Berwick to summon the fire brigade.

The Berwick brigade left shortly after three o’clock and proceeded with the hand pumping engine to the scene of the outbreak, but on arrival there it was found that the Ladykirk House engine was already in attendance and there was not much water available for playing upon the fire. Farm workers and others in the district rendered every assistance to the brigades whose energies were devoted to pulling down the burning grain from the stacks and keeping the fire within bounds. Happily, the wind was favourable to the work of fighting the fire, otherwise the whole of the farm buildings hight have been wiped out. Some difficulty was experienced in getting the horses and stock from the stables and byres as the animals were scared and almost unmanageable. They were all got safely out, however, but the buildings were entirely gutted.

Eight stacks of new grain were entirely destroyed, and the damage done to buildings and machinery is considerable.

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL ADOPTS SCHEME FOR OFFICIAL’S SUPERANNUATION

FARMERS’ UNION OPPPOSES ADDITIONAL BURDEN ON RATES

A special meeting of the Northumberland County Council was held in the Moot Hall, Newcastle, on Thursday morning, under the chairmanship of Sir Francis D. Blake, Bart., for the purpose of considering the adoption of the Local Government and Other Officers’ Superannuation Act. 1922, particulars of which we have already published.

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report of the establishment Committee which recommended the adoption of the Act, to come into operation on March 31, 1924. He regretted that the attendance was small, as the matter was one of considerable importance. When they remembered that their staff, which was administering the pensions of police and teachers, had no pension themselves, it became an increasing obligation on the Council to make some provision such as was now proposed. So far as he knew, Somersetshire was the only County Council which had rejected the Act, but the decision had been reached by such a small majority that it was being re-considered. What was going to be the position of a county which rejected an Act, which, in his opinion, was a measure of justice? Would they have command of the best officials and servants if they were one of the only counties to reject the pension. He thought it was in their own interest, as well as in the interests of those who gave long, faithful and valuable service, that they should adopt the Act. The salaries of the staff at the present time compared but poorly with those in other parts of the country, and especially in their own immediate neighbourhood. The cost to the rates was less than a halfpenny in the £.

Mr R. Browell, while offering no objection to the scheme as a whole, asked if the Act made provision for workmen, and, if so, what would be the actuary’s report as to the cost, if workmen were included in the scheme.

The Chairman replied that the Act did provide for workmen, but if the Council wished to consider this inclusion it would have to be under a new scheme, based upon the actuarial report. He was under the impression that the great trade unions of the country had not welcomed the Act as being of much assistance to workmen.

Mr Browell said he did not know what attitude the trade unions had adopted, but he wanted to be assured that the County Council would look as favourably upon a scheme for the officials and staff.

The Chairman replied that he could not pledge the County Council.

(Full article can be read in Berwick Advertiser, 28th September 1923)

MILITARY NOTES

The Depot are holding a “Cinderella” dance in the Barracks Gymnasium commencing at 7.30 pm on Friday 28th, in aid of the Borderers’ Club, Edinburgh. The main feature of the dance will be the music, as a band of seven players has been engaged for the evening.

Honorary members of the Sergeants’ Mess, Depot King’s Own Scottish Borderers, are requested to return their membership cards for revision as soon as possible to enable fresh roll to be completed.

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL UNVEILING

The Berwick Detachment, 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, will provide a guard to honour at the unveiling of the Berwick War Memorial on 11th November, and ranks who wish to parade that day are being asked to notify Sergt. Loder immediately as drills will have to be held during next month to practice parades. Earl Haig will inspect the guard of honour after the memorial is unveiled. The Depot K.O.S.B. are finding the guard of honour for Earl Haig.

War Memorial, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Copyright J Thomas – (cropped image) Creative Commons Licence 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

The near relatives of the fallen who have not yet applied for reserved seats at the unveiling should do so without delay to Lieut-Col. W. B. Mackay, 23 Castlegate. The accommodation is very limited and after the 30th September, it will be strictly allotted according to applications received and the requirements of other quests. The committee most earnestly desire that no relative entitled to a seat should be excluded, but seats cannot be reserved unless application is made before the end of this month.

WAR MEDALS

It is officially stated by the War Office that 13,158,964 medals for services in the Great War hane now been distributed. This total is made up as follows:-

1914 Stars                           363,825

1914-15 Stars                    2,057,913

British War Medals          5,465,442

Victory Medals                  5,050,367

Distinguished Conduct Medals   33,070

Meritorious Service Medals         29,223

Military Medals                                129,828

Territorial War Medals                  29,296

But one great difficulty that still faces the War Office in the matter of distribution is the fact that so many men entitled to awards have not kept their Record Offices informed of their correct addresses. As a matter of fact hundreds of medals are still being returned through the Post Office to the War Office or Record Offices because those entitled cannot be found. All men who have not received their medals are due should communicate with the Officer-in-Charge of Records of the particular regiment in which they last served, giving full name and regimental number.

BERWICK LABOUR PARTY

MR GIBBON REVIEWS THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN

At a general Committee meeting of Berwick Labour Party, held on Friday, 21st Sept., Mr Gibbon, District Organiser, who was present, reviewed the recent election campaign.

At the commencement of his address he reported on the financial position of the election funds, which was very satisfactory, a small balance being left in hand after all expenses had been paid. In course of his speech Mr Gibbon said a large number of people had been disappointed with the measure of support Labour had received in the recent election. In his opinion Labour did exceedingly well seeing this was the first time this Division had been contested. A few years ago when contesting a constituency for the first time they considered they had done well f they secured one in five of the votes cast at the first time of asking. They would have done even better if they had had cars to convey their supporters to the poll.

In some cases voters had seven miles to walk to the polling stations, a distance which meant that only the ablest of people had the opportunity to record their vote. Every endeavour should be kade to have this state of affairs altered and an adequate number of polling stations provided.

Labour workers, Mr Gibbon said, had every reason to congratulate themselves on the fight they had been able to put so early in their life as a political party in this division.

                         Men of the first Home Guard

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This guest blog has been written by Bill Openshaw. Bill will be talking about his new book To The Call Of Bugles: A history of the Percy Tenantry Volunteers 1789-1914, at Cramlington Library on Tuesday 10 October at 2pm. Book on Eventbrite nlandlibs.eventbrite.co.uk/

If you were to utter the words ‘Home Guard’, to many it would conjure up images of the likes of Corporal Jones or Captain Mainwaring from the classic tv comedy, ‘Dad’s Army.’ The real Home Guard of the Second World War, however, were not the bumbling old fools as portrayed in the tv program. In truth, many were experienced military men and although too old for the regular armed forces, still had something to offer in defence of our nation.

One hundred and fifty years earlier, our ancestors found themselves in similar circumstances as a French Revolutionary army that had swept Europe in the 1790’s, now prepared to cross the English Channel, volunteers were called for. In 1803, the threat came from the boggy man himself, Napoleon Buonaparte. In 1797 the last invasion of Britain occurred. The French plan had been to send a large force to Ireland and assist an Irish rebellion, while two smaller forces would land near Bristol and Tyneside. It was believed that the working classes of Britain would rise up against their masters and allow the two invasion forces to march to the manufacturing area of Manchester. Despite the plan failing, due to bad weather and the Royal Navy, a successful landing was made in Fishguard in South Wales. The French had not foreseen the John Bull spirit of the British people.

Although this small invasion force was fooled into surrendering to a smaller British Militia and volunteer force, the fear of invasion was increased. The government therefore again called for volunteers in 1798 and again in 1803 to meet the threat of Napoleon.

The men of Northumberland came forth in proportionally more numbers than many other counties. The first to stand forward were the men of Berwick in June 1794 followed in January 1795 by the Newcastle Loyal Volunteers. As a result of the Fishguard incident, by 1798, seventeen volunteer corps had formed in Northumberland, such as the Morpeth Volunteer Infantry (123 men), North Shields and Tynemouth infantry (157 men), Seaton Delaval Infantry (60 men), Wallington & Kirkharle Cavalry (43 men). The largest of these was the Percy Tenantry Volunteers who would by 1803, number 1500 men. They were raised by General Hugh Percy, the 2nd Duke of Northumberland.

Who were the men that stood forward to serve in defence of their families and country. Most of their names are recorded within the surviving muster lists that can be found within the Northumberland Archives. The records often display their place of abode and sometimes their occupation. For people compiling a family history, they can be a useful addition to the family story. A little digging can unearth all sorts of information.

For instance, the Rev. James Birkett was one such volunteer who served as a sergeant in the Percy Tenantry infantry. The curate at Ovingham church, he ran a boarding school of some note and surprisingly his image was found in the collection at Woodhorn.

EP 102/46

Joseph Lamb was a Captain with the Percy Tenantry Riflemen. In 1798 he served with the Loyal Axwell Cavalry but in 1803 joined the Duke’s corps along with his brother. Amongst other things, he owned the Northumberland Glass works in Lemington. He was a fervent anti-slavery supporter and became Mayor of Newcastle in 1836.

NRO 599/2 & 3

Other men of note to be found amongst the muster rolls of the Percy Tenantry are William Hedley and Timothy Hackworth. These two men built and designed the first locomotives including the ‘Puffing Billy’, engines that would change the world. Perhaps they served by the side of one of your ancestors.

NRO 599/2 & 3 – Some Annals of the Lambs: A Border Family

NRO 02659/5 – Appointment of Joseph Lamb as Captain in Percy Tenantry Volunteers

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS, 1923

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 14TH SEPTEMBER

SCREMERSTON FLOWER SHOW

Scremerston Horticultural Society held their tenth annual show in the Institute on Saturday and established a post-war record as regards entries. The numerous exhibits wee nicely laid out and were admired by the crowds of interested visitors present during the afternoon.

The show was opened by Mr J. A. Kilpatrick, Manager of the Scremerston Colliery, the Secretary and Committee greatly regretting that Mr John Black, Broomhouse, who was to have performed this duty, was unable to be present owing to illness. Capt. J. E. Carr presided, and others on the platform wee Capt. R. E. Carr, R.N., and Rev. J. Lightfoot, Mr John Black, Broomhouse, and Mr James Thomson, Secretary. Introducing Mr Kilpatrick, Capt.Carr expressed pleasure at seeing such a large number of people present.

BRO 0515-211 SCREMERSTON

Mr Kilpatrick said there were one or two little points he wished to emphasise. He understood that the number of entries was very high- between 500 and 600 – and that this was a post-war record. That was very gratifying indeed. The second point was that Mr Richard Thomson had won the shield for the third time in succession. (Applause). Mr J Wilson, the runner-up, had been runner-up for the past two years. (Applause). Speaking as a layman, as one who knew very little about flowers or vegetables, he thought that the show was rather extraordinary, especially when one took in to account the lateness of the season.

Mr Kilpatrick then handed the shield to Mr Thomson amid applause, reading the names of previous winners out as he did so.

WASTE PAPER IN THE STREET

The Watch Committee report of July 30 stated:- With reference to the question of the deposit of waste paper in the streets the Town Clerk submitted a letter from the Under Secretary of State stating that the following bye-law has been allowed in Birmingham, viz.: No person shall throw down or deposit and leave in any street any newspaper or any paper bag, wrapping or sheet such as is likely to create a litter in or to affect or tend to affect injuriously the amenities of the street. Before allowing a similar bye-law to Berwick-on-Tweed the letter further stated that the Secretary of State would require to be informed of the circumstances which are thought to render the bye-law necessary and would also require an undertaking that liberal provision of receptacles would be made in the streets into which the public could deposit their waste paper and also that the Council would do everything in their power to upload the bye-law and prevent it becoming a dead letter. It was agreed to recommend that the Town Clerk submit evidence of the necessity for such a bye-law, and that an undertaking be given as required by the Secretary of State with a view to the bye-law being made.

Early 1900s photograph of the High Street, from the Scotsgate Arch. BRO 1636-2-9

Councillor Bolus moved the adoption of the report, saying – I think this is absolutely necessary. You can go down High Street, Church Street, or up in Castlegate and you will find paper flying about over the houses and shops. I think this regulation is very necessary so that every person will understand that they must not make the streets in such a disgraceful state.

Councillor Campbell, who seconded, said that this summer the condition of the streets through the quantities of waste paper flying about was really so bad that not only residents, but people visiting their native town on holiday had spoken about it. These people when they come back were struck, after living in other areas, with the litter we had in our streets. It was no fault of the Sanitary Authority officials for it could happen even half an hour after the carts had been round. He was convinced they could make out a case to amply satisfy the Secretary of State of the necessity for such a bye-law.

TWEEDMOUTH

The Norman Hall at the West End has had the electric light installed and the hall has been thoroughly cleaned and decorated for the winter session.

We hear that Mr Thos. Wright, son of Mr and Mrs George Wright, Dock view, Tweedmouth, who went to the United States recently has been successful in obtaining employment with the Canadian Pacific Railway Company at Chicago. Mr Wright, who is well-known in the town, started life as a clerk with Messrs Carter and Son, and was later with Messrs Simpson in Alnwick.

On the occasion of her marriage and departure from Tweedmouth Co-operative Society, Mrs Ford (nee Miss Maggie Howie) has been made the recipient of a very nice 40 piece set of china. The gift was subscribed for by the whole staff of the Society, amongst whom Mrs Ford has been very popular. She was in the clerical department at thee Store for many years.

BODY ON SPITTAL BEACH

About 6.30 p.m. on Sunday evening, when Thomas Johnston, a Spittal labourer, was walking on the beach at Hallowstell Fishery, near Spittal Point, he noticed a parcel lying on the beach about four yards from where high-water mark was showing. The parcel had evidently been left by the tide, which was receding at the time.

Johnston cut the string and opened the parcel and was shocked to find wrapped in the clothes the body of a healthy-looking male child. From the size and condition of the body the child had evidently lived, and it had not been in the water any length of time.

The police wee informed, and Sergt. Barclay, Spittal, took charge of the body and conveyed it to the mortuary. In view of certain facts which have come to light it was considered advisable that full enquiry should be made into the case, and on Tuesday, after the Coroner (Mr H. R. Peters) had heard only evidence regarding the finding of the body, he adjourned the inquest until the 3rd October, stating that he would then call a jury.

It is probable that sensational evidence may be given at the adjourned inquest, which may lead to a serious charge against some person or persons at present unknown.

DEATH OF MR AND.MARTIN

The death took place in Berwick Infirmary on Sunday of Mr Andrew Martin, farmer, Town Farm, Tweedmouth, a leader in the Baptist de nomination at Berwick and one well-known to farmers on both sides of the Border. Mr Martin, who was a native of the district, was born at Marshall Meadows. He came to Berwick to work as a traveller with Mr Anderson, seedsman, and later he left there and started business in partnership with Mr Wm. Scott as seedsman in bridge Street, Berwick.

It is some fifteen years ago since Mr Martin took Tweedmouth Town Farm, and he certainly has done much to improve this 300 acre arable holding. At the farm he had thoroughly up-to-date threshing and grinding plant installed and in fact the farm has recently been self-contained, a blacksmiths and joiner’s shop having been fitted up on the premises. It will be remembered that during the war, when the Government was calling for supplies of barley, Mr martin, by putting on several tractors on his holding, cut a big crop of barley and marketed it within fourteen days of the time cutting was commenced.

Mr Martin certainly knew how to farm, and he was a very good judge of horse flesh. He kept fine types of animals on his farm, and believed that only the best results could be got by working with the best of stuff either in horseflesh or other things.

In politics Mr Martin was a staunch Liberal and in him Castlegate Baptist Church has lost a staunch supporter. He took a great interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the congregation, and in the Deacon’s Court he was a prominent figure.

The funeral took lace to Tweedmouth Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, when there was a large following of townsmen and farmers.

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