Without the philanthropist Roland Philipson, who died on the 19th September 1906, the Stannington Sanatorium and Farm Colony would have been drastically different, or may never have existed at all. Descended from Philip de Thirlwall of Thirlwall castle, the Philipson family were famous for coach and train carriage building, and as solicitors and Aldermen of Newcastle. However they were also famous for their philanthropy, establishing many institutions and hospitals, for which Men of Mark Twixt Tyne and Tweed by Richard Welford is recommended reading. Roland’s grandfather, Ralph Park Philipson, was Town Clerk, Alderman, and solicitor to the North-Eastern Railway Company. It was after Ralph’s wife the ‘Philipson Memorial Orphan Asylum’ on Newcastle Town Moor was dedicated, a cause supported by the family for many generations. Roland’s father Hilton was a Justice of the Peace in Newcastle, and he and his wife Jane had five children. Born in Tynemouth in 1863, Roland was raised with his brothers Ralph and Hylton, and sisters Annie and Mary Seely Philipson, later Woosnam. He and his brothers attended Eton, where they can be found on the 1881 census.
Roland Philipson
He is described in later census as a mechanical engineer, and on the 2nd June 1905 became a director of the North-Eastern Railway Company. He was also involved in several coal companies, and was a director for the Wallsend Slipway Company, the Consett Iron Company, and North-Eastern Marine Engineering Company. As a Justice of the Peace he acted as chairman for the Wallsend Petty Sessions, and was a Juror at the Northumberland Assizes. The census and Kelly’s directories show he lived at 6 Prior’s Terrace, Tynemouth, but likely had other residences, possibly including one at Howick. He married Louisa Warden Parr in 1888 in Chorlton, Lancashire. She was born in North Shields. They had sons Hilton, Roland Thirlwall and Thirlwall, and a daughter, Vera. Roland was a philanthropist like the rest of his family, and gave the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade £2000 for a searchlight to help rescuers.
Mr John H. Watson, a founder and later Secretary of the PCHA, established the Newcastle Poor Children’s Holiday Association and Rescue Agency in 1888, to tackle the impact of poverty on children and bring homeless children off the streets (EP 10/75). When on holiday he came up with the idea of taking children from the slum areas of
A few years ago I had to pick up a colleague up in North Broomhill, on our way to a Family History Fair in Berwick. It was on the way towards the A1 that we passed a memorial. Its importance was not known to me at the time. So, on our return journey I had to stop to see what it was about. This story is probably one which is not widely known, except to the locals who visit such a tranquil spot for a walk.
Who would have thought that when they left their billets on 17 January 1945 that 10 of them would not return from a training exercise that day. It had been raining heavily and the river at Guyzance was in flood. Orders were given as they began their river crossing, only for the strong current and fast flowing river to pull their boat across the weir and with their heavy equipment weighing them down ten soldiers all under the age of 19 were drowned.
Those lost were:-
+ L/Cpl. Mark Frederick Fredlieb of Sheffield
Pte. N. Ashton of Castleford
+ Pte. Percy Gibson Clements of West Hartlepool
Pte. E King of Todmorden
+ Pte. Kenneth Lee of Bradford
+ Pte. Alexander Leighton of Annfield Plain
Pte M M Peddelty of Evenwood
+Pte John W. Wilson of Newcastle
+ Pte Ronald Herbert B. Winteringham of York
Pte. A Yates of Ferryhill
+ indicates that the body was found at the time of the inquest.
At the inquest which was held some weeks after the accident some of the bodies still had not been recovered. The inquiry was not to attach blame or bring criminal proceedings against anyone, but to try and make training exercises safer in the future.
Second Lieutenant George Leslie Renills, told the coroner that the exercise was to teach the men on how to handle the boat and not how to cross the river in a tactical manner, they were all inexperienced men in this respect. The boats they were using were made of canvas and wood with a flat wooden floor and considered safe for this type of exercise.
From 0930 to 1000 the men were given instructions in how to handle the boats, then six men and a Non-Commissioned Officer were loaded into the first boat and began crossing the swollen River Coquet. Whilst Renills was inspecting one of the boats, he realised the first boat was drifting as the men were not paddling correctly! He went to the vicinity and told them how to paddle and climbed into the boat to help them. The river was fast, but had a very smooth surface and he had crossed much worse. When he reached the other side he noticed the second boat was going down stream. He shouted to them to get across and they seemed to be paddling correctly, but drifted sideways and got back to the original side. They drifted towards an over-hanging tree. Two of the men in the rear grabbed some of the overhanging branches. Renills shouted a warning to them about the weir. The branches some of the men were holding onto gave way and the boat began drifting towards the weir. They were all paddling, but not correctly and I shouted at them to jump. One of the soldiers began to take off his equipment. The boat then went over the weir nose first with all of the men out of the boat. I saw five of the men come to the surface and try to swim, but seemed to be pressed down by the force of the water and disappeared. Renills went downstream looking for them.
Sergeant Instructor Leslie Murray, told the Coroner Mr Hugh Percy, that he saw one of the bodies caught in the midstream and being a good swimmer dived in, but was nearly knocked out due to the force of the current. The Coroner returned a verdict – That the men were downed whilst carrying out a military exercise owning to the boat carrying them accidently going over the weir. The jury also added a rider that some lifeguard such as a safety line should be in operation for training purposes.
The MP for the area wrote an article which was published in the Morpeth Herald 18 May 1945, about the tragedy “Eighteen young men who had been in the Army just a month or two, began practicing crossing a river in a wooden structure covered with canvas and very light – and needing very special skill even under more or less normal conditions. But on the day this happened there was one of the biggest floods that there has been for many years. A short distance away from where the accident happened there was a weir. There is a bend in the river and the river in flood takes the weight of the water to the side. Underneath the weir there is an 11ft/12ft drop where there is a pool from which stones were quarried when building it. The weir is about 70 yards long and the pool 30ft to 40ft deep by 30/40ft wide and these lads having been instructed how to paddle over lost control and went over the weir and were drowned.
“There is as, I say no criminal charge and I am not asking for one. But to take young men and give them instructions on how to cross there without placing any qualified person in the boat with them to ensure that they would cross shows there has been a great dereliction of duty.”
A letter was also received from the Secretary of State for War – It is clear that the Officer responsible was guilty of an error of judgement in that he failed to appreciate what risk which was being taken in practising assault boating, with untrained men at this place with the river in flood, but it was held that neither he nor anyone else was guilty of negligence. In training an inexperienced crew it is inevitable that some risks must be taken before they can become proficient, but this risk would certainly have been lessened, as you suggested by stretching a rope across the river above the weir. This has now been done. The letter continues……
River Coquet
I hope that this article may encourage some more people to visit the site and enjoy its setting, but also to remember those young men.
It is with pleasure we announce the election of Mr Thomas Grey, Church Road, Tweedmouth, as a Fellow of the International Institute of British Poetry, and we are sure our readers will join us in congratulating one who has been a regular contributor to our columns upon the well-deserved honour which has come to him unsought.
The Institute was founded in April of this year. Dr Chas. F. Forshaw, F.R.S.I., being the prime mover in the matter and the actual founder of the Institute. The idea of such an Institute had long been with him a cherished ambition, and this year being the Tercentenary of the death of Shakespeare and also the Tercentenary of the death of Cervantes and the centenary of the birth of Charlotte Bronte, he determined to carry it into execution. His experience as an anthologist of more than a generation’s standing had brought him into communication with thousands of poets in all walks of life and with fully a thousand he came into personal contact. Had it not been for the war, the Institute would have made greater progress, but it is safe to say that few could, by their unaided influence, have secured a more representative list of literateurs. The aims of the Institute are many and conducive to human happiness, elevation, learning, and interesting occupation, and full particulars and privileges of Fellowship may be obtained by applicants suitable for election, on application to our worthy townsman, Mr Grey.
BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS
TUESDAY
Before David Herriot and Thomas Wilson, Esquires.
ABSENTEE FROM THE ARMY
James A. Dixon (39), private, 7th N.F., was charged with being an absentee from the Army. He pleaded guilty.
Chief Constable Nicholson explained that a telegram had been received from the officer commanding the Company in which accused was serving to apprehend him, and he was found on the Parade by Constable Spiers.
Constable Spiers deponed that he me the accused on the Parade a 2.45 on the previous day and charged him with being an absentee. The accused replied that he had been waiting in Berwick for a railway pass to take him to his Company, but it had never came.
Chief Constable Nicholson said if the accused had applied to him he would have supplied him with a pass. There had, however, been a considerable amount of trouble with this man.
In answer to Mr Herriot the accused said he was under Major Gillespie’s command. He had been a fortnight out of the hospital at Newcastle, and came to Berwick, where he had been a week.
It was agreed to remand the accused, pending the arrival of a military escort, and to recommend Constable Spiers to the usual award of 5s for apprehending the prisoner.
LOCAL NEWS
Wreck on the Farnes.- The Norwegian steamer Gustav Vigeland was totally wrecked on the Knavestone Rock, Farne Islands early on Tuesday morning during a northerly gale. The whole of the crew, 21 in number, were landed at Seahouses, 12 by the North Sunderland lifeboat and nine by the Holy Island lifeboat. On landing the crew were taken charge of by the local agent of the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners’ Royal Benevolent Society, and lodged at the Bamburgh Castle Hotel in the care of Mrs Cuthbertson. The vessel was 1,336 tons net register, owned by Messrs Ellingson and Johnannsen, Bergen, and in the charge of Captain N. J. Nielsen. She was timber laden from Archangel to London. Since December, 1914, North Sunderland lifeboat Foster Fawsett has saved 75 lives. The crew left for Newcastle yesterday on their way home.
Piper Laidlaw, V.C. – On Saturday last the inmates of the Glendale Union Workhouse were entertained by Piper Laidlaw, V.C., who is a present spending a well-earned holiday at his home in Doddington village.
The company were assembled in the Dining Room, where the gallant piper delighted his audience with selections on the bagpipes and his racy and cheery remarks were equally appreciated. Mr Allan supplemented the soldier’s efforts with selections on the violin. An aged inmate (75 years old), danced a hornpipe in a manner which was really wonderful for one of his age. Miss M. Allan then danced the Highland Fling in excellent style. Piper Laidlaw also visited the sick wards speaking a few kindly words to each patient. Mrs Laidlaw and four children were also present. Mr Fanthorpe (master) proposed a vote of thanks to Piper Laidlaw and the others for their presence, and so kindly entertaining them. Hearty cheers were then given for the Loos hero, his visit having given great delight to all the inmates.
THE LATE LIEUT.-COL. FORSTER, FORMERLY OF SANSON SEAL
The death is announced a Brunswick House, Exmouh, at the age of 76 of Lieut-Colonel James Edward Forster, formerly of Sanson Seal, Berwick-upon-Tweed.
The late Colonel Forster, a member of an old Berwick family, was born at Berwick-on-Tweed (of which Borough he was a freeman) on 4th 1840, and received his commission as an Ensign in the 3rd Regiment of foot (the Buffs) on 18th March, 1858. He became Lieutenant in June 1862, Captain in August, 1867, and Major in January 1831.
Coat of Arms of The Buffs as inscribed on a grave in Stanley Military Cemetery, Hong Kong.
He served with the regiment in Malta, Gibraltar, the West Indies, Ireland, India, Natal and Singapore, and retired with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel, in September 1881.
He was on active service with the 2nd Battalion throughout the Zulu Campaign in South Africa in 1879, being present at the battle of Inzeyane and in Elkowe, during the investment there of the late Major General Sir Charles Pearson’s force.
Colonel Forster was mentioned in despatches for his services in that campaign, and received the South African Medal (1879) with clasp.
On retiring from the Army, Colonel Forster resided for a time a Sanson Seal, of which he was owner, but subsequently made his home a Exmouth, where he died.
His departure from the town, as well as that of his sisters, Mr Riddell and Miss Forster, was a considerable loss to the community. He late Colonel’s family was one well known for its beneficence, and all his life Colonel Forster remained a liberal contributor to some of the most deserving institutions in Berwick. As a landlord he was considerate and just, and his interest in all that appertained to the well-being of his farming tenants was never-failing. He was a fine type of squire, sportsman and citizen, and he came to his end as he wished, his mental activity unabated, and, although suffering from effects of a recent illness, still able to take his part in the circle of friendship which was his in the seaside town in which he was so well known.
