This Week in World War One, 8 September 1916

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 8 SEPTEMBER 1916

 

TWEEDSIDE POET HONOURED

BY

INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH POETRY

 

Thomas Grey, poet. © Unknown Newcastle-upon-Tyne Photographic Studio
Thomas Grey, poet. © Unknown Newcastle-upon-Tyne Photographic Studio

 

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.

An early photograph of Doddington village in Northumberland, where Piper Laidlaw,lived in 1916. © NRO 5176-33
An early photograph of Doddington village in Northumberland, where Piper Laidlaw,lived in 1916. © NRO 5176-33

 

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.
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.

Racing pulses – Sports Day at Stannington Sanatorium and Children’s Hospital

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Sports day 1957 shown on a temperature chart from a patient's file.
Sports day 1957 shown on a temperature chart from a patient’s file.

Sports Day was one of the biggest days in the Stannington patient’s calendar, and they didn’t come much bigger than that on the 7th September 1957, the 50th Jubile e of the Sanatorium. Sports Day is one of the few occasions we are lucky to have photographs of from different decades at Stannington, and though the events on the day must have varied through the years, we can use our records to find out a little of how they went. Below is a programme from the 1949 Sports Day, fortunately saved for us as it was accidentally included in a patient’s file.

Programme from the 1949 Sports day, accidentally included in a patient's file.
Programme from the 1949 Sports day, accidentally included in a patient’s file.

The day began with the fancy dress parade. The patients dressed up in a huge variety of costumes, and the event was immensely popular among the patients. It even proved a draw for those who had left. We have a letter included in a patient file asking if a former patient could return for the fancy dress ball and Sports Day. The parent said he ‘talked of nothing else but the fancy dress ball which is being held at the hospital in September’ asking if she could bring him ‘on the great day’. Sadly as at other times no children were allowed as visitors, Sports Day was a treat for the patients only.

Then the races began, which usually included the classic children’s Sports Day races like the egg and spoon race and sack race. Many of the children took the competition quite seriously. On the morning of the 1958 Sports Day a child was practicing running, and, unfortunate in choosing the veranda of Brough ward as a practice track, fell and cut their arm on the glass in the window.

The staff also competed in races, with a race for the nursing and domestic staff, and the programme shows there was a tug of war between the Hospital staff and the farm staff. Though the Farm Colony no longer existed by this time it is interesting to see a link was still kept with the farm. In the bottom of the 3 video clips below some of the staff can be seen participating in sack and running races, perhaps suggesting they took the competition as seriously as the children did.

However the jubilee year of the Sanatorium and Hospital in 1957 aimed to eclipse previous sports days. Though we have no programme of the day, fortunately for us it was recorded for posterity on a cine camera by Tom Temple, and deposited with us (V434). Tom was a market gardener by profession, inheriting the family business with his brother and producing vegetables like cabbages, sprouts, cauliflower, leeks, turnips, beetroot, and potatoes, as well as herbs, grain, rhubarb and gooseberries. He also acted as a Special Constable until the age of 70, and was awarded the Queen’s Medal for his service. However Tom’s hobby was cine film photography, and he took his camera everywhere, with sons Clive and Geoff in tow to carry his equipment. He filmed subjects such as the River Wansbeck from source to mouth, and would give shows of his films and talks at events and for groups such as the Rotary Club. Tom preferred to choose colourful subjects, and this is definitely the case with the Stannington Children’s Hospital Jubilee film. You can learn more about Tom’s family in his son Clive’s oral history (ref: T/722), and a number of his other films are deposited with Northumberland Archives. We have taken three sections of the 13 minute film to show some of the highlights of the 1957 Sports Day.

As in 1949 the day began with the fancy dress parade, and even bed-bound patients could dress up. Beds were brought out onto verandas, and we see other children lying on small beds on the grass. Judging must have been difficult, as the costumes were very inventive. There was often a topical nature to them, such as a little girl on the film who came dressed as Stannington’s 50th birthday cake.

Here we see all of the usual content of a Sports Day, as mentioned above, with children’s races, staff races, and pillow fights, with the inclusion of a bean bag race. The House Committee minutes for the 17th June 1957 show they planned to hire a band (the Morpeth Pipe Band are shown in the full footage) to provide incidental music, and tea parties would be given on the wards for patients and their parents, with others in the dining room for the committee and visitors. They also planned to include the usual fancy dress parade, races, and a parents’ race. Slideshows were given (perhaps these were also by Tom Temple?) and the patients were provided with ice cream and lemonade. The League of Friends decided to make a gift of a five shilling piece to each child in honour of the jubilee. The House Committee also planned to commemorate the jubilee year with a staff dance at the end of October.

The House Committee minutes for the 16th September decided that the Jubilee Sports Day had been:

“most successful and [the committee] resolved that thanks be recorded to members of the staff and all that had contributed to its success. It was further agreed that the secretary convey to the various organisations – League of Friends, Toc H, Round Table, Ladies circle, W.V.S., and Morpeth Pipe Band – grateful thanks for their generous co-operation and to Mr. T. Temple for his kindness in filming the proceedings.” HOSP/STAN/1/2/8

You can watch the whole 13 ½  minutes of Tom Temple’s footage of the Jubilee Sports Day on our online exhibition.

The Buglass Collection, Part Two : Such Splendid Fellows

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Ordinary Seaman Andrew Buglass
Ordinary Seaman Andrew Buglass

 

Andrew Buglass arrived at the Royal Naval Barracks, Portsmouth, in mid-February 1916.  From his first letter home, we learn that Andrew hates the Navy and wishes to return home and from there, join the army – as his brother George had done.  The weather does not help his mood.  Neither does the inconsiderate treatment he says he receives from his superiors and the doctor.  On Monday 7th February Andrew writes,

‘I was seeing the doctor this morning & had a lot of lip, said there was nothing the matter with me when I told him my state of mind, and said I was starting badly & said I had better look out or there would be trouble which made me worse than ever, but he gave me some more medicine for my stomach.’

Andrew wrote two letters on 15th February; one to his father and one to his mother.  The letter to his mother is cheerful, stating he is in the Soldiers and Sailors Rest drinking the cocoa which she had sent him.  The letter to his father is much darker, and continues the tone from his previous letters.  He states that ‘…today has been the worst day I have spent yet’, and that he is even thinking of deserting.  By the 17th February 1916, Andrew is in the Sick Bay.  He seems to be increasingly unwell, thinking he may have influenza.  The letter also illustrates Andrew’s fragile mental state.  He writes,

‘…I dread the coming of the night with its sweats and hideous dreams.  I sometimes wish I was dead anything is better than this…’

Ordinary Seaman Andrew Buglass died of pneumonia on 28th February 1916, little more than a month into his training.  He was 22 years old.  He was buried in Cambo Holy Trinity churchyard and is also commemorated on the Rutherford College War Memorial tablet, along with 151 men who were his Masters and fellow pupils.

 

Lance Corporal George Anderson Buglass enlisted on 16th October 1915 at Newcastle upon Tyne, and joined the Kings Royal Rifle Corps, 21st Battalion, designated the ‘Yeoman Rifles’.  This battalion was formed from farming communities in Yorkshire, Durham and Northumberland (hence Yeoman).

 

NRO 5944-L-2-9-20 copy

 

 

Training and equipping began after arrival at Aldershot in September 1915.  On 26th April 1916 the Division was inspected by H.M. The King, who was accompanied by Field Marshall Lord French and General Sir A. Hunter.  Entrainment began on May Day 1916 and by 8th May, the Division had completed its concentration between Hazebrouck and Bailleul, France.  Within the collection we have some of the letters George wrote home from the trenches to members of his family.  In one letter, written to his mother, Lizzie, he talks about watching gunfire over the trenches.

‘We sometimes see the flash of the guns after dark and last night at dusk we saw them bombarding an aeroplane but it must have been a long way off as we could only see the flashes but could not hear the sound of the explosion.’

In one of his final letters before going over the top, dated 13th September 1916, and addressed to his father, George makes quite a prophetic statement,

‘…We are going up to the trenches soon and as it is a rather hot corner some of us will be getting “blighties”.’

George and his comrades in the 21st Battalion were involved in the front line, in a support role, at Delville Wood in July 1916.  Their first involvement as an attack formation was in that part of the Somme battle known as the Battle of Flers-Coucelette, 15th-22nd September, which saw the very first use of tanks in battle.  George would have been one of the first to view these tanks, as the first one to advance started from the north end of Delville Wood, close to his position. At Zero Hour, George and his friends left Edge Trench and advanced across No Man’s Land, towards their first objective, which was secured by 07:00 hours.  The advance continued to the second objective, the western end of Flers Trench, immediately south of the village of Flers.  There was further fighting here, but the allotted section of trench was taken by the 21st Division after 30 minutes or so.  There was a delay which caused the advance to the third objective not to take place until mid-afternoon.  After this, there were no more advances this day.  As the troops were consolidating their gains, the German counter-barrage began.  In the evening, there were German attacks which were repulsed, but the shellfire continued. George would have been under machine gun fire as well as German counter attacks.

It seems likely that George was wounded sometime on the 15th, corresponding with his service records, which list that George was wounded, probably by shrapnel, in his neck, right arm, and buttock.  The wet, muddy conditions would have made his, and many others’, recovery very difficult.  George would probably have been taken first to the Regimental Aid Post which would be in, or very close to, the front line.  From there he would have gone to a Main Dressing Station.  He was taken to a Casualty Clearing Station on 16th September, and then on to No. 3 Stationary Hospital at Rouen on the 18th.  On the 19th September he arrived at Richmond Military Hospital, London.

George’s health seemed to improve whilst at Richmond, and he received some visitors, including his father.  George wrote some letters home whilst in hospital and the childish handwriting is evidence of the wounds he received in his right arm.  Yet, on 6th October, he died, somewhat unexpectedly.  His service records list that he died of ‘haemoptysis’ – the coughing up of blood/blood-stained sputum from the lungs, which is a sign of tuberculosis, respiratory infections, and pneumonia.

 

NRO 5944-F-6-32 (A) copy

 

 

 

 

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