Richard Wilkinson was born in 1890 and worked as a Composite Miner at Linton Colliery, living in Ashington, Northumberland. At the age of 26 he received his call up notice to join the Royal Field Artillery and had to leave his wife Evelyn and their children, Lillian 3 and James 1.
It was sometime around July 1916 and having completed his basic training, Dick was posted to Ireland to a town called Ballincollig, County Cork.
It was not a pleasant posting, as English Tommie’s were not welcome in Ireland at this time. Surprisingly now after 100 years, the buildings in Main Street look the same; although obviously the shop fronts & pavements have been modernised.
The barracks still exist; although these were remodelled in 1944, but part of the original Guard House entrance remains.
After they completed their spell of duty in Ireland, Dick and his comrades were shipped out to France landing at Le Havre before arriving in the trenches. The R.F.A. had large ordnance, which were pulled by a team of horses to get them into the right position and part of Dick’s duties was to care for one particular horse and they became quite attached.
The battle of Passchendaele lasted from July to November 1917 and it was during this fighting, Dick was badly wounded in one leg. He lay for some time in “No Man’s Land” before being taken to a Dressing Station and eventually being transported back to ‘Blighty’.He was taken to Queen Mary’s Hospital in Walley, Lancashire where the skill of the surgeons and the nursing staff saved his leg from amputation; although it would always be half the size of the other one. Unfortunately, the hospital no longer exists – it’s now a housing estate, but the entrance into the estate still bears the original stone gate posts of the hospital. Dick was to remain in the hospital for a year before finally returning home in 1919. A second son, Robert was born in 1920.
Not long after returning to Ashington Dick was invalided out of the Army with a 10/-d per week pension which he drew right up to his death in November 1952. One morning Dick heard the Co-op Milk Cart turn into the street and to his surprise, the horse pulling the cart was his horse from the trenches and they both recognised each other. Now what odds do you think Ladbrokes would quote for that happening? Needless to say that horse got titbits every morning,
Dick returned to Composite Mining at Linton though as the years passed, due partly to his war injury and partly to accidents that occurred underground, he had to take on easier shift work, working in the area at the bottom of the shaft.
A third son, Richard, was born in 1925, and dear readers – I married him!
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jean Wilkinson in supplying this article for the Northumberland At War Project.
The records of Stannington Sanatorium came to Northumberland Archives in the 1980s and at this point a former patient who was in the sanatorium from 1930-1936 wrote to the then Deputy County Archivist sharing his memories of his time in Stannington:
Dear Sir
What a joy and lovely surprise to receive your letter & brochure about Stannington Sanatorium! I was overcome and close to tears, as having spent nearly 5 ½ years there as a child, & in my formative years Stannington has meant so much to me. I had a TB knee my parents took me to my Dr. who confirmed it & sent me to Newcastle Infirmary for treatment. Leg put in Paris of Plaster, did no good to my leg, so I was sent to Stannington feeling terribly homesick & cried every night to go home, however I settled down to a long sojourn & treatment.
Visiting day was once every two months! My mother, a lovely soul, used to send me books & comics every week. The Magnet, The Gem, Adventure & Hotspur etc. How I looked forward to receiving them and a five shilling postal order to buy things at the tuck shop. Those were the days of hospitals with matrons, sisters, ward sisters, a lady almoner, no unions, but very dedicated nurses and staff, people who loved what they were doing. Oh yes ward maids who loved us children, the matron was strict but understanding & a comfort too, the nurses used to cuddle us and show us a lot of affection. I loved it all!
HOSP/STAN/11/1/65
I received good food, had a spoonful of Virol and Numol twice a day, Christmas was special, artists from the Newcastle Empire & Palace came to entertain us, nurses sang carols. I feel sure we became their children to love and care for I received many kisses from them, the nearness of them as they carried us off to the bathroom was sweet & to a child they became our mothers bless them. Yes I owe Stannington a lot for my education & way of life because remember it was the thirties & people were hungry and home, no work for men and lots of pawn shops open. But there was no violence, or muggings as they call it and we could walk the streets at without fear & folk were caring and kind, what a sad state of affairs today Sir.
I was born and bred in Wallsend served my apprenticeship as a joiner at Swan Hunters very strict too. I had a happy time as a youth, used to dance at the Oxford Galleries, drink at the Pineapple Grill & go every Saturday to the Empire to see visiting bands such as Roy Fox, Harry Roy, Lew Stone etc. and also to a 4 hour show at the Paramount Cinema complete with organ and stage show all for half a crown. Oh happy days!
I am returning in three weeks’ time I remember a lot of my little friends who died in Stannington while I have been blessed with a good working life, a family & good health. I am a true Geordie in my nature and spirit I am full of nostalgia for Stannington and Newcastle and those people who were true and dedicated to their work who gave a little boy from Wallsend on Tyne lots of love and care and put me on my feet again. I have worked out since, in my memory summers were long, people were nice and one never grew old.
Lady Allendale has received numerous postcards and letters from prisoners interned in Germany, acknowledging parcels sent to them, for which they are most grateful.
One prisoner, writing from Munster, Westphalia, asks for cocoa, sugar, milk, Golden Syrup, Hovis bread, Woodbines, and soap. He says he is only allowed to write two letters a month, so, if this regulation applies to other prisoners, this will account for parcels not being acknowledged regularly.
Lady Allendale understands that at some of the prisons luxuries are not allowed. Therefore, it is advisable only to send such articles of food as bread (brown is best), biscuits, butter, dripping, cocoa, and milk. Anything in the way of luxuries, such as sweets, chocolate, and cakes, are liable to be confiscated.
Poster National Egg Collection for the wounded
WOOLER
FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS: On Sunday afternoon last a united missionary and egg service was held in the Archbold Hall at which there was a good attendance. The Rev. H. Proctor gave an interesting address on mission work in West Africa where he had laboured for some years. All were invited to bring fresh eggs to be sent to the British Red Cross Society for our wounded soldiers and sailors. A collection was also taken in aid of missionary work. The Rev. N. Reid was chairman. At the united service on Sunday in the Archbold Hall, nearly 500 eggs were collected for the wounded soldiers and sailors, and over £3 was taken for the Missionary cause.
BERWICK PUBLIC BOWLING GREEN OPENED
A Splendid Acquisition to the Town
The outcome of the enterprise and labour of a number of the working men in Berwick was witnessed at the Old Bowling Green, Ravesdowne, on Monday evening, when the Mayor (Mr Thomas Wilson) opened the Berwick Public Bowling Green. The mayor was accompanied by the Sheriff (Mr E. W. Stiles), Mr D.H.W. Askew, Castle Hills, Mr H. G. McCreath, Mr J. Elder, Dr C. L. Fraser, Rev. R. C. Inglis and the Secretary of the Club, Mr A. Carstairs. There was a large attendance to witness the opening ceremony.
Area marked as Former Tennis Court, Ravensdowne, Berwick-upon-Tweed. 1900’s
The proposal to have a public Bowling Green in Berwick has been afoot for some time and to expedite the matter a public meeting was called in the Town Hall where it was decided to canvas the town for subscriptions. A good sum of money was obtained but not of a sufficient amount to enable a green to be laid out, for the outbreak of war in a great measure stopped the flow of subscriptions. A splendid opportunity was afforded the Committee when the old bowling green behind the barracks was advertised to be let, and the Committee have entered into a five years lease. This green was where the Berwick Bowling Club first started and it was vacant for some time after that club laid out their green at the Stanks. Later it was occupied for bowls by the officers of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, but latterly the ground has been utilised for playing of tennis. The turf is in a good state of preservation, and with a little care and attention the surface will soon be made quite suitable for playing. Its condition on Monday evening was excellent considering the short time spent in improving it.
THE ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT
Mr Jos. Seals, in calling upon the Mayor to declare the green open, said: – The origin of this movement took place some few months ago. Berwick Town Council was approached with a view to providing as they do in other towns, a public bowling green to be within the financial reach of the working classes. Owing to their having so much in hand they found it impossible to carry out what was required. The Mayor kindly suggested that a public meeting be called, and from that meeting we have this green. We commenced to canvas the town for subscriptions to assist financially and as far as we went the town responded right nobly, but owing to the war we had necessity to cease asking for subscriptions owing to the very large number of necessities that had arisen from the war. The matter then lay for some time until it was seen in the papers that the green was to be let. A committee meeting was called and without hesitation it was decoded to take the green and bring the matter to a successful issue to the best of our ability. We still have a need for more financial support but we have sufficient confidence in the public spirit of the Borough to know that that need will be supplied. We propose in some way to make arrangements for allowing the different bodies of soldiers in the town to play on the green. We should like to let them play free but as that would be killing the goose which lays the golden egg, we will meet them in the best way we can. I have great pleasure in calling upon the Mayor to open this green, and I may add that we have had assistance from the beginning and our success in a very large measure is due to him. (Applause)
THE GREEN OPENED
The Mayor said: let me congratulate this Committee of Berwick Public Green for having done such a great work as this. I have much pleasure in declaring the green open and I hope it will be taken advantage of by the working class. (Loud applause)
The Mayor, thereafter played the first bowl and was followed by the Sheriff, Mr Askew, and Mr. McCreath.
Play was free to visitors for the evening and a most enjoyable game was played.
FUNDS FOR THE QUEEN’S NURSES
SOLDIERS AND CIVILIANS HELP
Royal Scots…………………..1 Berwick Rovers…………………..0
Without doubt a larger crowd has never gathered at the Stanks, Berwick, than that which viewed the match on Thursday evening between the 2/10th Royal Scots, and Berwick Rovers, at which a collection was taken in aid of the funds of the Berwick Queen’s Nurses. By kind permission of Colonel Peterkin, the Royal Scots Piper Band paraded the principal street before the match, and drew large
The Stanks, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland. Grazing sheep, 1900s Ref: BRO 2103-6-32
crowds to the venue of play. Collectors were busy amongst the crowd during the match, and the excellent sum of £8 10s was realised. The arrangements for the match were in the hands of Mr. A. A. Crisp, High Street, Berwick. The teams chosen were: Royal Scots-Corpl. Hill ( Queensferry St Andrew’s); Lance Corpl. Hay (Wemyss Athletic) and Pte.Trupe ( Juvenile); Corpl. Anderson ( Juvenile), Pte.Valentine ( Bathgate Primrose), and Pte.Preston ( Bathgate), Sergt. Brown (Armadale Rangers), Corpl. Jameison (Vale of Grange), Pte. McIver (Juvenile), and Pte. Middleton (Linlithgow Rose.) Berwick Rovers- W. Ferguson; R.T. Tait and E.N.Fenby; D.Redfearn, H. Burgon, J.Paul; J. Weatherburn, C. Barth, A. Weatherburn, G. Mofatt, and J. Scobie.
