This Week in World War One, 30 April 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 30 APRIL 1915

 

WOOLER

 

Red Cross- Lady Boyle has acknowledged, having received a box of bandages, dressings, clothing and chocolate from the Wooler Women’s Voluntary Aid Detachment for Red Cross Hospitals in Serbia. Mrs Tower Robertson, Berwick, has acknowledged another parcel of comforts for soldiers from the members of the Wooler Girl’s Friendly Society.

 

The Local Territorials
BRO 2098-002 Image from Berwick Record Office: Northumberland Fusilier Camp at Greystoke: 7th Northumberland Fusiliers June 1914
BRO 2098-002 Image from Berwick Record Office: Northumberland Fusilier Camp at Greystoke: 7th Northumberland Fusiliers June 1914

The Local Territorials attached to the 7th Northumberland’s left for an unknown destination last week. Letters have been received, from which it appears they have arrived safely in France, and will no doubt find themselves in the fighting line before long. Let us hope that they will render a good account of themselves, and uphold the honour of Northumberland, returning safe home when the Huns have been satisfactorily disposed of, and that complete victory may crown the efforts of the Allies and that this may be speedily accomplished will be the fervent wish of all.

 

FIRST CASUALITY (sic) IN THE 7th N.F.
Berwick Territorials Wounded.

 

More casualties were reported on Thursday amongst the local troops who left the North about a week ago, and took part in the battle of Ypres soon after they arrived at the front.

We learn that the Northumberland Territorials have taken an active part in the fighting, and amongst the battalions engaged were the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, the 5th 7th and 8th Battalions of the Durham Light Infantry, and the 4th Yorkshire Territorials.

From word received from the front in Berwick on Wednesday, it is quite evident that the Berwick companies of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, have received their baptism of fire. Mrs Egan, 23 Church Street, Berwick, has received a field postcard from her son, Private H. S. Egan, No. 1 Company, 7th N.F., saying that he was wounded and in hospital. Private Egan is a son of the late Sergeant James Egan, Royal Field Artillery, who, after twenty years’ service in the Army, came to reside in Berwick. Mrs Buglass, 35 Church Street, Berwick, has also received a postcard from her son, Corporal James Buglass, No. 1 Company, 7th N.F., saying he is wounded and in hospital. The 7th N.F. left for the front a week past Tuesday, and have been put into action very soon.

Royal Northumberland Fusiliers badge
Royal Northumberland Fusiliers badge

Since writing the above information has been received by Mrs Davidson, 37 Dock View, Tweedmouth, that her oldest son, Pte. A. Davidson, 7th N.F., has been wounded. Mrs Davidson’s second son, Pte. T. Davidson, is also serving in the same regiment. Mrs Waite, 9 Tweedside Terrace, Tweedmouth, has also received information that her son, Pte. Thomas Waite, has been wounded in the leg. Pte. Waite was employed in the office of Mr H. R. Peters, solicitor, Berwick, before the outbreak of war.

Sir E. Grey’s Cousin in Solitary Confinement

 

Amongst the British officers who have been placed in prison in solitary confinement by the Germans, as a reprisal for the treatment of the German submarine crews, is Captain Robin Grey, who is a cousin of Sir Edward Grey, and was formerly Conservative candidate for the Bishop Auckland Division. He was reported as missing in October, and a prisoner at Torgau in November. He was decorated in September with the Legion of Honour for distinguished service in the field.

Map locating Torgau, World War One http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germanyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germany
Map locating Torgau, World War One http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I_prisoners_of_war_in_Germany

Another officer who has been placed in solitary confinement is Lieut. Alaistair Robertson, Gordon Highlanders, son of Mr W. Robertson, Cheltenham. Lieut. Robertson is nephew of Major Tower Robertson, Tweedmouth, and of Miss A. Henderson, Ravensdowne, Berwick. He was twenty-two years of age on the day he was arrested.

WWII And The Move To Hexham Hydro

by

Yesterday the Stannington Sanatorium Project team took a trip to Hexham Hydro, now the Queen Elizabeth High School, to have a look around the building and the grounds as the children from Stannington Sanatorium were moved down to Hexham during WWII as it was deemed to be safer.  After visiting it is easy to see why the Hydro building was chosen by the Sanatorium Committee as it is in beautiful surroundings with views over to Hexham Abbey and the large open rooms making it ideal for the sanatorium’s needs.  The building also has its own walled garden, still well looked after and in use today by the school’s students, with evidence that the sanatorium patients grew produce there which they then went on to sell to local businesses in Hexham.  The Hydro building began life as a private house built in 1859 and known as Westfield House, but was later purchased by the Tynedale Hydropathic Establishment Company and alterations were made so that it could open in 1879 as the Tynedale Hydropathic Hotel.  Over the years additions were made including the large glass Winter Gardens, which would have been used by the sanatorium patients, and many famous clientele reportedly visited including Charlie Chaplin and Ramsay MacDonald. The Hotel eventually went into decline allowing it be used by the sanatorium during the war years as well as acting as a army billet and services bakery.

 

Read more below to see how WWII affected Stannington:

 

WWII broke out on 1 September 1939 with the UK officially entering the war 2 days later on 3 September.  Comments made by the matron in the annual report for 1939 highlight the immediate affects the war had on the Sanatorium:

 “…So rapid has been the growth of the Sanatorium that almost every year there has been some change in the structure or equipment to report, but all the changes have been for the securing of that first high ideal – the stamping out of tuberculosis in children.

Now war has come and much has changed.  At any moment a great strain may be put upon our hospitals, and we have had to open wide our doors and be ready to receive 218 adult patients in addition to our own 311 children.  We already have over 100 adult patients in residence, and among them are a number of men of the forces who either from accident or sickness require medical attention.” [HOSP/STAN/1/3/6]

The encroachment on space that the sanatorium had taken for granted for so many years was felt by all.  In the same year the school was evicted from its buildings to make way for beds and lessons were initially undertaken outside on the verandahs until more suitable accommodation was found in the small side wards.

 

Like people across the country the staff and patients contributed to the war efforts despite the illness faced by the children and additional pressures on the staff.  In 1940 the schoolchildren knitted over 100 woollen comforts for soldiers and 3 large blankets and together staff, children, and friends of the sanatorium raised £352, 17, 1 for the War Savings Scheme as well as additional monies for the Finland Fund, Lord Mayor’s Air-Raid Distress Fund, and the Greek Relief Fund.

 

After managing to continue operations for nearly two years at Stannington it was decided in 1941 that it was necessary to evacuate the children to a safer place.  The Hydro at Hexham was eventually settled on and over 200 children were moved on 11 August.  The Hydro lacked the vernadahs that were so common in Stannington for open-air treatment but was seen to be a suitable location owing to its lofty rooms, large windows, and beautiful surroundings.  The capacity at Hexham was significantly less than the facilities at Stannington and so the number of patients treated during the war years declined.

 

It was not until January 1945 that patients and staff were able to return to Stannington on a permanent basis.  Whilst early reports of the sanatorium’s time at Hexham appeared positive it is clear that by 1944 and continuing into the post-war years, the stress of the move and in particular shortages of nursing and domestic staff took its toll on the whole operation.  The 1944 annual report describes how that due to this the full operation of the sanatorium was prevented and consequently the number of patients treated was reduced further still following the initial curtailment felt following the move to Hexham.

This Week in World War One, 23rd April 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

23rd April, 1915

GOLDEN WEDDING

 

Golden Wedding-Congratulations are due Mr and Mrs Hattle, 77 Low Greens, who on Sunday attained their golden wedding. Mr and Mrs Hattle were married at the Registry Office, Berwick, on the 18th April, 1885. Mrs Hattle’s maiden name was Isabella Elispeth Burgen. Although they have both passed the three score and ten- Mr Hattle being 75 and Mrs Hattle 71- they carry their years exceedingly well.

 

Golden Wedding celebration badge.
Golden Wedding celebration badge.

 

For a few years Mr Hattle followed the occupation of his father as a fisherman but afterwards entered the employment of the North British Railway Company where he remained for 40 years as porter at Berwick Station, retiring in 1910. Mr and Mrs Hattle have had twelve of a family of which five daughters and two sons are living, one son and two daughters having died. One of the surviving sons, Mr Thomas Hattle, is a postmaster in South Africa, and the other son James is at present serving in the auxiliary cruiser H.M.S “Macedonia” on which he took part in the Falkland Islands engagement. Two of Mr Hattle’s daughters are married and of these marriages there are six grandchildren. Mr Hattle has been a constant reader of the “Berwick Advertiser” for the past fifty years and during that period he has also been a staunch teetotaller. It is our hope that Mr and Mrs Hattle will be long spared to enjoy the evening of their life.

Information from the 1891 Census:

John Hattle aged 51 was living with Isabella Elspeth Hattle, his wife aged 46 at 13 Low Greens Berwick -upon-Tweed, Northumberland with their children Isabella Elspeth 17, Thomas 15, Alice 12, James  8, Mary Burgon 6, and Christina 3 ½ .

 

23rd April, 1915

THE PLAYHOUSE

 

“The Playhouse.” – Again programmes of outstanding merit are displayed at the “Playhouse” this week. The star turn of the week is “The Fordyce Family or the Lads of the Highland Brigade.” In their military speciality act they provide an entirely up-to-date and novel turn. They dance cleverly to Scotch tunes and introduce some very intricate step-dancing. The rifle spinning and dancing at the same time is very cleverly performed, and no one could be but pleased with their performance. The excellence of their turn is exemplified by the fact that they have had to respond nightly to encores. in the bioscope exhibition.

The Playhouse, Sandgate, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick Advertiser, 23 April 1915. The Playhouse, Sandgate, Berwick-upon-Tweed, advert for The Fordyce Family.

“The Trap” was the feature at the beginning of the week. It was a thrilling drama in three parts and featured Irene Bordini. The picture for the week commencing on Thursday, is entitled “The Black Countess.” It is a photo play that is fascinating in every respect and a film all should see. A splendid programme is billed for next week. The turns are “Ford and Lewis, the Scotchman and the-?” and “Jessie Adams, ” a dainty comedienne with a style of her own. The feature of the first part of the week is “The Loss of the Birkenhead” which is a thoroughly British picture portraying a well told story, finely produced and excellent photography. It is exclusive to this hall. For the second part of the week there is a laughable Keystone Comedy entitled “The Property Man” in two parts. Charles Chaplin is in the leading part and it gets funnier and funnier as it goes on. The feature for the latter part of the week is a strong drama entitled “The Night Watchman’s Daughter.

 

 

+ More