Berwick Advertiser – 100 years ago

BERWICK ADVERTISER 10 JANUARY 1919

NORHAM

The dance on Old Year’s Night in the Public Hall to provide funds for the Welcome to Local Soldiers and Sailors was a great success, and was carried on till 3.30 in the morning. Seaman Joe Bell acted as M.C., and Miss Jean Smith was the accompanist, and the hall was beautifully decorated.

During the evening Mr John Scott’s gramophone added to the enjoyment of the large assembly, and there was a raffle for a cockerel, which was won by Private Murray Gregor, who has had a spell in Germany where few cockerels came his way. It is proposed to have a whist drive and dances at an early date to provide still more funds for the welcome.

SCREMERSTON

Miners are being demobilised from the Army with all speed to work in the mine, and the following have arrived home: – Private Robert Blake and George Y. Richardson, Old Hill, both of the Coldstream Guards. They joined up together in April, 1918, putting in their training at Caterham and Windsor Great Park. They arrived in France in October, 1918, and were in the last of the engagements, after which they marched with our victorious army to Cologne, from where they were sent home.

LOCAL NEWS

We are pleased to see another honour has fallen to Quarter Master and Major William M. Allan son of Mr David Allan, of Chatton. For his valuable services in Salonika he has been given the O.B.E (Military Division). Major Allan joined the army 37 years ago as a private, and has had many honours and distinctions conferred on him in his long army career. At the outbreak of war he was with his battalion in India, and shortly afterwards went to France where he is still serving. He has been three times mentioned in despatches, twice from France and once from Salonika. Major Allan began work as a lad in the “Advertiser,” Office and has still friends in the town. He is expected home during the month, and will be sure of a warm welcome.

Lieut-Colonel Stuart McAllum R. A. M. C who was awarded the D. S. O in the New Year’s Honours List was for several years prior to the war Medical Officer in Berwick.

He went to France in 1914 and has been on active service ever since. He was educated at the Royal High School Edinburgh. During his stay in Berwick he was keenly interested in sport and was an active member of The Berwick-on-Tweed Golf Club, and also of the Tennis and Badminton Clubs.

Lance-Corpl. Robin Ironside, 11th Argyll and Sutherlands, son of Mr and Mrs Ironside, Hope Nurseries, Berwick, has returned home from Germany, where he has been a prisoner of war. He was wounded and taken prisoner on August 22nd, 1917, and after spending some time in a hospital in Belgium was sent to Quedlinburgh Camp, where he has been ever since. Corporal Ironside is reluctant to speak of his experiences but his lot in common with others in Germany has certainly not been an easy one. After the signing of the Armistice the British prisoners who had until then always been addressed as “swine,” were called “gentlemen,” a somewhat sudden change of opinion. Corporal Ironside is very grateful for the parcels sent out to him, and says none of the men would have been alive today without them.

The Comrades of the Great War are arranging a great Victory Ball to be held in the Corn Exchange at a date yet to be fixed.

Fancy dresses and masks will be worn. The fete is under the distinguished patronage of among others, Col Sir Francis Blake, Bart., C. B., M.P., D.L., the Commanding Officer and Officers of the K.O.S.B. Depot, and Colonel McLaren, K.O.S.B.

Sergeant Edwin Wallace, M.M., 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who has been spending a few days leave in Berwick, returns to Summer Camp, Eastbourne, tomorrow (Friday). His many friends in Berwick and elsewhere will wish him every success

On Wednesday night, Mrs Short, wife of Lance-Corpl. Short, Northumberland Fusiliers, had the pleasure of welcoming him back to Berwick, after his being a year and a half a prisoner in Germany.

Private B. A. Mole, K.O.S.B., Woolmarket, Berwick who has been a prisoner of war in Germany since April, 1916, passed through Berwick Station on Tuesday night en route from Leith to Ripon.

MILITARY UNREST SPREADS TO BERWICK

On Tuesday morning when the men at the Malaria Huts fell in on parade as usual they were ordered by a N.C.O. to stand to attention. A detachment ignored the command, whereupon the sergeant ordered them to fall out for fatigue duties. Again the men took no notice. On an explanation being demanded they stated that they wished to be demobilised as quickly as possible and that they refused to go to Ireland as ordered. They repeated their demands to the officer in charge, who was, of course, unable to move in the matter. A meeting of sympathisers was held on Wednesday, but no formal resolution was put. Most of the men belong to London, and have employers, who are anxious to take them back into their pre-war jobs, but they fear that demobilisation is still a long way off.