World War One

This Week in World War One, 4 February 1916

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Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 4 FEBRUARY 1916

 

SEAHOUSES

 

WW1 Weldon's Garments
WW1 Weldon’s Garments

Soldiers’ Comforts – A meeting of the Committee will be held in the Seahouses Reading Room on Friday evening at 8 p.m. to receive Treasurer’s balance sheet and make arrangements for disposal of remainder of woollen comforts. Since last report the Treasurer begs to acknowledge receipt of 4 pairs of mittens from Miss Martha Scott and socks from Mrs John Tully, Wooler. Total receipts to the fund in money has amounted to £26 and tenpence; expenditure amounts to £25 11s 1d, leaving a balance in hand of 9s 9d only, which will be expended in postages on the woollen comforts left. One hundred and four parcels have been despatched and there are on hand 13 pairs of socks, 6 mufflers, and 7 pairs of mittens. Unless the Treasurer receives further donations apparently the good work carried on by the Committee must cease.

Parochial Tea – The annual Parochial tea and concert in connection with St. Paul’s Church was held in the Church Institute. Owing to the war the gathering was not held last year. On this occasion the building was literally packed. Cakes, etc., were provided by the ladies of the parish, and the tables were laden with good things. Following the tea an excellent concert was given at which the Vicar presided. Mr Wilton, scoutmaster, Bamburgh, caused endless merriment with his conjuring and ventriloquism and Mr Wm, Sordy of Warkworth (Jolly Sun) in his comic songs received quite an ovation. The programme was completed by local talent, assisted by members of the Cyclist Battalion stationed at Seahouses, and all were exceedingly well received. Proceeds for Church work amounted to over £16 nett.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

Berwick Town Hall, Steeple © Nifanion, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Berwick Town Hall, Steeple © Nifanion, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Suspension of the Five o’clock Bell – The Borough police have been advised by the War Office and Admiralty that during war time, and until further notice, there is to be a stop put to the ringing of certain bells in the town between sunset and sunrise. In this connection it is interesting to recall the fact that as far back as August last the attention of the Admiralty was directed to the risk and danger run in ringing an early morning bell for a full quarter of an hour, as well as from a similar thing taking place in the evening. A brief acknowledgment was received from the Admiralty, and on the 30th August the following further communication was sent: – Sir, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to thank you for your letter of the 23rd instant, relative to the noise caused by the bells of Berwick-on-Tweed, and to acquaint you that it is not considered that the ringing of these bells exposes the town to any appreciated extra risk of aircraft attack. I am, sir, your obedient servant, W. Graham Greene.

Local Will – Mr William Tenant, of Brow of the Hill, Berwick-upon-Tweed, formerly of Bankhead, Horncliffe, near Berwick-upon-Tweed, left estate valued at £12,933 17s 4d, with net personalty £7,140 16s 2d. Mrs Catherine Tenant, his widow, Miss Elizabeth Christina Tenant, his daughter, Mr William Cowe Richardson, of Langlea, Berwick, and Mr James Cowe Richardson, of 11, High Street, Berwick, grocer, are the executors. Testator leaves £20 to James Cowe Richardson, and the rest of his property in trust for his wife, for life, and then in specific bequests for his children and grandchildren.

 

ETAL

 

Whist Drive and Social – On Monday even the convalescent soldiers resident at Etal Manor were entertained to a whist drive and supper in the Etal Schoolroom by several ladies of the village. The arrangements were in the hands of Mrs Hall, Mrs Wallace, and Miss H. Armstrong, and thanks to their untiring efforts and hospitality the gathering was an unqualified success. The company included the Commandant at Etal Manor, Miss M. L. Gray, the Rev. R. C. Hall, the Nursing staff, and a large number of lady friends.

NRO 1311-10 ETAL MANOR
NRO 1311-10 ETAL MANOR

The following were the prize winners:- Ladies-1st, Nurse Gray; 2nd, Nurse Paterson, 3rd, Nurse Tait – Gent’s – 1st, private Morgan; 2nd, Sergeant B. H. Flood; 3rd, Private Wales. The prizes were gracefully presented to the recipients by the little daughter of the Rev. and Mrs Hall. A substantial repast was partaken of, and the rest of the evening was spent in a social manner. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded on the motion of the senior N.C.O. to all who had contributed to the evening’s enjoyment. The singing of the national Anthem brought a most successful and enjoyable evening to a close. Mrs Chamberlain ably officiated at the piano, kindly lent by Mrs Fordyce.

 

GOLDEN WEDDING AT LOWICK

 

Mr George Atchison of Barmoor Mill and his wife, who is the fourth daughter of the late Mr James Smith, East Allerdean, have just celebrated their golden wedding. The happy event was made the occasion of much rejoicing at Lavrock Law on Wednesday, 19th January. Six of the remaining children of the marriage were present along with their nine children, as well as a number of friends, and a very pleasant and enjoyable evening was spent. It is pleasing to know that both the old couple enjoy good health, being as young in spirit and as much in love with each other as they were in 1866. The children of the union are as follows: – Robert (deceased), James, George, Mary, Isabella, Sarah (deceased), Margaret, and Jane.

 

This Week in World War One, 21 January 1916

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 21 JANUARY 1916

 

CONCERT BY BEAL SCHOOL CHILDREN

 

A very interesting musical exhibition was given by the pupils of the Beal School on Friday afternoon the whole performance testifying to the careful tuition imparted by the head teacher, Mr W. F. Blackham, and his assistant, Miss M. Reid. Since his appointment Mr Blackham has evinced much zeal and careful attention in the discharge of his responsible duties, and the result was that the short musical programme was most capably sustained on Friday, adding a pleasurable feeling in the minds of the distinguished ladies of the district, who graced the proceedings with their presence. Mrs Leyland, Haggerston Castle, presided, and there were also present, the Hon. Lady Lambton, Miss Joan Leyland, Mrs Patinson, Lowlyn, and Mr M. A. Coates, estate agent.

A recent photograph of the former Schoolhouse at Beal.
A recent photograph of the former Schoolhouse at Beal.

 

These gave several dainty and beautiful prizes of books, knitting cases, work baskets, etc., to the pupils who had gained distinction in their studies. Mr Blackham said he was sure that they were all very pleased to be present on that occasion to receive these prizes, and they meant more than their actual value to the successful pupils. Some might be disappointed, but he hoped those who had not been able to secure a prize would go away in the resolve and determination that they would obtain one next year. By doing so they would help themselves, and lead to better results in the school next year. (Applause.) He had received an apology from the Vicar, the Rev. W. C. Harris, who had kindly sent two prizes.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

Concert –  A Concert organised by Mr Ferguson was held in the Archbold Hall, Wooler, in aid of British prisoners in Germany. The hall was crowded, most of the leading families in the district being represented. The performers were Miss K. Vincent, Mrs C. E. Brown, Mr W, Adamson, and Captain Collingwood, also the Pom Pom Pierrots, consisting of Mrs Collingwod, Miss Collingwood, Miss Ivy Fenwick, Miss Walker, Capt. Collingwood, and Mr Ferguson. The accompanists were Miss Vincent, Mr Smith, and Mr Ferguson. The proceeds amounted to about £24, the event being a great success.

Archbold Hall, Wooler (c) Berwick Record Office
Archbold Hall, Wooler (c) Berwick Record Office Ref: BRO 0426-1225

 

Mr George Lumsden, who has completed 50 years as a member of Berwick Board of Guardians and Norham, and Islandshires Rural District Council, is in his 78th year, and one of the oldest active cyclists on the Borders. For 34 years he farmed Shoreswood Farm, near Norham; and in his younger days was a keen hunting man. He can remember the last person – a woman – in Berwick stocks.

 

BERWICK AND LORD DERBY’S SCHEME

Arrangements for New Groups

 

Active arrangements are being made in Berwick for the accommodation of the new groups about to be called up under Lord Derby’s scheme. It is understood that the Royal Scots occupying the huts on the Parade will be transferred to various halls in the town, and that the new recruits will be accommodated in the vacated huts. The mobilisation of the new men should materially add to the number of soldiers in Berwick. Some 200 turned up at the Barracks on Thursday and were dispatched to their various regiments in the course of the day. A further number of recruits were expected to arrive for the K.O.S.B. by train on Thursday night.

Fuller's engraving of Berwick Barracks 1799. BRO 1637-04 (c) Berwick Record Office.
Fuller’s engraving of Berwick Barracks 1799.  (c) Berwick Record Office. Ref: BRO 1637-04

 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

 

At Berwick Petty Sessions on Friday, before Messrs A. L. Miller (presiding) and A. J. Dodds, Mark Rutherford, an ex Police Superintendent, was charged with unlawfully wounding his wife, Isabella Rutherford on the previous day at lodgings at 17 Dock Road, Tweedmouth.

The Chief Constable explained that it was a case of unlawfully wounding, and he would ask for a remand until Thursday.

The complainer gave evidence to effect that the defendant struck her on the left hand side of the head with a walking stick. He had been drinking for some time past, and they had quarrelled. There was a large knob on the head of the stick, and a doctor had to be called to dress the wounds.

Police Sergeants Wilson and Moore also gave evidence as to apprehending the accused on the charge, the defendant being conveyed to the Police Station in a cart.

Mrs Colthard gave evidence to the fact that the defendant and his wife had been lodging in her house at 17 Dock Road and that she heard them quarrelling on the day mentioned.

The accused was remanded till Thursday morning.

 

An Ashington lad a Royal Marine & the Russian Revolution.

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William Bell was born in February 1900 at the family home in Sycamore Street, New Hirst, Ashington. He was the third child (only son) to William and Agnes who also had five daughters. By the time that William reached school age at five years, the family had moved to Severn Street, New Hirst, Ashington. He attended the local school and at age thirteen years, he left to take up employment at one of the local collieries, possibly nearby Woodhorn Colliery where his deceased father had worked.

RMLINothing is known of William until just after his seventeenth birthday. Like thousands of young men, he was desperate to enlist to ‘do his bit for King and Country’. It is not known if he had his mother’s permission but on the 21st May 1917, he travelled into Newcastle upon Tyne where he enlisted in the Royal Marines Light Infantry. His service record shows that he was 17 years 3 months and 14 days of age and that by profession, he was a coal miner. The record goes on to describe him as being 5 feet 53/4 inches in height with brown eyes, brown hair and a fresh complexion. He had no distinguishing scars or marks on his body.

Being under the age of 18 years, he was unable to take part in active service. His record shows that he was based at the Royal Marines Light Infantry Depot, Deal, Kent for training from his enlistment until the 28th November 1917. He then transferred to the Marines depot at Portsmouth where he underwent further training until 3rd May 1918. His record shows that he was classed as ‘very good’ in infantry and musketry drills and his sea going gunnery skills were also classed as ‘very good’.

hms canadaBy now, as William was eighteen years of age, he was able to go on active service. On the 4th May 1918, he joined the Marines aboard the battleship HMS Canada, part of the Royal Navy’s 1st Battle Squadron. By October 1918, HMS Canada was with the British Grand Fleet which was preparing for a major sea battle with the German Navy, a battle that never took place due to mutiny aboard the German ships. William remained on board HMS Canada until she returned to Portsmouth on the 29th March 1919
The 4th April 1919, saw William joining Marines aboard HMS Glory, a battleship that was the Flagship of the British North Russia Squadron and had been stationed at the White Sea (Russia) port of Archangel since 1916. The primary role of HMS Glory was to ensure that urgently needed supplies reached the Russian Army in their fight on the Eastern Front against the Germans. However, the Bolshevik revolution of March 1917 greatly complicated the British position in northern Russia. For a brief period the British fleet and Royal Marines cooperated with the Bolsheviks against the Finns and their German allies, helping to move reinforcements and equipment to exposed parts of Northern Russia. This ended in November 1917 when the Bolsheviks declared Russia as being neutral and ceased fighting against the German Army. The Eastern Front Army were then diverted to the Western Front which caused great alarm amongst the Allies. The Allies decided that the troops in Northern Russia would support the Russian White Army in their fight against the Bolsheviks. The hope was that the White Army would overcome the Bolsheviks and that Russia would re-join the Allies, forcing the Germans to move men back to the Eastern Front.hms glory

The Allies continued to fight alongside the White Russian Army, but by January 1919, they found themselves being pushed back to Archangel. It was soon after this that a decision was made that all Allied troops would be withdrawn, leaving the White Russians to fight the Bolsheviks alone. Allied reinforcements in the form of Royal Marines (including William) arrived to assist in the withdrawal of all Allied troops. The withdrawal continued over the next six months until finally HMS Glory left Archangel at the beginning of October arriving back at Portsmouth on the 8th October.

William remained in Portsmouth until his discharge on the 17th November 1919 when he then returned to the family home in Ashington.

It is not known what William did for work when he arrived home, but as his mother was a widow, it is highly likely that he returned to his earlier profession as a coal miner.

William married Isabella Gray in 1928 and it is known from the 1931 baptism record of their first daughter that William was the publican of the Station Hotel in Blyth. The family were still there at the time of the birth of their second daughter in 1936.

By 1938, William was the manager of the North Seaton Hotel, Ashington, a position that he kept for several years, possibly until his death in 1947.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Allan Robinson for supplying this article for our Northumberland At War Project.

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