This Week in World War One, 5 November 1915

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 NOVEMBER 1915

ETAL

 

The convalescent soldiers at Etal Manor Hospital have lately been giving a series of concerts at neighbouring villages in aid of the British Red Cross Society. As a result of their efforts a sum of over £23 has been realised, and the expenses being very few owing to the generosity of everyone approached, practically the whole of this sum will be available for the funds of the Society. The places visited were Ford, Crookham, Milfield, and Duddo, and the concerts were everywhere well received.

Etal Manor House, formerly a WW1 military hospital. © Berwick Record Office NRO 5192-25.
Etal Manor House, formerly a WW1 military hospital. © Berwick Record Office NRO 5192-25.

 

SAD ACCIDENT AT BERWICK STATION

 

About 2.10 a.m. on Tuesday, whilst Robert Buglas, 16 years of age, Church Street, Berwick, was following his employment as greaser at Berwick Railway Station and when near the turning table he was jumping on the footboard of a goods van in motion his foot slipped. Both his legs went under the wheels of the van. The wheels passed over his left leg above the ankle and his right foot across the heel. First aid was rendered, and he was conveyed to Berwick Infirmary, where he was attended by Drs Fraser and Maclagan, who found it necessary to amputate the injured limbs.

 

THE LATE MR CHRISTISON

 

Through the Christisons of Foulden and the Chirnsides of Cockburnspath district, Berwickshire has interesting links with pioneer days in Australia, one of the last of which

Panning for gold in the state of Victoria, Australia, ealry 1900s. © Wikimedia Commons.
Panning for gold in the state of Victoria, Australia, ealry 1900s. © Wikimedia Commons.

has been broken by the death of Mr Robert Christison, a nephew of Sir Robert Christison. In a recent lecture in his native village, Mr Christison related how he had met one Jimmy Nailans, who was the first Foulden post-boy, in a place named Bacchus Marsh. Mr Nailans had landed in Australia two years before. Buying a bullock team, he made money in carrying provisions for the population of 80,000 which flocked to Bendigo in the gold rush, and when Mr Christison met him he had 206 ounces of gold dust hidden in horns of cart grease. He put £2,000 into land in the outskirts of Melbourne, and thus became very wealthy. Like a good Borderer, Jimmy Nailans returned to his native soil, bought an estate, and settled there. Mr Christison, whose remains were interred last week at Foulden, was the last surviving son of Rev. Alex. Christison, for 52 years minister of the parish.

 

 

AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT IN THE TRENCHES

 

Private Kenneth Alexander, of the 2nd Royal Scots, who has been at the Front for over a year and is at present home at Dunbar on several days’ furlough, narrates a most interesting one might almost term it exciting- incident, which occurred recently in the trench where he was quartered. The enemy’s trench but 15 yards distant, was occupied by Saxons. Several of the enemy happened to put their heads over the parapet of the trench; inquired if they were all “Jocks” in the British trench; where they came from- was it Glasgow? – and when did they arrive in France? The conversation concluded by warning the Royal Scots men in this trench to keep their heads down, as the Prussian Guards were located on their right, and consequently there were great risks of being sniped. They then held up a bottle of Cognac, and the Scotsmen inquired if they fancied a bottle of whisky. A hurriedly pencilled note attached to several newspapers was flung into the Saxons’ trench. We asked, said Private Alexander, in this letter if they could give us any part of their equipment as a souvenir of this interesting meeting between opposing forces. Very shortly afterwards a package of German newspapers, attached to which was a letter from one of these Saxons was flung into our trench, which on being translated read as follows:- “There are a few papers. Of course we cannot send you any part of our equipment over, and for the whisky we don’t care, but when you have new papers send them across and we will do the same. It is certainly interesting to read what the enemy believes to be able to tell their own folks. We threw already a few papers over, but too short. Perhaps you will find them to-night. Be careful in getting them. (signed) Yours, Fritz.” “If you please let us have a French journal- S.V.P.”

 

A GRAND EVENING CONCERT

Successful Venture In Aid of Berwick Branch of

Young Helpers’ League

 

The Queen’s Rooms was crowded in all parts on Thursday evening when a grand evening concert was held in aid of the funds of the Young Helpers League of Dr Barnardo’s Homes. The concert was excellent from start to finish and the term grand applied to it was a fitting description of the entertainment. The local Committee of the Young Helpers’ League, with Mr A. J. Dodds as President, were the originators of the idea to hold the concert. The management and carrying out of the concert was put into the hands of Miss Sissy Dodds, and according to its most excellent result the Committee could not have chosen anyone better to ensure the success  of the entertainment. All secretarial work was undertaken by Miss Dodds, while Miss L. Purves and Miss J. Thompson assisted her  as treasurers.

The concert realised £58, and Miss Dodds is to be warmly congratulated in that her management has been so successful.

The programme was as follows:

PART 1

Piano Duet-“Spanish Dance, “ ( Moszkowski) Miss Katherine Vincent and Mr Ernest Warrington

Songs – (a) 2 The Rebel” (b) “ Son of mine” (Wallace), ………  .  Mr Ernest J. Potts

Violin Solo – “ Gipsy Dance,” ( Sarasate)                                       Mr Ernest Sharp

( Encore)

Recital – “A Question of Identitiy” ( an excerpt from “Comedy and Tragedy”), by W.S. Gilbert………………Mr Hugh Miller.

(Encore – “Mon Ami.”)

Songs – (a) “ Rose in the bud” ( Forster) (b) “Until,” (Sanderson),  Miss Katherine Vincent

(Encore – “Waltz Song.”)

Humorous Sketch – “Curates” (Warrington),  Mr Ernest Warrington.

(Encore)

PART 11

Duet – “Awake,” (Pellissier), Miss Katherine Vincent and Mr Ernest J. Potts.

Violin Solo – “Valse Caprice” (Wieniawski), Mr Ernest Sharp

(Encore)

Song – “Galloping Dick” (Fletcher), Mr Ernest J.Potts

(Encore – “Go to sea my lad.”)

Recital – “Gunga Din” ( by Rudyard Kipling), Mr Hugh Miller

(Encore – “Once more into the breach, once more,” from King Henry V., Act 2 and 4).

Songs – (a) “A fat I’il feller wid his mammy’s eyes, “ ( Gordon) (b) “Sincerity” ( Clarke), Miss Katherine Vincent.

(Encore – “Caller Herrin’.”)

Humorous Songs – Selected Dialects,. Mr Ernest Warrington.

(Encore.)

Interval for Soldiers’ Sing-Song.

Sketch – “The Peacemaker,” a comedy in one act, by E. M. Bryant.

 Characters:-

Elizabeth Lavender            Mrs Waldron

       Joyce Harford                    Miss Sissy Dodds

   Dr Burton                         Mr G. P. Boyd

  Richard Harford                    Rev. J.R. Bentley

     Parsons                              Miss Katie Mackay

Scene – Elizabeth Lavender’s Flat in Kensington.

 GOD SAVE THE KING

 

For Bravery

On the night of Monday 26th March 1917, the Ashington Coal Company hosted the first of four presentations to reward employees who had won great distinction in the First World War. On this occasion twenty-three men were honoured, for their bravery and their gallantry in their respective theatres of war, three of the men had been killed in the line of duty.
The presentation took the form of a silver cup, individually engraved with the recipient’s name and a few words of appreciation from the Ashington Coal Company. This ceremony was later repeated a further three times in February 1918, July 1919 and finally in February 1922, with 91 silver bowls, presented to the men or to their families. The men had gained the following distinctions: two men were awarded a Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal; twelve men were recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal; one man received a Military Medal and bar; one man received a Serbian Gold medal, and seventy-five men were recipients of the Military Medal.
In September 2015 at the beginning of the ‘Weeping Window’ poppy exhibition we were approached by a lady who asked if we would be interested in a rose bowl for the collection. The family belief was that her grandfather was presented with this bowl for saving the life of the son of an official from the Ashington Coal Company during the First World War, but as he never spoke of it, they could not be certain.Silver Cup 2

On the night of 6th February 1918, 132670 Sapper James Smith of the 254/7 Tunnelling Corps, Royal Engineers, was presented with his silver bowl at the Harmonic Hall in Ashington. The newspaper report in the Morpeth Herald published two days later on the 8th gave this account of the reason behind his reward “Sapper James Smith, Tunnelling Coy., Strong’s Buildings, Choppington, M.M. For saving three men’s lives in a mine explosion in France”. The bowl was presented in appreciation of his bravery, in saving the men’s lives.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Derek Holcroft whose painstaking research found reference to these presentations taking place and to Deborah Moffat for supplying this article for our Northumberland At War Project.

This Week in World War One, 29 October 1915

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 29 OCTOBER 1915

 

REGRETTABLE SCENE AT BERWICK STATION

Ejection of recruiting sergeant

 

The ejection of a recruiting sergeant, dressed in full khaki uniform, and with the familiar bunch of coloured ribbons flowing from his cap, caused an unpleasant and regrettable scene at Berwick Station on Wednesday evening. He was a tall middle aged soldier with grey hair, bound south in a corridor train. The temporary loss of his pass was the cause of all the trouble the possessor having mislaid it amid quite a large collection of clothing which he carried. Had the soldier left the carriage quietly it would have been all right, but this he declined to do. He persisted in having another futile search for the missing ticket, and as the express could not wait he was requested to leave the compartment. This he was in no mind to do, and forcibly resisted. The station master ultimately entered the compartment, and with the assistance of other officials, succeeded in forcing the muscular warrior out, all his belongings being heaped on to the platform. It would have fared ill perhaps with Berwick’s stationmaster had he not had assistance at hand, as the brawny fellow in khaki was thoroughly aroused, and made an abortive effort to lay violent hands on whom he considered responsible for his ejectment.

Berwick Railway Station during World War One (c) Berwick Record Office
Berwick Railway Station during World War One (c) Berwick Record Office

 

Retreating, however, behind the open carriage door, and exclaiming to the discomfited soldier “stand off,” the stationmaster was able to elude the attentions of the angry soldier, and meanwhile some of the other station officials came in between. As the express glided out of the station on its southward journey the soldier found quite a number of sympathisers. “Aye,” exclaimed one woman, “that’s the way they treat the men that are asked to die for us.” The soldier, assisted by some boys, commenced to examine the contents of his luggage, chief attention being concentrated upon the contents of the kit bag which each man in the army possesses. After a short search a woman observed what she took to be the pass, and fortunately it turned out to be the much required parchment. It is much to be regretted that such a scene should be witnessed, and our correspondent thinks it might have been avoided had a little more tact and thoughtfulness been displayed. Would it not have been sufficient  to have taken the name, address, and number of the gallant sergeant, wired to the next station where tickets are examined, and thus allowed him a chance of securing his temporarily lost ticket while en route? It seems incredible to think of such a deplorable incident occurring when the Government has taken over the charge of the railways. The station officials, no doubt, have a difficult task to perform, and, it is understood they have received strict instructions to allow no man in khaki to travel who cannot produce a pass. They were, therefore, presumably strictly carrying out the instruction laid down for their observance.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

FEMALE ATTENDANTS WANTED for the Northumberland County Asylum, Morpeth. Applicants must be in good bodily health, not less than 5ft. 5in in height, and able to read and write. Wages begin at £19 5s per annum, with board, lodging, uniform and washing.  Applications, stating age and height, to be addressed to the Medical Superintendent.  At least two thoroughly satisfactory references as to character required; one must be from last employer. The appointment will be made subject to the provisions of the Asylums Officers’ Superannuation Act, 1909.

 

KNOCKED DOWN BY A MOTOR CAR. A rather serious accident befell Mrs Robertson, Spittal, while she was crossing the Old Bridge on Friday evening about 7.30. It appears that she was crossing from one side of the Bridge to the other pushing a perambulator containing her baby, when she was suddenly knocked down by a car driven by Mr D. Atkinson, dentist Berwick, and she was severely injured about the head. The child was knocked out of the perambulator but marvellously escaped being injured. Mrs Robertson was rendered unconscious and was conveyed in the car by Mr Atkinson to the Infirmary. She had recovered so far on Wednesday as to be removed to her father’s Mr John Renwick, Walkergate, Berwick. Mrs Robertson’s husband is serving at the front.

View of Royal Border Bridge and The Old Bridge

 

ITEMS OF INTEREST

 

MOTOR CYCLING –  A motor cyclist who has put in a lengthy spell on active service in France writes : – The Dunlop tyres, extra heavy, 26 by 2½  by 2¼ , are doing splendid work, and on most of the machines the original tyres are still in use. The average mileage is at least 8000, traversed over terrible roads, yet the treads are still perfect. The back tyres are nearly as good as the front, due, no doubt, to the chain-cumbelt drive, which is the most flexible drive in use, and largely accounts for the excellent service done by the Dunlop belts, some of the originals being still on. This last point is one of great interest, possibly of debate.