This Week In World War One

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.

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.

 

 

This Week in World War One, 16 April 1915

by

Berwick Advertiser title 1915

AT BERWICK

Word was received about 9.30 o’clock last night that hostile airships were in the vicinity and had dropped bombs on Blyth. Precautionary methods were immediately taken. The electric light power was immediately switched off at the Urban Electric Works, and house-holders were ordered to extinguish all lights and the town was soon plunged into complete darkness. When the picture houses closed the people who had composed the audiences experienced considerable difficulty in reaching their homes owing to the intense darkness. Probably High Street was the most difficult to navigate and much good humored chaff could be heard as people tried to evade each other in the inky darkness. Fortunately, Berwick was not visited by the Zeppelin.

World War One: the German zeppelin Viktoria Luise emerging from its hangar. Wellcome Library, London. Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0.
World War One: the German zeppelin Viktoria Luise emerging from its hangar.
Wellcome Library, London. Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0.

 

ST. ANDREW’S NURSING CLASS BERWICK

Results of Examination.

Social meeting and Presentation.

 

On Thursday evening the members of the Berwick St Andrew’s Nursing Class held a social meeting in the Long Room of the Corn Exchange.

The hall was gaily decorated with patriotic flags, flowers, and evergreens, and there was a touch of enthusiasm in all the preparations which at once engendered in the guests that feeling of welcome and sociability so essential in making such a gathering a success. Those present readily indulged in the games and dances, and, after an hour’s enjoyment in this way, were just in the right mood to receive the more formal part of the evening’s proceedings with a spirit which made all feel quite at ease.

The Mayor (Councillor Wilson) was accompanied to the chair by the Mayoress, the Sheriff, Dr and Mrs Maclagan, Miss Anthony, Matron of the Borough Hospital, and Miss Gradon, convenor of the Class Committee.

THE CLASS WORK.

 

On behalf of Miss Anthony, the Mayor read the following report on the origin and work of the class during the winter:-

http://wellcomeimages.org/indexplus/image/L0009198.html
World War One Navy nurses training at Chatham. Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Ref: L0009198

Very soon after war was declared, the Mayor asked me, would I be willing to teach bandaging, bed-making, etc., to about twenty ladies, so that they might be useful in the event of temporary hospitals being opened for wounded. I consented. This was the beginning of our ambulance class. Owing to unforeseen circumstances, the classes were not started until 14th September. At the first meeting twenty eight members were enrolled. The classes grew rapidly, chiefly owing to the enthusiasm of the members, and Miss Cockburn, who was appointed class secretary. At the end of September there were 42 names on the roll. It became necessary to seek a larger room. We secured the Parochial Hall, but owing to the arrival of wounded, we had to vacate it after three weeks. Captain Kimberley very kindly granted us the use of the Army Hall. Our next step was a decision to try for the “Home Nursing and Hygiene Certificate of St Andrew’s Ambulance Association.”…..

Thirty-seven sat for the examination, and all have obtained certificates…..

https://www.flickr.com/photos/whatsthatpicture/6238325023/

Postcard of World War One hospital ward, December 1914. Probably Le Havre region.

 

….In reviewing the report, the Mayor said he had no idea that the Nursing Class had assumed the size which it had, and he was glad to think that out of the little conversation which he had had with Miss Anthony prior to the commencement of the class so much good had accrued. He was delighted to know that success had attended their efforts, and that everyone who had gone up for examination had obtained certificate. He understood that they had worked very hard during the winter, and he had to congratulate both the Doctor and Miss Anthony on the results. There was, unfortunately, a great deal of fighting to be done at the front yet, and he was afraid that there would be many wounded soldiers in consequence. Berwick was ready and willing to do its share, and he believed that the services of some of the members of the class would be needed. Not only were they equipping themselves to be of use in this direction, but the knowledge gained would be of advantage to them in many ways. he trusted that all of them would maintain their connection with the class during the summer and next winter, would go up for the medallion of the Association……………………..

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