Armistice Day

BERWICK NEWSPAPERS,1923

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BERWICK JOURNAL, 8TH NOVEMBER 1923

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL

ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE UNVEILING CEREMONY

War Memorial, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed. © Copyright J Thomas – (cropped image) Creative Commons Licence 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0).

Yesterday we received the following, (with the information that it is “issued to the Press by the Unveiling Committee of Berwick War Memorial, for favour of publication”)- the anniversary of the Armistice will be a red letter day in the history of the Borough, for at 2.30 that afternoon the ceremony of unveiling the Memorial raised to the 480 sons of the Borough, who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, will commence.

BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL, REGISTRATION OF NAMES CIRCULAR:
Ref No: BRO 794/39/1/029

It is fortunate that the anniversary falls this year on a Sunday, for this means that the maximum number of inhabitants and others from further afield will be able to witness the ceremony, and also by their presence pay honour to our citizens who fell.

The Committee too have been extremely fortunate in securing the service of the victorious Commander of the British Expeditionary Force-Field Marshal Earl Haig, of Bemersyde,-to perform the unveiling ceremony. His Lordship has since his return from active service, been one of the busiest men in the country, and at this time the demands for his presence elsewhere must have been very insistent. But we are sure he feels it a privilege and a debt he owes to his late countrymen from this part of the Borderland, in whose countryside he has taken up residence, that he should accept the invitation. Certainly, the citizens of the Borough will look upon his presence on such an occasion as a great honour and a recognition of duty nobly done.

AT THE SITE

The unveiling Sub-Committee have been very busy during the last few weeks endeavouring to organise the ceremonial so that dignified in every way, and memorable to those taking part.

Since the garden plot in front of Polwarth House is not to taken into the lay-out the difficulties with regard to the space available have been accentuated and have given a good deal of worry to the members of the Committee. Invitations have been therefore had to be curtailed to a minimum.

There is likewise the difficulty of estimating how many ex-service men will parade-certainly there are sure to be many more than have so far sent in their names to the Legion Secretary.

Naturally the relatives of the fallen have been given the place of honour facing the Memorial, and those, who have written for seats to be reserved, will be present to the number of over 200.

Around the Memorial will be four of the nation’s defenders on guard throughout the ceremony, representing the Navy, Army, Air Force and Territorial Army. They will be in the position of “rest on your arms reversed” till the tablets are unveiled when they will present arms with the guards of honour.

There will be two guards of honour – by per mission of Major C. F. Kennedy, the Depot K.O.S.Borderers will furnish that to Lord Haig, and “D” Company, 7th Northumberland Fusiliers (T.A.), that at the Memorial (by permission of Lieut-Col. N. I. Wright, D.S.O.) the former will receive Lord Haig with the general salute at the Town Hall, and after he has inspected it, will march to the site and face West. The Borderers will be under Capt. R. H. W. Worsley, D.S.O.

The Territorials’ guard of honour will be under the command of Lieut. E. A. Mackay and like the 25th, will be two officers and 50 other ranks strong. It will proceed direct to the Memorial and will face East.

Relatives will be seated facing North and on each side of the garden railings will be the companies of the British Legion and Ex-service men and women in fours under Capt. R. H. Dodds, M.C. On the North side will be the Royal Naval Reserve under Capt. R. E. Carr, R.N., the Northumberland Fusiliers – and K.R.R.C/ (Church Lads’ Brigade) Cadets under cadet Capt. R. D. Harvey, and the Boy Scouts under Scoutmaster B. A. Parkes. In rear of them will be any additional companies of Ex-service men.

Within the railings of St. Mary’s Church will be accommodated the Band of the 1st Battn. K.O.S.Borderers, who are attending by kind permission of Lieut-Col. P. A. V. Stewart, C.B.E., D.S.O. Also, on specially constructed platforms inside the railings will be a choir of about 50 voices, organised by Dr. C.T. gauntlet, and members of the Press. All these bodies will be in position shortly after 2p.m. and relatives must take their seats by that hour.

UNVEILING OF BERWICK WAR MEMORIAL, Ref No: BRO 1555-01

Invited guests – Glergy, magistrates, members of the County and Town Councils, Guardians, etc. will assemble at the Town Hall at 1.45p.m., where they will be received by the Mayor and Sheriff. About 2 p.m. they will be joined by the Lord Lieutenant of the County, the Duke of Northumberland, who will preside, and Field Marshall Earl Haig and Countess Haig.

A procession in column of fours will be formed at the Town Hall at 2.10 p.m. under the direction od Capt. F. B. Cowen, M.C., and will move off at 2.15.

At the Memorial, which the procession will reach just prior to 2.30, the service will be conducted by the Revs S. E. R. Fenning, M.C., H. Maishaman, and W. Jardine, M.C., late Chaplains of the Forces, and Rev. R. W. Hey. Vicar of Berwick. On the call of the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Haig will deliver a short address, and will unveil the Memorial, the guards of honour presenting arms, and the Buglers of the K.O.S.B. sounding the “Last Post.”

THE SILENCE

This will be followed by one minute’s silent tribute, the period being indicated by a “G” sounded by a bugler, and another “G” at its termination. The Band of the 1st K.O.S.B. will next play eight bars of Chopin’s Marche Funebre, after which the memorial will be dedicated, the Mayor will accept its custody on behalf of the Town Council, the Vicar of Berwick will pronounce the Benediction, and a verse of the National Anthem will be sung.

The hymns selected are well known and appropriate, being “Oh God our help in ages past” and “For all the Saints.”

Relatives of the fallen, who desire to place floral tributes at the base of the memorial, will then be formed up and under the direction of stewards. The mayoress will lay the first wreath on behalf of the Borough, and Lord Haig will follow with a tribute from the Berwick Branch of the British Legion.

His Lordship will inspect the troops and Ex-service men, etc., prior to the civil procession returning to the Town Hall, where the Mayor and Mayoress will entertain the guests and members of public bodies to afternoon tea.

The Depot K.O.S.B. and British Legion will march off as soon as Lord Haig commences his inspection of the other troops. The Legion will await His Lordship in Sandgate, where he will inspect the members and headquarters.

Lieut-Col. W. B. Mackay, C.M.G., T.D., is to be in charge of the stewards, who will see to the seating of the relatives of the fallen choir, public bodies, invited guests, etc., also the placing of wreaths round the Memorial at the close. Major Smail has been appointed Director of Ceremonial at the site.

TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS

Desiring to have complete silence during the speech of Lord Haig, and also to reserve the whole of Castlegate to those wishing to witness the ceremony, the Committee has arranged with Supt. Halliday to divert all North traffic up Tweed Street, and all going South via the Greenses, Brucegate and Scots Place between 1.30 and 4 p.m.

Motorists can go to any garage in the town, but cars cannot be parked in High Street or Castlegate between those hours. Those from the North car park in the vicinity of Northumberland Avenue, and those from the South on the Parade.

In case of accidents, the L. and N.E. Railway Ambulance Class from Berwick Station and the Queen’s Nurses will be on duty in the porch of St. Mary’s Church.

CHILDRENS’ CEREMONY

Weather permitting, it is hoped to hold a short service round the Memorial on Monday, 12th inst., commencing at 9.10 a.m., when the various schools of the Borough will be represented. The ceremonial pat will be conducted by clergy representing the various denominations. Programme (provisional) is as follows: – Hymn 185, “O Gid our Help,” 9.10 a.m.; short prayer; addresses, about 5 mins.; Kipling’s Recessional sung to tune of Hymn 380 (A. and M.); National Anthem (1st and 3rd verses); Benediction.

It is hoped to hold this on a similar ceremony round the Memorial near Armistice Day or school day nearest to Nov.11th.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 12 NOVEMBER 1920

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ARMISTICE DAY CELEBRATIONS

At the Armistice Day celebration at the British School, Palace Green, today (Thursday), the Rev. W. Jardine delivered an address after the two minutes’ silence at 11a.m. The hymn “O God, our help in ages past” was sung, and then Mr H. W. Willits unveiled the War Memorial to the fallen scholars. Mr Jardine offered prayer, and the proceedings closed with the “National Anthem.”

There was a short service at Berwick Parish Church today (Thursday), commencing at 10.45. The two minutes’ silence was observed, and prior and after that period appropriate psalms, lessons, and prayers were recited, the Vicar conducting the service.

Tweedmouth War Memorial

At the barracks the troops paraded, the “Last Post” being sounded at 11a.m. and Reveille at the expiry of the two minutes.

At 11 o’clock today (Thursday) the Commandant of the Berwick branch of the Comrades of the Great War laid a laurel wreath at the foot of the Tweedmouth War Memorial. The wreath bore the inscription, “In loving memory of those whose names are seen here and their unknown comrades, this wreath is laid by the Comrades of the Great War.”

THE NEW SHERIFF

Mr Robert Carr, of The Elms, Berwick, who was unanimously elected Sheriff of the Borough of Berwick, is one well fitted to hold the office. For such an ancient and honourable position, it is very appropriate that a gentleman who has dabbled in the historical records and folklore of the Border as Mr Carr has done should be selected. It is certain he will fill the office with credit to himself and to the town.

The village of Grindon, Northumberland, where Mr Robert Carr, who was elected as the new Sheriff of the Borough of Berwick, in November 1920, hailed from. ©  D. S. Pugh, Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

To agriculturists in North Northumberland and Berwickshire, the name Robert Carr, of Grindon, is as familiar as the Corn Exchange on market day. Grindon, apart from Mr Carr and he from Grindon, would have been an unthinkable thing some few years ago, but it came to pass nevertheless, and he now lives the life – to him the rather slow and tiresome life- of a retired gentleman. While in Grindon, Mr Carr became known around the district as one who knew how to produce the most from his land, and who took second place to none as a successful agriculturist. He was a keen student of the various problems arising in the industry, and his advice and word carried weight with others. He was one of the most prominent members of the Berwick and Borders Farmers’ Association, now merged in the N.F.U., and there he took a leading part in the business coming before the Association from time to time. He is still associated with Norham and Islandshires Ploughing and Hedge Cutting Society, which was promoted to stimulate interest in successful tillage and farm cleanliness amongst farm workers and masters alike.

LOCAL NEWS

At the Kennel Club’s Championship Show at Crystal Palace, London, on November 3rd and 4th, Mr David Black, Berwick, won 1st prize Puppy, 3rd prize Limit, and 3rd prize Open Classes, with his sensational winning puppy, Tweedside Red Hot. His well known stud dog, Tweedside Red Squire, was also entered, but failed to do his weight, having lost 4½ lbs. on the journey down, so did not compete in either of his classes.

Wallace Green Literary Society, at their meeting on Monday evening, were invited to discuss various topics, suggested by contributions to the “Berwick Times.” The Editor, Mr W. Paterson, read the various articles, eight in number, and lively discussions followed each one. The first contribution was a poem entitled “Our Literary Society,” and dealt in humorous fashion with the “awful silence” that invariably fails upon the audience, when, after a paper, the chairman throws the meetings open to discussion. Then followed an interesting article entitled “Ought we to criticise the way other people spend their money?” by “Evangeline.” This provoked a good deal of discussion. A third article was in the nature of a plea for Wallace Green Church Library, founded in Golden Square Church in Dr Balmer’s days, when it was the only circulating library in the town. Now the membership has sunk to “three or four devoted souls,” but hopes were expressed that, the volumes having been put in order and the catalogue brought up to date, there would soon be a lengthy queue outside the Session House on a Thursday evening. “Diogenes” gave an amusing criticism on the meetings already held by the Society this session. “II Penseroso” treated with the slang phrase “ I don’t think,” arguing that it contained more than a germ of truth – that a great proportion of the men and women of today do not think, but accept the opinions of other people as their own. “A Sufferer” wrote of the behaviour of people in the street and the general neglect of the rule “keep to the right.” A strong condemnation of the delay in bringing the ex-Kaiser to justice, contributed by “Nemisis.” wound-up the evening. The eighth paper, in the form of a short letter was not read.

THE NEW RAILWAY BRIDGE

The deputation from the Town Council when it goes to Edinburgh to see the General Manager of the N.B.R. about the stairway to the Railway Bridge will have the solid backing of the inhabitants in the northern part of the town.

1970s view of Berwick Station was taken from the current road bridge, which at that time carried the main A1 road over the east coast main line. © Ben Brooksbank, Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

At the moment, when alterations are in progress, people are willing to put up with the absence of the stairway, but they could not be expected to do without it permanently. It will, however, be a great convenience to have the reconstructed stairway lead to the platform for the south trains. Under the old conditions, whether you were going north or south, you had to cross the bridge to get a ticket. If the stairway is placed as we suggest, only half of the passengers will need to cross the bridge.

INQUEST ON BERWICK CHILD

Coroner H. R. Peters, without calling a jury, on Friday night conducted an inquest in his office touching the death of Annie Bolton, the four month old child of Allison Bolton, single woman, Driver’s Lane, whose death occurred rather suddenly in the early hours of Thursday morning, 4th November.

Allison Bolton, the mother, identified the body as that of her child. The child had been suffering from a cold for two or three days, but she did not think there was anything seriously wrong with it. It had been taking its food regularly. At eight o’clock on Wednesday night she fed the child and put it into bed. Apart from the cold it was then all right. Witness went to bed shortly after, and at 1 am on Thursday was awakened by the child coughing and having difficulty with its breathing. She at once went for Dr P. W. Maclagan, leaving the child in her mother’s charge. On returning the child was dead.

Dr P. W. Maclagan said he was called by the last witness at 1.30 am on Thursday morning, and proceeded to the house in Driver’s Lane. On arriving there the child was found to be dead. It had only been dead a short time. He enquired about its illness, and was told it had been suffering from a cold, but had only become seriously ill at one o’clock. On Friday, along with Dr Caverhill, he conducted a post mortem at the mortuary, where he found that death had resulted from an attack of acute double pneumonia. The child was well nourished. Witness had attended the birth of the child, and at that time difficulty was experienced in getting the child to breathe. Otherwise the child was all right and healthy. In a child of that age the symptoms of double pneumonia would not be very marked prior to the fatal illness. The pneumonia would develop suddenly.

The Coroner returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 14 NOVEMBER 1919

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ARMISTICE DAY

TWO MINUTES OF SILENCE

Following on the wishes of the King that all work should cease for two minutes and that at the hour of eleven all pedestrians should pause as a remembrance of the Signing of the Armistice, the wish was carried out to the letter in Berwick.

In the stroke of eleven a signal rocket fired from the Coast Guard Station brought everyone to a halt. Machinery ceased to run in the workshops, carters stood at attention beside their horses in the streets and all residents with certain exceptions noticeable in their disregard of the recommendation, paused in the ordinary routine of work.

These exceptions amongst whom were Lord Joicey, who drove through the street during the “silence” and a young conscientious objector, may have carried on as usual more out of forgetfulness than anything else. We hope such was the case.

High Street, usually busy about this time of day, was a quiet as at midnight and at the sound of the second rocket, two minutes later life seemed again to start.

Services were held in the Parish Church this being two minutes silent prayer, the singing of two hymns, prayer and the National Anthem. At St. Mary’s Church the bell was tolled.

At the Barracks the men of the Depot, K.O.S.B., were paraded and inspected by the Commanding Officer, Major McAlester, D. S. O., at the sound of the first rocket they smartly came to attention. “Last Post” and “the Reveille” were sounded when the second rocket announced the two minutes to be up.

HONORARY FREEDOM OF BERWICK

CONFERRED ON MAYOR AND SHERIFF

There was a small company present in the old Guild Hall, Berwick, on Thursday afternoon, when occasion was taken to present the Honorary Freedom of the Borough to the Mayor (Alderman J. W. Plenderleith) and the Sheriff (Councillor Thos. Wilson) in recognition of their services they have rendered to the Borough during the war.

Among those present we observed Mr A. Tower Robertson, Councillors Darling, Dixon, Bolus, Morrison, W. C. Richardson, Cowe, Ald. Turnbull, Ald. Richardson, Mrs T. C. Smith, the Mayoress, Mrs Wilson, Mrs Riddell, Mrs Maclagan, Mr and Mrs James Gibson, Mrs Hamilton, Mr Jos. Macdonald, Mr J. W. Blench, Mr H. Stuart, Mr G. N. Broadbent, Mr J. B. Beveridge and Mrs Beveridge, Mr Willits, Rev. C. L. Stowe, Mrs Redburn, Miss Purves, Mrs Gregson, Mrs Bolus, etc., etc.

The Mayor and Sheriff were accompanied on the Bench by Ald. Maclagan, Mr P. M. Henderson, Mr T. C. Smith, and other officials.

Ald. Maclagan called upon the Treasurer to read the minute of the Council conferring the Honorary Freedom. The minute had been beautifully engrossed and illuminated ready for framing, and was the work of Mr Clements.

THE PRESENTATION

Ald. Maclagan, who presided, said this was probably an unprecedented occasion. He had never known of any case in which the Mayor and Sheriff while holding office had been made Honorary Freemen of the Borough, but he was sure all present would agree that the honour was equally deserved by these gentlemen as by any other. (Applause). He knew of no one who had taken a greater interest in the work than the present Mayor. (Applause). During the war the duties of the office were heavy, and it, was somewhat of a trial to be Mayor in times of distress. He felt sure the town had reason to congratulate itself that they had such a Mayor as Ald. James Weatherhead Plenderleith. (Applause).

Continuing, Ald. Maclagan said Ald. Plenderleith had been well seconded in the arduous work by the Sheriff, Councillor Thos. Wilson. (Applause). He considered the town had done a wise thing in conferring the Freedom of the Borough on these two gentlemen.

Alderman Maclagan then formally presented the parchments to the recipients, and asked then to sign the Freemen’s Roll, which they did.

THE MAYOR’S THANKS

The Mayor, on rising, was heartily applauded, and in a few sentences retuned his thanks for the high honour conferred upon him on the eve of his leaving the town. He felt that he could now for all time consider himself a citizen of the town.

LOCAL NEWS

The County Council and the Borough of Berwick-upon-Tweed have to contribute 20 per cent between them towards the cost of the new bridge, which it is proposed to build over the Tweed at Berwick.

This photograph shows the building of the Royal Tweed Bridge in the 1920s, known locally as the New Bridge (opened 1928).  Construction of one of the concrete arches can clearly be seen from this photograph. REF: BRO 354-58-24

As the result of the recent conference at Berwick between Sir Eric Geddes, Mr Killick, chief engineer to the Joint Road Committee, and Mr J. A. Bean, county Surveyor, a new design in ferro-concrete and masonry is being prepared, and as soon as the new plan is ready it will be placed in the hands of the Road Transport Board for their consideration. It is eight years ago since M. T. B. Short formally drew attention of the County Council to the need for a new bridge at Berwick, the war being responsible for a good deal of the delay, and at the meeting  of the Berwick Sanitary Authority on Monday Alderman Short told the members of the attitude he had taken up on behalf of the town in Newcastle.

SEVERE STORM AT BERWICK

HAIL, SNOW, GALE and HEAVY SEA.

The storm which has raged over the district in the beginning of the week has caused fishing operations to be suspended, and heavy seas have thundered on the coast, hacked up with a gale from the E.N.E.

The Pier has been swept by heavy breakers, and a wooden seat has been torn from its fastenings. So violent was the “rush” coming into the river mouth that the Pier Road was often awash and spray from the waves breaking against the cement wall was flying against the houses.

The Pier Road in calmer times. In the storm of 1919 it was often awash with the spray from waves breaking against cement wall that protects the road.

The Greens’ Haven, usually shelted by the bulwark of yards out, was like a seething caldron, and fishermen had to be on the alert to see that the riding ropes of cobles were strong enough to hold.

The doors of the Ladies’ bathing House were burst in by the rude force of the waves, and there have also been several falls of cliff stone by the violence of the weather.

In the town, conditions were miserable, snow followed hail, and the wind beat both with violence in the faces of pedestrians. Roads were in a deplorable state, and did not at all make good going for those using motors.

The sea moderated somewhat by Tuesday, but here was still too much broken water about to allow the fishermen resuming their occupation.

There was a heavy snowstorm on Thursday, and the district was covered to a depth of several inches by a white mantle. Snow was falling heavily at mid-day.