Berwick Advertiser

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 DECEMBER 1919

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THE HORNCLIFFE WAR MEMORIAL

We shall all be the better of the example of Horncliffe. A public meeting was held there last Saturday to discuss the projected War memorial. There was the inevitable difference of opinion as to whether it should be useful or purely monumental. After a free discussion it was generally agreed to go on with a public hall and reading room. One cannot but feel that there is something in the objection that a hall for the amusement of the living is a selfish form of memorial to the dead. That objection disappears if it is met in the spirit which Capt. Allenby voiced.  “The hall was to commemorate the men who gave them lives for ours. It was by their sacrifice we would be able to enjoy the hall.” The hall will not be a centre of continuous dissipation or frivolity. It will enter into the life of the village. Quiet and thoughtful evenings will be spent there, and indeed evenings of that kind will out-number the others. But grave or gay, all the evenings will go to make up the life of the village, and it was for that life as a whole that the men gave their lives. As Capt. Allenby finely said, we must not only think of these men in our solemn moments, but in our pleasures as well.

What would make the memorial even more eloquent of Horncliffe’s regard for the fallen would be the carrying out of the suggestion that the hall should be built by the voluntary labour of the villagers. Horncliffe stone would be quarried and put together by Horncliffe people. Such a memorial, we are convinced, would be admired from near and far for many a day to come, and we hope that it will be successfully carried through.

ST. ANDREW’S DAY

BERWICK CLUB REVIVED

Berwick St. Andrew’s Club was revived this year, after having been dormant for the period of the war, and a company of some 26 members and friends sat down to the 36th annual dinner and gathering in the King’s Arms Hotel, on Monday evening.

Pictured on the right of the photograph is an early 1900s image of the King’s Arms Hotel (with the flagpole), where the Berwick St Andrew’s Club was revived in 1919.  Ref: BRO 426 355

A typical Scottish dinner was served up in a manner reflecting great credit on Mr Scott, the genial host, and was very much enjoyed. The Haggis was played into the room in the customary way by bagpipe music, supplied by Mr G. H. Ballard. jun. Dinner having been done full justice to, the Scottish anthem “Scots Wha Hae” was sung by the company. The patriotic toast having been given by the President, County Alderman Darling proposed the toast of the Imperial Forces, referring to the splendid response made by Scots from every part of the globe to succour the old country in its time of need.

The toast was replied to by Commander Carr and Major McAlester, D. S. O.

SPORTS, AMUSEMENTS, &c

FOOTBALL

FRIENDLY AT SHIELFIELD

Berwick Rangers will engage Holy Island at Shielfield on Saturday, in a friendly fixture. The committee endeavoured to get Duns to play in a Border League tie, but owing to the rather stupid arrangement which allows teams to fix their own dates, this could not be managed. Duns having previously fixed up a friendly at home. This is the first time the “Seaweeds” have visited Shielfield, and a good game is expected. The Rangers team will be:- Cairns or Douglas; Daniels and Crombie; Brison, Walkenshaw, and J. Piercy; Jackson Piercy, Moffat Matthews or Scobie, Gilchrist, and T. Purves. The reserve player is Spence.

LOCAL NEWS

A very pretty wedding took place at Tweedmouth Parish Church this week, when Miss Mary Valentine Todd, daughter of Mr and Mrs Todd, Mill Strand, Tweedmouth, was married to Mr R. W. Wheatley, of the Detective Service, London. The Rev. P. G. Peacocke officiated.

Tweedmouth Parish Church © Copyright Walter Baxter, Creative Commons Licence.

The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a grey dress with black picture hat, and was attended by two bridesmaids, her sister, Miss Gladys Todd, in shell pink, and Miss Alice Wheatley (sister of the bridegroom) in navy blue. The duties of best man were discharged by Mr Harry Stowe, of the London City Police Force. After the ceremony, a reception attended by 80 guests, was held in the Norman Hall. The bride, who was employed with Messrs J. I. Cairns, High Street, prior to her wedding, received many presents. Part of the honeymoon was spent at Glanton before Mr and Mrs Wheatley proceeded south to London.

VAGRANT’S LONELY END

DIED IN SHED ON CEMETERY LOANING

On Sunday morning John Westle, a vagrant, believed to have hailed from the Bamburgh district, was found in a dying condition by Mr John Strangeways, a market gardener, in a shed in Mr Hettle’s field on Tweedmouth Cemetery Loaning.

The entrance area to Tweedmouth Cemetery, where not far away in a nearby field Mr John Westle, a vagrant, believed to be from the Bamburgh area was found dying in a shed.  © Copyright Graham Robson, Creative Commons Licence.

He died shortly after being discovered. The deceased is well-known in the town, where he has frequently been known to beg food. We understand he used to be a farm labourer at Scremerston.

THE INQUEST

On Monday afternoon Mr P. M. Henderson, coroner, conducted an inquest without a jury in the Board Room of the Workhouse touching the death.

P.C. John McGregor Young said about 10.30 on Sunday, on information received at Spittal, I proceeded to the shed on Cemetery Loaning in a field occupied by Mr Hettle, market gardener. I took with me a horse and cart, and on arrival I found deceased lying in the shed quite dead. I know the deceased well, and he went about Spittal begging. Deceased was lying with his clothes, which were in rags, all undone. He also had his boots off, and there  was practically no foot in one sock. His body was very much exposed, and he was lying huddled up.

Dr. C. G. Maclagan said he saw the body of the deceased at the Mortuary on Sunday afternoon, and, along with Dr. P.W. Maclagan, he conducted a post mortem. There were no external marks of violence, but the feet were a bit swollen. The body was very emaciated, and there was extensive pleurisy of the left chest, the lung being practically collapsed. The heart was thereby affected. There was also traces of tuberculosis in both lungs. The immediate cause of death was failure of the heart’s action caused by the cold.

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.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 31 OCTOBER, 1919

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MILITARY NOTES

TO CELEBRATE THE PASSING OF THE VOLUNTEERS

Captain C. L. Fraser, V.D., commanding “B” (Berwick) Company, 4th Northumberland Fusiliers (Vols.), is organising a dinner and smoking concert for all ranks of the Company for Thursday, (6th November, as a wind-up to the movement in the town.

SECOND STAR

In the 4th Bn., K.O.S.B. (T.F.), 2nd Lieut. W. C. Crozier is announced in “London Gazette” as promoted Lieutenant.

DEATH OF A VETERAN FUSILIER

FORMERLY INSTRUCTOR AT BELFORD AND CHATTON

Many inhabitants of North Tyne and Glendale will be sorry to hear of the death of Sergeant-Instructor R. Biddlecombe (“Dick” as he was more familiarly called), who passed away in his 72nd year at Stort Hill, Bishop Stortford.

Dick Biddlecombe joined the 5th Fusiliers about 1867-8, and was finally discharged in 1899, after a total service of 32 years, 13 of which were served as an Instructor with the 1st V.B.N. Fusiliers, 12 years with “I” Company at Corbridge, and 1 year with “C” Company at Belford and Chatton.

A man of splendid physique, robust health, and of powerful build, Dick Biddlecombe never failed to do his duty, and, no matter what the weather, he always made the long journeys to his outlying sections up North Tyne, and in Glendale, and thereby gained the confidence and respect of both officers and men with when he served. He was the possessor of the Afghan and the Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.

Sergt. Instructor Biddlecombe was buried at Great Haileybury Churchyard, on the 17th October, Major H. Perry, R.A.F., formerly Sergt.-Major 1st V.B.N. Fusiliers, being the sole representative of his old comrades at the funeral.

The deceased leaves a widow and three daughters, who are totally unprovided for, to mourn the loss of a good husband, and father, who was also a splendid type of what a Fusilier should be.

LOCAL NEWS

Alnwick Urban District Council entertained the Duke of Northumberland to luncheon on Monday on the occasion of the Town’s welcome to returned soldiers. At the luncheon, Mr R. Henderson, the Chairman, referred to the rumour that the Duke was likely to become Viceroy of India. The Duke, responding, gave the assurance that there was no truth in the rumour. The climate of Northumberland could hardly be described that day as extremely good, but it was quite good enough for him, and he intended to remain there.

At 12 o’clock on Saturday while George Easton was driving a motor car from Spittal to Berwick the steering gear went wrong while near the Carr Rock. The car swerved and dashed over the wall on to the shore, where it turned over.

Early image of the Carr Rock Ref: NRO 683-10-104

The glass wind screen was smashed, but the car was little the worse and was hauled back to the roadway later and taken to Berwick. The driver escaped without injury.

About five o’clock on Saturday morning a railway smash took place on the North-Eastern Railway line on the embankment near the Tunnel, Tweedmouth. An N.B. goods train was run into by a North-Eastern engine and van, with the result that two waggons were derailed and the “down” line blocked.

The former Tweedmouth North signal cabin was situated just south from where the N.B. goods train was run into by a North Eastern engine and van

The breakdown gang was soon on the scene and the work of clearing the line was carried out with expedition. Traffic was again running over the line at ten o’clock.

BERWICK COUNTY COURT

BERWICK MAN SUED FOR RENT OF A CONDEMNED HOUSE

William Denholm hay, secretary of the Craigmillar Brewery, Edinburgh, sued Alexander Kilgour, Cobbler, Hide Hill, Berwick, for the sum of £6 8s 8d, being amount charged for rent for half-year of a house in Castlegate, portion of rates payable, and the expense incurred in replacing gas brackets removed.

Mr. H. R. Peters appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Kilgour conducted his own defence.

Mr Peters, in outlining the case, said the sum sued for was for the half-years rent to 12th May, 1919, and the proportion of rates payable by the tenant, £5 15s; and also the expenses incurred by the landlord in renewing the gas brackets, which had been taken away by Kilgour, this being 13s 8d. On making an examination of the place after defendant left, he discovered that Kilgour had removed all the brackets from every room except an upstairs room.

Judge Greenwell – You are therefore not in a position to throw much light on the subject. (Laughter).

Mr Peters – A portion of the gas piping had the appearance of having been cut away in the passage.

The Judge – They were not the tenant’s fittings.

Mr Peters – No. It was quite clear they had been taken off. I wrote to the defender, but I got no reply. He had not paid the rent which was still owing.

Defendant – I would just like to say I entered this house in August, 14 years ago. There were then no gas fittings in the house, and I was forced to burn a paraffin lamp. Later I put in the gas brackets at my own expense, and also a meter. The brackets are my own property and this is the bill (handling a receipted account up to the Judge) which I paid to Mr Cairns.

The Judge – What have you to say to this, Mr Peters?

Mr Peters – I cannot go back 14 years.

The Judge – From what defendant has told us, the fittings are certainly his. Now, Mr Kilgour, will you tell us why you refuse to pay the rest?

Defendant – The reason I refuse to pay the rent is that in 1915 my boy contracted diphtheria, owing to the conditions at the house, and was sent to hospital. I laid the case before the late Mr Macadam, Sanitary Inspector. I had spoken to Mr Peters several times before his about the house, but he would do nothing. I might mention that the drain was inside the house.

Judge Greenwell – There is nothing in that which would affect the claim.

Defendant – The Sanitary Authority condemned the house, and Mr Peters got a letter saying the house was condemned. I got notice to quit; but at the time I could not get a house, and I had to remain in occupation.

The Judge – That does not absolve you from paying rent.

Defendant – Am I supposed to pay the rent when the house was condemned?

The Judge – Yes, you lived in it, and you will therefore have to pay the rent for it.

Mr Peters – He is out of the house now.

Defendant – I would never refuse to pay rent to any landlord, but this house was condemned. I could not get another house, and I would not turn my wife and child into the street when it was condemned.

The Judge – That was your misfortune in not being able to get another house; but so long as you occupied it you are liable for the rent I must give judgement for plaintiff for the rent and rates, £5 15s, payment to be made at the rate of 10s per month.

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