Berwick Advertiser

This Week in World War One, 23rd April 1915

08/03/201824/04/2015 by Northumberland Archives

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.

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 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

08/03/201817/04/2015 by Northumberland Archives

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……………………..

This Week in World War One, 9th April 1915

08/03/201810/04/2015 by Northumberland Archives

APRIL 9TH 1915

SKILLFUL SEAMANSHIP

Steamer’s Escape From Pirates Off Berwick

Captain A. Findlay, of the steamer Helen, of Glasgow, reported to the ship’s owners, Messrs G. T. Gillie and Co., of Newcastle, an exciting experience off Blyth.

“About 7.10a.m. on Monday,” he said, “a large steamer passed us, flying his code number and a Dutch ensign aft. I was on watch myself, and thought it curious, as we could see nothing to make him fly his number.

“About 7.20 a.m. we sighted a submarine coming straight for us. We were then about seven miles off Berwick, and I at once headed the ship straight for the land and told the engineers to get the utmost speed they could out of the steamer. We worked up to top speed, and the submarine followed, trying hard to get on our quarter. I kept porting out helm to keep him right astern. He gradually got nearer, but as we were drawing close to Berwick he gave up the chase at 7.50a.m. and stopped. We got a fine sight of the submarine as she was only half a mile from us then. He was flying no flag, and I could not see his number.

PIRATE’S RIFLE SHOTS OFF LONGSTONE

Firing Without Warning at Trawler’s Crew

German U-Boat, U-10 — The German U-Boat U-10 was reported as being the submarine which attacked the Acantha 5th April. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B2- 3292-11]

The Grimsby trawler Acantha, owned by Messrs Horris and Chapman, was torpedoed and sunk off Longstone, Farne Islands, on Monday afternoon. The crew of thirteen hands took to the small boats and were picked up by the Swedish steamer Tord and landed at Blyth.

The Acantha was on a return journey from the White Sea with a cargo of fish valued at £2,000. On Monday afternoon about one o’clock the crew were astonished to hear the report of guns and of shots striking the trawler. A submarine was then sighted heading for the Acantha at high speed and firing from rifles and a small gun on her deck as she came on. A zigzag course was steered by the trawler with the intention of avoiding any torpedoes which might be discharged, but against the greater speed of the submarine the trawler could not escape.

The Germans were content to rely on their small gun, and shots from this holed the Acantha so badly that she began to fill. Captain Pederson, of the Acantha, ordered the crew to the boats, and while the life-boat on the weather side was being launched the pirates peppered the trawler with rifle shots, but as J. Oatley, the chief mate, observed, the shooting was bad and no one was hit. After the small boats had cast off those on the submarine continued firing at them with their rifles, and several shots struck the boats, making holes in the gunwales. None of the crew was struck.

The Acantha apparently did not sink speedily enough for the Germans, for when the crew’s boats were

Longstone, close to where The Acantha was attacked on the 5th April 1915. © Copyright Christopher Styles and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

four or five hundred yards off a torpedo was fired at the trawler, which sank with a large explosion. Captain Pederson said the submarine did not give any warning, but opened fire at once. He saw it quite distinctly. It was painted white, but there were no numbers or letters on the sides.

The submarine stayed in the vicinity for some time after sinking the Acantha, and then went south. After being in their boats an hour and a half the crew were picked up by the Tord.

BAMBURGH

Bamburgh Work Party.-During the first three months of the year the ladies of the above party have been busy making garments, etc., for our troops at home and abroad. The articles made are as follows:-Shirts, 44; socks, 90 pairs; mufflers, 24; mittens, 36; beside bed socks, helmets, slippers, etc…

…The work has been forwarded to the Northern General Hospital, to Major Beal, for the 11th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers; and the Miss Grey, at a hospital in France.

Bamburgh Red Cross Society.- The members of the above have since the arrival of the Northern Cyclist Battalion in Bamburgh undertaken the cooking for the hospital of that section of troops. They have, in addition to the army rations, been able to supply the invalids with many extras, which have been kindly contributed by the following:- Misses Morpeth, Mrs Macaskie, Mrs Williams, Mrs Shields, Mrs Littlefair, Mrs Thompson (Shoreston Hall), Miss Broadbent, Mrs Laing, Mrs Smeedle, Miss Hutchinson, Mrs Keys, Mrs Marshall, Mrs Little, Miss J. Weatherston, Miss Ross, Miss Hall, Mrs McDougal, Miss M. Ross, Miss M. Wallace, Mrs Hart, Mrs Freeman (Bells Hill), Mrs Dryden and Miss J. Clarke.

Advert for Redpath and Son, High Street, Berwick, from the Berwick Advertiser 9th April 1915

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