An early 20th Century postcard of the front of the railway station REF: BRO 17
The plans for the erection of Berwick’s station have now been passed by the directors of the North British Railway Company and work will be proceeded with shortly. It is understood that the cost will be between £30,000 and £40,000.
A feature of the scheme is an island platform between the up line and the down line. This will be 800 feet in length, and it will be reached from the booking hall (which will be about where the present booking office is) by means of a bridge: and there will also be an hydraulic luggage lift. The up line will be about where the present down line is, thus straightening out the present curve from the Royal Border Bridge. This scheme includes thoroughly up to date waiting rooms and offices.
The first portion of the scheme which will be executed is the new bridge carrying the Great North Road over the railway. This will be a little to the south of the present bridge which is the property of the Railway Company. Borings for the new bridge have already been made, and the work is to proceed forthwith.
Mr John Martin Tate. BSc one of the assistant masters at Spittal Council School has been appointed to a Second Lieutenancy in the 10th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, and is to proceed at once to Stirling for preliminary training. Mr Tate who came to Spittal in September last is a native of Newcastle. He graduated at Durham University, where he served three years with the Officers Training Corps.
Spittal School in the early 20th Century. REF: BRO
POSTSCRIPT: The Spittal School log book records that Mr Tate, whilst serving as a Captain in the 18th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers, was killed in France on May 27th 1918.Does anyone have any more information about him?
Advert for Ford’s Garage, Hide Hill from the Berwick Advertiser 5th March 1915
The new headquarters of the Boy Scouts in Palace Green have proved to be just what were required to ensure the successful working of the movement during the winter months.
The building has been well used, a different troop having met each evening in the week, and the attendances have been exceptionally good. There is a pleasing keenness displayed by the boys which goes far to lighten the task of those who have their training in hand, and the number of badges that have been earned, proves that they are entering into the work in the proper spirit.
Large numbers of recruits have signed on during the past six months. Owing to the dearth of scoutmasters-a difficulty by the way, which has always had to be faced-those who were already in charge of troops have had an extremely busy time of it lately. The load has been lightened in no small way by the active assistance of Lieut. Graham, of Mossknow, Ecclefechan, who is at present attached to the K.O.S.B. depot. He is Scout Commissioner for Mid-Dumfries District, and also manages a troop. Lieut. Graham takes a very keen interest in boys and their work, and is much respected by the Scouts who readily take advantage of the instruction he so capably gives. The Scout Association is much indebted to Commissioner Graham for his kindly help.
R. Clements (front row, 2nd from right) and other scout group leaders on a summer camp at Wooler in 1910. REF: BRO/1828/4
There is still room for further assistance, however, and any interested friends of the movement will be welcomed at Headquarters any evening excepting Saturdays, to see for themselves the nature of the instruction.
The weather has been propitious enough on one or two occasions of late to permit of outdoor work being undertaken. Many of the tests for badges were done indoors, but those that necessitated an outside area were gone through when the patrols had their outings. Since Mr Thompson Seton’s lecture at Berwick, patrol calls have been sounded with greater courage and efficiency, especially when the bricks and mortar have been left behind and the fields and sea banks gained.
The north-country temperament prevents the boy from doing what he thinks may cause people to laugh at him; he certainly laughed at Mr Seton’s admirable imitation of the cries of the wolf and the elk. However, when this natural shyness is overcome and animals have been studied the scout may be pleased to display his abilities, and not, let us hope, to the regret of his older neighbours.
Statue of Jimmy Strength in the garden of the Scout Headquarters in 1908. REF: BRO/1636/6/9
The various troops have been equipped with neckerchiefs and shoulder knots, so that, in future, there will be greater uniformity among the members of the various units.
In order to raise funds for the local association, a whist drive is to be held in the Good Templar Hall next Tuesday.
The outside of the Headquarters has been painted and the place has quite a fresh appearance. “Jimmie Strength” has also received a new “coat”.
Horncliffe Troop is going on well under Mr Robson, the Council Schoolmaster.
The latest local scout to receive his King’s Scout badge is Patrol leader J. M. Dodds of the Grammar School troop, who has something like eighteen proficiency badges.
A number of excellent models of bridges and several useful stools and other household furniture have been made by
the scouts. If sufficient are produced before the winter season finishes it may be possible to have an exhibition of these things.
Advert from the Berwick Advertiser 26th February 1915
Patriotic Meeting,-The Rev W. Thorp, M.A., gave a lantern lecture on “Early Stages of the Great War,” in the course of which about seven dozen slides were used to illustrate the various aspects of the conflict. Mr J.R. Marshall, of Chatton Park, the chairman, referred to the suitability of the financial object of the meeting, namely; the helping of Belgian refugees, who will benefit to the extent of £4 as a result. A feature of the meeting was the presence of four Belgian soldiers at present being cared for in their convalescence at Hetton House by Mrs L.H. Leather-Culley, who along with some of her Red Cross nurses, accompanied them.
LOCAL NEWS
Vessels Ashore.-About 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning the steamship “C.H.R. Christesen” of Copenhagen, 911 tons, and built in Flensburg in 1903, which was bound from Aarkuus for New York, via the Tyne, in ballast, ran ashore on the Longstone Point. The vessel was badly holed and is likely to become a total wreck.
The Holy Island lifeboat was launched at 6.15 a.m. to assist in landing the crew of nineteen on the Longstone. The crew were brought to the mainland by the Seahouses lifeboat and Berwick Harbour tug.
Recruiting advert from the Berwick Advertiser February 19th 1915
TWEED SALMON FISHING SEASON OPENS
Salmon fishing commenced on the Tweed on Monday morning, but the opening was not particularly bright, and only a few fish were caught. In the Norham district the opening was decidedly disappointing. Salmon sold on Monday at 2s per lb, this being the same as on the opening day last year. The fishing at the river mouth stations this year will be rather handicapped owing to the military authorities prohibiting fishing at these stations at night.
There has been no improvement in the fishing since Monday. On Thursday morning there was a spate in the river and in consequence of this the stations in the lower reaches were not working. Salmon was sold on Thursday at 1s 9d per lb. against 2s on the corresponding day last year.
ITEMS OF INTEREST
A parcel of cigarettes sent by the household servants at Wooperton (through Mr R. F. Henderson, Wooler), has been acknowledged by the “C” Squadron Northumberland Hussars Yeomanry, and were much appreciated.
The 7th Welsh Territorials, who have been stationed at Berwick on coast defence since August, are preparing to leave the town for another station in the south. The men have become very popular during their stay in the town and their vocalists have taken a prominent part in many local concerts.
An armoured motor car attached to the Highland Light Infantry, stopped in Berwick on Wednesday evening for a short time on its way north. This is the first armoured car to pass through Berwick, and it attracted a good deal of attention.
Advert for Martin’s stationary shop, from the Berwick Advertiser 19th February 1915
A MARTIAL DISTINCTION TO AN OLD CONTRIBUTOR OF THE “ADVERTISER”
Thomas Burns, F.R.S.I., who has been a highly appreciated contributor to our columns for many years, and much of whose poetry has been published in book form, has just received a special letter of thanks from Lord Kitchener’s, from the War Office, London, for his poem entitled “The March of Kitchener’s Army,” which appeared in the “Advertiser” on the 5th of the present month.
During recent years there have been many honours showered upon our author in recognition of his labours in the sphere of poetry, and happily amongst them, compliments from sovereigns, scientists, philosophers, divines, and fellow poets, and other literateurs of the highest distinction.
But a recognition by, and a special letter of thanks from the superman of the moment, and such a moment, pregnant as it is with world wide destinies, which has enveloped and may constitute new boundaries, and determine vastly different conditions of life throughout the whole civilised world: such an honour is well fitted to bring a glow of pride that will kindle a new flame of courage in the poet’s heart though the fact remains, that since the beginning of time, the poet and the warrior have ever fought shoulder to shoulder on the same plane for the uplifting of humanity and for the light and liberty of the race.
