Northern Cyclist Battalion

This Week in World War One, 15 October 1915

08/03/201816/10/2015 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 15 OCTOBER 1915

BAMBURGH

Wedding of Miss Weatherston and Gunner E. Littlefair – On Saturday last a very pretty wedding took place at St. Aidan’s Church, Bamburgh. The contracting parties were Eleanor, eldest daughter of Mr H. Weatherston of Bamburgh, and Gunner E. Littlefair, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Littlefair of Bamburgh. A choral service, officiated by the vicar (the Rev. E. Williams), assisted by the Rev. F. Long of Lucker, was held. The bride was dressed in white shantung silk, veil, and wreath of orange blossom. Miss S. Weatherston, sister of the bride, and Miss Littlefair, sister of the bridegroom, acted as bridesmaids, and the Misses Campbell, Newcastle, as attendants. The bridesmaids wore dresses of blue silk poplin and fawn felt hats and the attendants wore dresses of white net lace and little mob caps. The bride carried a bouquet of white heather, and the attendants each carried a basket of sweet peas. Sapper P. Littlefair, brother of the bridegroom, acted as best man.

The bride was given away by her father. A guard of honour was formed by men from the Northern Cyclist Battalion and Sea Scouts. After the ceremony a reception was held at the Lord Crewe Arms Hotel where an excellent tea was provided by the Misses Morpeth, and there were many friends of the bride and bridegroom present. The Vicar made a very interesting speech, as did also the schoolmaster (Mr T.W.Little) and various toasts were given, to which the bride and bridegroom suitably responded. Later in the day the happy couple left for Edinburgh where the honeymoon was spent. The bride’s travelling costume was blue with black velvet hat. The presents were numerous and useful, and included some valuable articles. The bride’s gift to the bridegroom was a signet ring, and that of the bridegroom to the bride was a dressing case and furs. The bridegroom presented the bridesmaids with pendants.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

A DISORDERLY HOUSE

Mary Jefferson, married woman, West Street, Berwick, was charged with allowing her premises to be used as a brothel on the 5th Oct. Defendant did not appear.

The Chief Constable said there had been considerable complaints about this woman.

P.C. Welsh said with P.C. Spiers he went to defendant’s house and found indecent behaviour going on in the house.

P.C. Spiers corroborated.

Defendant was sentenced to two months’ hard labour without the option of a fine.

DRUNK WHILE DRIVING CATTLE

George Scott Davis, plasterer, Berwick, was charged with being drunk and incapable while in charge of two bullocks belonging to Mr Foreman, butcher, Norham. Defendant pleaded not guilty.

P.C. Spiers said about 1.20 p.m. the previous day he saw defendant in Main Street, Tweedmouth, in charge of two bullocks. Defendant was very drunk. Witness got the bullocks penned and brought defendant to the Police Station.

P.C. Smith said defendant was very drunk when brought to the Police Station. Defendant was hardly able to look after himself without having charge of cattle.

Fined 5s or seven days.

Berwick Advertiser Advert E.Dickinson & Son — Berwick Advertiser Advert R. Dickinson & Son

HOW GERMAN CHEMISTS RUIN THE HAIR

Specialist’s Startling Exposure

Gaudy labels and fancy bottles cannot beautify the hair and make it grow; yet, according to one of our greatest authorities on the care of the hair and scalp, there is very little else to recommend the German made hair tonics which are still being offered for sale in this country. Crude methylated spirit, dyes, colouring matter and perfume form the principal

Edwardian girls hairstyles - Image from unknown periodical. — Edwardian girls hairstyles – Image from unknown periodical.

ingredients of most of these hair tonics, and the men and women who use them because they are cheap wonder why their hair turns grey, becomes dry and brittle and finally falls out. The reason is not hard to find. Surely, even if it costs just a trifle more it is better to obtain a British-made hair tonic. British chemists stake their reputation upon the quality of their products. As an instance there is Lavona Hair Tonic – a preparation which can be obtained locally from John Brown, 5 High Street, Berwick; F.R. Padley, Market Place, Wooler; and most other high class chemists everywhere. There is no need for secrecy regarding the composition of this excellent hair and scalp tonic. It is prepared from 3 ozs. Bay Rum, 1oz. Lavona de Compossee, ¼ drachm Menthol Chrystals, and a little perfume, and readers can, if they wish, obtain the necessary ingredients and make the tonic themselves. But the majority will prefer to obtain the complete Lavona Hair Tonic from the chemist, firstly because it is put up in special sprinkler topped bottles which economise the tonic, and secondly because with each bottle the chemist gives a signed guarantee that he will refund your money unless Lavona Hair Tonic actually makes your hair grow longer and more beautiful and eradicates scurf and dandruff from your scalp.

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

This Week in World War One, 22nd January 1915

08/03/201823/01/2015 by Northumberland Archives

22 JANUARY 1915

SERGEANT CYCLIST WRITES TO BERWICK

Writing from the front to a friend in Berwick; Sergeant. T. Young, Army Cycling Corps, 7^th Division, says: -“We sailed from Southampton for ———– on Christmas Eve and I can tell you we were fairly miserable to see the lights of the Old Country fade away and thinking of our friends at home. We arrived at a rest camp at ——— about 3.00 p.m. on Christmas Day, tired, hungry and very cold.

Three miserable days were spent then we departed for the front by train, the journey taking 30 hours. We arrived at a place called Railhead and then had an hour’s cycle run to our billet,-a deserted farmhouse about one and a half miles in the rear of the trenches. We have been on patrol work ever since arriving- looking for snipers, spies, shirkers etc; in ruined buildings just at the rear of the fighting line.

We get a “little” excitement as every day the Germans are sending us shrapnel and “Jack Johnsons” Excepting for the artillery matters are very quiet in our division. Yesterday (9^th January) we had a good deal of shrapnel dropped around us, some struck the billet but did no great damage. We went out to look for souvenirs but we soon had to double back to the billet as more shrapnel started to come.

The Northern Cyclist Battalion, with a number from other Battalions are with this Company as reinforcements to a regular Company which lost heavily in a recent battle. Our lads have settled down wonderfully and the surprising thing to me is how quietly they all take the shell-fire. We have good regular officers, especially the C.S.M. and C.Q.M.S. we are all very cheerful, fit and happy and have been served with good clothing, which comprises corduroy breeches, jacket, British warm, and fur jacket.

The food is very good and there are plenty of free “smokes”, a tot of rum nightly and a good billet. No one can speak too highly of the work of the Regulars, but at the same time there is quite a lot of Territorials out here doing the same work as the Regulars and doing it well. It seems to me this is a sort of siege warfare and if a man has the stamina and guts to stick the rough life and can handle a rifle quickly it is nearly all that is required. I don’t wish to appear too wise but from what I have heard I don’t think Cyclist Battalions will ever get out here as complete Battalions. If any more men are called from this Corps you can tell them to come out here. They will serve under officers with fighting experience and alongside comrades who have been through it and you know much that is worth.”

British Cyclist Corps cyclists — Troops of the British Army Cyclist Corps passing through Brie, France, during 1918.
© IWM (Q 1868)

22 JANUARY 1915

The Berwick Company of the Northern Cyclist Batallion which was raised in Berwick removed to Bamburgh on Monday. It is intended to billet 300 of this Battalion in Bamburgh Castle and Armstrong Cottages.

Advert for sale at Mosgroves Shoes — Advert from The Berwick Advertiser 22nd January 1915

A PLACE FOR DUCKS

In a letter to his aunt in Berwick :Lieut Eric Land, RAMC writes :

“The trenches are very wet and muddy just now in some places nearly four feet deep in water, and it is naturally very trying for the men to have no chance of getting dry for several weeks. It is extraordinary how cheerful and well they keep, in the circumstances and they don’t mind the Germans as long as they have plenty to eat and smoke – and so far they have had no cause for complaint in that respect. We are settling down for the winter here and I don’t suppose much will happen this side until spring comes. We shall soon have webbed feet if we live much longer in this country”.

A group of British soldiers standing in a muddy trench — A group of British soldiers in a trench at Cambrin during 1918. © IWM (Q 8458)

Two soldiers standing in a muddy trench — Clearing mud from a trench during the Battle of the Somme, 1916 © IWM (Q 1621)