This Week in World War One, 9 August 1918

03/08/2018 by Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 9 AUGUST 1918

FOOTBALLS FOR THE 7TH

The following letter has been received from Major Smail at the Front thanking Miss Cowen and Miss Herriot for the footballs for which they have collected subscriptions. We also publish a list of subscriptions; others are promised and the list is still open.

Friday, 2nd August, 1918.

Dear Miss Cowen and Miss Herriot, The footballs you so kindly raised subscriptions for duly arrived on Monday. They just arrived in the nick of time as most of ours were on their last legs, having been repaired several times. I kept one for my Company and sent the other three up to Battalions Headquarters for distribution to the other Companies. The C.O. (Lieut. Col. Liddell, M.C.) is much delighted that Berwick has remembered its own Battalion again. He told me on my return to the Battalion that the Guild of Aid was one of the few organisations in North Northumberland which seemed to remember the existence of the battalion. If, as I hope, you will keep this effort going, we will be more than ever indebted to the inhabitants of the old place. You have no idea how much pleasure the lads out here get out of a football. Besides pleasure it is good for their physical fitness.

Be sure you convey adequately to the subscribers our warmest thanks for their generosity. We are much indebted to you for undertaking the Secretarial duties. I am awfully glad you took the hint I gave you in this matter and so promptly too. I know lots of people would like to do something for the men out here, but have not much idea of what to send them. They can take it from me that they cannot do better than support your next appeal for funds.- Yours sincerely, H . R. SMAIL, Major.

NURSE KATE BISHOP RECIEVES

ROYAL RED CROSS DECORATION

Nurse Kate Bishop, daughter of Mr John Bishop, hon, Curator, Berwick Museum attended a Buckingham Palace on Wednesday week, when an investiture was held by His Majesty the King. The King in pinning on the decoration of the Royal Red Cross, warmly commended Miss Bishop on her bravery in the French hospitals, which were in May and June bombed by hostile air craft, and trusted she would long be spared to wear it.

Miss Bishop received her education at the Girls’ High School, and later went to Darlington Training College. She was keenly interested in V.A.D. work and found time to take this up while engaged as a school teacher at Bedlington. Fully qualified as a V.A.D. sister she offered her services some three years ago, and was almost immediately sent to France. At one of the large hospitals, known to every soldier who has come down from the “line” with a “Blightly,” her experiences have been of a varied character.

During the time she has been in France she has assisted in the nursing of many local soldiers and officers. After having endured the ordeal of repeated attack by cowardly air pilots and bombers, during which time the nurses and wounded were often compelled at night time to seek shelter in dug-outs in proximity to the Hospital, Miss Bishop was allowed a respite from her duties. She has spent most of the time in her native town of Berwick, where she has received the hearty congratulations and good wishes of a large circle of friends.

We trust Nurse Bishop will have an enjoyable time in Old Berwick, and that she will have many years of life after the war is over in which to wear her decoration.

LOCAL NEWS

Lord Armstrong suggests organised wild fruit picking by tame pickers, such as members of the Guild of War Agricultural Helpers, Boy Scouts and school children under control, and ask landowners to allow such pickers access to their hedges.

Volunteers in Section A, B, and C, if certified by the officer commanding their unit as being engaged whole time on agricultural work, may be relieved from attending half the prescribed number of drills during July, August, and Sept.

The Tweed salmon net fishing has again been very poor, and the only thing which can effect an improvement is a good spate. The sooner this comes the better, as the season is getting on. Fish continue to sell at the controlled figure, 3s per lb.

A leek planting competition took place at the Garden of Meadow House, Tweedmouth, on Wednesday last, the event being watched with considerable interest, Mr T. Steel, Berwick, was the prize-winner, planting 1800 leeks per hour, and the runner up was Mr Henderby, Spring Gardens, who put in 1600 in the same time.

The August Holiday was celebrated fairly quietly in the town, the restrictions on railway and motor travelling having had their effect. A goodly number however found their way to Mordington, where a Red Cross Fete afforded numerous and varied attractions. Others spent the day at the seaside, while a fairly representative crowd from Berwick, Tweedmouth and Spittal sought an afternoon’s relaxation in peaceful Norham and picturesque Horncliffe.

Horncliffe Mill © Berwick Record Office – BRO 426 1121.

In the afternoon those about High Street were kept in fits of laughter for a time by the realistic antics of a Red Cross performer from Mordington, who on his “fiery steed” cantered about soliciting donations to the Red Cross Funds. Much amusement was caused when the “steed” slashed out in lifelike manner at those who did not contribute.

SCREMERSTON

A war memorial service was held at Scremerston Church on Sunday. There was a good attendance of members and others. The officers and men of the Volunteer Battalion at Seahouses were also present. The sermon was preached by the Rev. E. L. Owen, Vicar of St. Andrew’s Newcastle, in the absence of Mr Lightfoot, owing to illness.

Home for a few days is Private Bert Roberts, Duke of Wellingtons, Town, Farm. This young lad has been twice wounded and has another brother serving.

Pleased to see home on a well-earned leave Capt. J. E. Carr, of Heatherytops, who has come from the Italian theatre of operations. He is looking remarkably well in spite of the arduous campaigning he has gone through since taking his commission. Captain Carr received his commission in the early stages of the war, and has served in France. We trust he will have a very pleasant holiday.

Sec. Lieut. Jas. Jobling, R.N., who formerly was joint tenant with his brother of Scremerston Town Farm, is home on a well-earned leave. He is serving in one of H.M. Submarines, but looks as fresh as the proverbial daisy. We trust he will have a good time before returning to duty.

WW1 British E-class submarine HMS E3, sunk on 18 October 1914. This highlights the dangers Sec. Lieut. Jas. Jobling from Scremerston, who served as a submariner in 1918 faced along with his fellow comrades in WW1. © No known copyright.

BELFORD DISTRICT

INTERESTING PROCESSION

Sunday being the anniversary of Britain’s entry in to the war, services befitting the occasion were held in St. Mary’s Church, Belford. In the morning the Church was crowded. This was owing to the great procession which marched from the billets in High Street and took its place in the pews set a set apart for it. First in the procession were a detachment of the L.V.R. at present quartered in the village. Next came the Land Army, then the members of the V.A.D. behind were the Girl Guides, then the Boy Scouts, and after them were the Comrades of The Great War, and members of the Rechabites brought up the rear. The Vicar preached an interesting and impressive sermon from 1st Peter, 5th chapter, 10th verse. Hymns appropriate to the occasion were sung.

First World War Stannington – Hilda and Robert Atkin’s story

21/12/202012/01/2017 by Northumberland Archives

We have covered John Atkin’s life in our previous blog, but now will look at the younger generation of the Atkin family and their relationship with Stannington.

Robert Atkin

Robert was born at Stargate, near Ryton 1882, where his father John was working as a colliery Blacksmith. He followed his family in their various moves, though he and his sister Minnie lived with their grandparents during the 1891 census, and settled with the family at Whitehouse farm. He is described as a Gardener on the 1911 census. He served in the First World War, and there are two medals roll index cards that may refer to him, both showing a private in the Northumberland Fusiliers that received service medals. He met nurse Hilda Currie at the sanatorium, perhaps through the gatherings and dances that were held for staff.

Robert is one of the staff from Stannington Sanatorium and the Philipson Farm Colony who served in the First World War that are being researched in a new project. As part of the Stannington Parish Centenary Festival of Remembrance (8-11^th November 2018), Richard Tolson is producing a series of books looking at Stannington parish 100 years ago, and recording the story of the men who left the parish to fight in the First World War.

The festival is intended to involve the whole community and will include a flower festival, book signing, School trips, WW1 Re-enactments, village dance, brass band concert, a talk about the WW1 history of the village, displays of the research, and a special Remembrance Service. For more details, or to help out with any relevant photos or information contact Stannington History Group via stanningtonhistorygroup@gmail.com

Hilda Currie

Hilda Jane Currie was born in Percy Main or Willington-on-Tyne in 1892. Her father was Captain John Currie, a master mariner, and her mother was Georgina Margaret Robinson, recorded on the census as Meggie. She grew up with sisters Meggie, Ella, and Eva, and her brothers John (known as Jack) and James Herbert. The brothers served at sea in WWI, and they seem to have been a very close family, sending letters from the various parts of the world they travelled to. Jack became an engineer in the Navy, and was killed aboard the SS Whitgift 20^th April 1916 in a submarine attack, aged 32. James was a Mercantile Marine, 3^rd engineer on the SS Northumbria. On the 9^th Jan 1919 he was killed by a mine explosion at Newbiggin-by-the-sea, aged 29. Jack is commemorated on Tower Hill memorial, and James is buried at Wallsend (Church Bank) Cemetery.

Hilda in her uniform holding a kitten (NRO 10361/1/237)

In 1911 Hilda and her sister Ella are not recorded with their mother and other sisters, but were visiting Anne Isabella Richardson, perhaps an aunt, in Willington. She must have gone into nursing sometime after this, and from the album we know she would have been at Stannington around 1915. She was there when her brother Jack wrote to her from the SS Whitgift on the 24^th June that year, saying he was glad she was enjoying her new job. A photograph in the Album titled ‘London Hospital Nurse’s training home, Tredegar House, Bow’ suggests she may have learned her skills there. It is clear from her album that Hilda forged some very strong bonds with her young charges, and we see them in her photographs around the grounds, in costumes, and even photo postcards from after their discharge.

Hilda and Robert, photograph kindly provided by their granddaughter.

The Atkin family moved to The Birches in Tranwell Woods, and John built the family a home there in 1910, named White House after the farm. Robert and Hilda married in late 1922, and moved into the Birches, later moving into the White House after John and Margaret died. The family lived there for many years, with successive generations building and living around the two houses.

Hilda’s album

Hilda collected a fascinating album of photographs from her time at Stannington and her later, which has very kindly been deposited with us by her granddaughter. In it we see many snatched moments of quiet for the staff, and fun for the staff and patients. Below we have included some of our favourites such as the 1922 PCHA trip to Cresswell beach, Matron Campbell off duty, and a nurse riding sidecar on a motorbike. We think it shows a very personal view of Stannington around the time of the First World War, and if you would like to see more of them they are now available to search using the reference NRO 10361* through our online catalogue.

Staff, patients and adults paddling in the sea at the 1922 PCHA day out to Cresswell (NRO 10361/1/122).

The nurses and a brass band at the 1922 PCHA outing to Cresswell (NRO 10361/1/270).

Matron Campbell and another nurse during a break (NRO 10361/1/12).

A patient and nurse on a motorbike and sidecar (NRO 10361/1/105).

Northumberland Archives would like to say a huge thank you to Hilda and Robert’s granddaughter for depositing Hilda’s album with us, giving us permission to use the photographs in the blog, and supplying further information and photographs which have helped us to explore the Atkin family’s connection with Stannington.

International Nurses’ Day – the nurses’ lives at Stannington Sanatorium

21/12/202012/05/2016 by Northumberland Archives

Today is International Nurses’ day, which celebrates the work and contribution of nurses to society and takes place on the birthday of Florence Nightingale. We thought we would select a few images and documents to give us an insight into the sanatorium nurses’ lives at Stannington. Our online exhibition has already looked a little at the lives of the nurses, especially in the early years, so we thought we would look at some of what our collections reveal about their lives and surroundings.

At many hospitals accommodation would be provided for staff. Florence Nightingale highlighted the importance of space for staff as nurses had formerly slept on the wards, and nurses’ homes became used from the 1870s. The Nurses’ Home at Stannington Sanatorium, constructed in 1926, is sadly an enigma as we have no layout of the interior. If it was built like others the nursing hierarchy would have been preserved in the architecture. Sisters often had their rooms at the end of corridors so they kept an unofficial eye on younger staff, and matrons’ rooms were often near the main door, overlooking staff and visitors as they came and went. We know the Nurses’ Home at Stannington Sanatorium was large to incorporate further growth in the number of nurses required. However an excellent insight into the building comes from the war years, when a number of documents in the Annual Report for 1946 (HOSP/STAN/2/1/2) relate to the curtains, carpets and furnishings of rooms as they were moved from Stannington to the Hexham Hydro and back again.

An inventory of furniture in rooms made by Miss Martindale on the 28th August 1944, ahead of the transfer back from Hexham Hydro, lists the contents of the doctor’s and matron’s rooms. This gives quite a detailed view of the Matron’s room:

(13) Matron’s bedroom, Stannington – wardrobe and dressing chest in Matron’s room at Hexham. Bed wanted for matron’s bedroom at Stannington. Keep a Hydro bed for this purpose.

(14)Rose-pink long curtains and pink carpet from Matron’s sitting rooms at Stannington are in store in the attic at Hexham. Note: – Keep carpet in Matron’s room at Hexham for use at Stannington (Carpet extra good quality).

(15) Matron’s spare bedroom at Stannington. Bedroom suite, wardrobe, dressing table and bed in one of the Sister’s bedrooms at Hexham.

The Assistant Matron’s room had a simpler layout of ‘1 wardrobe, 1 chest of drawers, a bed’. The nurses’ rooms were also simple. A list of furniture shows each nurse had besides a bed a dressing table, towel rail, a chair or armchair, some had a locker or wardrobe, and linen baskets. Only one of the 102 rooms on the list had a carpet.

Other documents within HOSP/STAN/2/1/2 show a little of what living in the Nurses’ Home would have been like. A staff recreation fund was established some time in 1946, and an itemised list details ‘from Inauguration to 7th April 1947’ what was spent. This money came partly from the Sanatorium Committee, who gave £95, but money also came from member subscriptions and a raffle. The biggest purchases were on a dance – with £61 12s spent on a band; £8½ 1s 3d on food; 10s on domestic help, presumably for the tidying up afterwards; £3 13s 3d was spent on decorations; there must have been a prize-giving, as prizes cost £1 6s 4d; and printing stationary and postage for the invitations cost £2 19s 7½d. It would be interesting to know when this took place; perhaps it was the domestic and nursing staff Christmas dances.

Other entertainment came from three wireless radios and a second-hand sewing machine. This must have been for the staff to make their own clothes, as we know from a linen list also found in HOSP/STAN/2/1/2 that their uniforms were made within the sanatorium by in-house seamstresses. Books for a staff library were included on the list, mostly technical nursing textbooks but £5 was spent on fiction. Tennis balls, playing cards, a dartboard and darts and give an impression of how the nurses socialised in their free time. Practical needs were not forgotten, a hair dryer and electric iron also made the list, and spiritual needs thought of in the re-wiring for the chapel to keep it in use. A list of furniture from this time also shows the nurses’ sitting room had a grand piano and a pianola. The furniture list for the nurses’ sitting room shows there were three settees, leather and occasional arm chairs, a moquette tub chair, three tables, a writing table, sideboard, bookcase and a mirror pinched from the matron’s sitting room at Hexham Hydro. The nurses’ dining room contained 12 oak tables and 31 chairs. There were also individual sitting rooms for the higher ranks such as staff nurses, sisters and the matron. The domestic staff had their own dining and sitting rooms, and the teaching staff also had their own dining room. The photographs below are from a 1936 brochure for the sanatorium, and judging by these descriptions it seems there wasn’t a great deal of change in 10 years!

A 1946 list from HOSP/STAN/2/1/2 of the distribution of staff and patients shows there was an assistant matron, home sister, night sister, 2 ward sisters, two trained part-time nurses, 5 assistant nurses and 17 probationer nurses. Another list shows how the numbers fluctuated throughout the year. In the January of that year the 34 nurses were split fairly evenly between resident and non-resident, but by December only 4 lived outside of the sanatorium.

We know that the number of patients and nurses had dwindled during the war years, but they were boosted after the war, particularly by student or ‘probationer’ nurses. The 1947 annual report (HOSP/STAN/2/1/3) discusses the future use of the hospital for training junior nurses, the ‘probationer’ nurses mentioned earlier. They had lectures given on site by the doctors (such as Doctor Stobbs) and other medical staff, and took an exam. This can be seen from the Nurse’s Schedule of Practical Instruction (NRO 10352/27), a book where their competency in each area was shown by a signature of one of the lecturing medical staff. The book takes the student from basic cleanliness, punctuality and organisation up to taking sputum samples, bronchoscopy and treating patients with chemotherapy such as Streptomycin. Below are some of the pages from the book. The nurse who owned the book completed her training, and each section is signed off.

If you would like to find out more about the nurses at Stannington Sanatorium please have a look at our online exhibition, which features the stories of Matron Isabella Campbell and Florence Parsons, and memories from other nurses.