Queen's Rooms Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Northumberland Archives

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 31 DECEMBER 1915

BERWICK POST OFFICE

The amount of Christmas work dealt with at Berwick Post Office was very much the same as last year, but being spread over a longer period the pressure was not so much felt in consequence. Although the staff has been greatly depleted during the past year everyone put their shoulder to the wheel and the work went through expeditiously. Extra hours were, of course, worked, and the praiseworthy arrangement of supplying refreshment to the workers on the premises was once more in operation.

WW1 Xmas postcard 1915.

Extra help was brought in for rural deliveries in the shape of motor and other vehicles, while the Oddfellows’ Hall again proved a useful clearing house. Parcels delivered during the Christmas week amounted to about 6000, but there was not the usual postings of Christmas cards. A special and most noticeable feature was the large number of parcels posted for soldiers at the front, causing at times very great pressure, out-going mails being very heavy. For the first time at Christmas women were employed to do delivery and collection duty in place of the men on active service and officials speak in glowing terms of the way they discharged their duties. There is still a considerable amount of parcel and other postings passing through, but it is not anticipated that the staff will be heavily taxed at New Year.

CAROL CONCERT AND LECTURE

Interesting Notes on Christmas Carols

An attractive carol concert on behalf of the National Institute for the Blind was given in the Queen’s Rooms, Berwick, on Thursday evening by a number of local talented ladies and gentlemen. The principal object was to assist in raising funds to assist those soldiers and sailors who have lost their sight during the war and for their maintenance in a hostel for the purpose of teaching them some useful trade.

Blinded by tear gas in World War One, 55th (West Lancashire) Division troops await treatment at an advanced dressing station.

The soloists were Mrs Shepherd, Miss E. Elder, and Messrs Abbott and Riddell, while a duet was rendered by Miss Harbottle and Mr Riddell. Messrs R. Stott and Smith also took part in the programme of carols. The conductor was Mr Geo. Ballantyne, and the accompanist, Miss Skeldon. The programme was ably sustained the whole of the pieces being feelingly and tunefully interpreted, the efforts meeting with the cordial approval of the audience. A feature in the programme was a lecture on carols by Dr Gauntlett, organist and choirmaster in the Parish Church.

LOCAL NEWS

Corner Accident– An accident which might have been attended by serious results took place on Friday last at the foot of Hide Hill. It appears that a tub trap driven by a young lady named Miss Brown, of Tweedmouth, was taking the corner when a collision occurred with a motor car belong to Messrs McBain, Tweedmouth. The tub trap was upset and the young lady received a severe shaking. Happily she suffered no injury, although the pony was slightly cut by the collision. This is only one of many accidents which have taken place at the corners of Hide Hill from time to time, and each succeeding accident accentuates that fact that these sharp turnings are entirely out of date in coping with modern vehicular traffic.

THE PASSING AND APPROACHING YEAR

Again we have reached the closing days of another year. Too well we realise the terrible experiences we have come through during the past twelve months, for there are few homes that have not had their full share of the awful miseries of the Great War. To the bereaved and the maimed ordinary sympathy seems utterly inadequate, and a quiet and subdued silence often speaks more eloquently than any human words can utter. Time is the great healer and consoler in affliction, and it will only be the soothing influence of the ever-revolving seasons that will adequately supply the balm and needed comfort to so many aching hearts which are so utterly bereft. As we approach the end of the year it is natural that many should raise conjectures as to the position the country will be in by another year. Will the war be over? Who can tell. At the same time it seems highly improbable that its duration will extend so long. The material and national resources of Germany will be exhausted ere that time, and there may be an internal upheaval of the Teutonic empire that will hasten the close of the awful devastation.

Picture of Serbian infantry on Ada Ciganlija during the First World War. Wikimedia Commons

Already the national credit of Germany is steadily diminishing in the exchanges of neutral countries, and this must have a very important bearing on events in the opening periods of the new year. As we make a brief and general survey of the year that is nearly finished we have – great and acute as our sorrows are – reason to feel grateful that we have escaped the general holocaust that has overtaken Belgium, the North of France, and Serbia. And when we think of the recent awful massacres of the Armenian people it makes us realise this more fully. For had the brutal enemy been enabled to land on these shores we would have experienced this to the full. A small sample of it was shown a year ago in the bombardment of defenceless east coast towns where no discrimination or humanity was shown.

Notwithstanding the serious nature of the times we are passing through we desire to wish all our readers

A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS

NEW YEAR

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 5 NOVEMBER 1915

ETAL

The convalescent soldiers at Etal Manor Hospital have lately been giving a series of concerts at neighbouring villages in aid of the British Red Cross Society. As a result of their efforts a sum of over £23 has been realised, and the expenses being very few owing to the generosity of everyone approached, practically the whole of this sum will be available for the funds of the Society. The places visited were Ford, Crookham, Milfield, and Duddo, and the concerts were everywhere well received.

SAD ACCIDENT AT BERWICK STATION

About 2.10 a.m. on Tuesday, whilst Robert Buglas, 16 years of age, Church Street, Berwick, was following his employment as greaser at Berwick Railway Station and when near the turning table he was jumping on the footboard of a goods van in motion his foot slipped. Both his legs went under the wheels of the van. The wheels passed over his left leg above the ankle and his right foot across the heel. First aid was rendered, and he was conveyed to Berwick Infirmary, where he was attended by Drs Fraser and Maclagan, who found it necessary to amputate the injured limbs.

THE LATE MR CHRISTISON

Through the Christisons of Foulden and the Chirnsides of Cockburnspath district, Berwickshire has interesting links with pioneer days in Australia, one of the last of which

Panning for gold in the state of Victoria, Australia, ealry 1900s. © Wikimedia Commons.

has been broken by the death of Mr Robert Christison, a nephew of Sir Robert Christison. In a recent lecture in his native village, Mr Christison related how he had met one Jimmy Nailans, who was the first Foulden post-boy, in a place named Bacchus Marsh. Mr Nailans had landed in Australia two years before. Buying a bullock team, he made money in carrying provisions for the population of 80,000 which flocked to Bendigo in the gold rush, and when Mr Christison met him he had 206 ounces of gold dust hidden in horns of cart grease. He put £2,000 into land in the outskirts of Melbourne, and thus became very wealthy. Like a good Borderer, Jimmy Nailans returned to his native soil, bought an estate, and settled there. Mr Christison, whose remains were interred last week at Foulden, was the last surviving son of Rev. Alex. Christison, for 52 years minister of the parish.

AN EXTRAORDINARY INCIDENT IN THE TRENCHES

Private Kenneth Alexander, of the 2^nd Royal Scots, who has been at the Front for over a year and is at present home at Dunbar on several days’ furlough, narrates a most interesting one might almost term it exciting- incident, which occurred recently in the trench where he was quartered. The enemy’s trench but 15 yards distant, was occupied by Saxons. Several of the enemy happened to put their heads over the parapet of the trench; inquired if they were all “Jocks” in the British trench; where they came from- was it Glasgow? – and when did they arrive in France? The conversation concluded by warning the Royal Scots men in this trench to keep their heads down, as the Prussian Guards were located on their right, and consequently there were great risks of being sniped. They then held up a bottle of Cognac, and the Scotsmen inquired if they fancied a bottle of whisky. A hurriedly pencilled note attached to several newspapers was flung into the Saxons’ trench. We asked, said Private Alexander, in this letter if they could give us any part of their equipment as a souvenir of this interesting meeting between opposing forces. Very shortly afterwards a package of German newspapers, attached to which was a letter from one of these Saxons was flung into our trench, which on being translated read as follows:- “There are a few papers. Of course we cannot send you any part of our equipment over, and for the whisky we don’t care, but when you have new papers send them across and we will do the same. It is certainly interesting to read what the enemy believes to be able to tell their own folks. We threw already a few papers over, but too short. Perhaps you will find them to-night. Be careful in getting them. (signed) Yours, Fritz.” “If you please let us have a French journal- S.V.P.”

A GRAND EVENING CONCERT

Successful Venture In Aid of Berwick Branch of

Young Helpers’ League

The Queen’s Rooms was crowded in all parts on Thursday evening when a grand evening concert was held in aid of the funds of the Young Helpers League of Dr Barnardo’s Homes. The concert was excellent from start to finish and the term grand applied to it was a fitting description of the entertainment. The local Committee of the Young Helpers’ League, with Mr A. J. Dodds as President, were the originators of the idea to hold the concert. The management and carrying out of the concert was put into the hands of Miss Sissy Dodds, and according to its most excellent result the Committee could not have chosen anyone better to ensure the success of the entertainment. All secretarial work was undertaken by Miss Dodds, while Miss L. Purves and Miss J. Thompson assisted her as treasurers.

The concert realised £58, and Miss Dodds is to be warmly congratulated in that her management has been so successful.

The programme was as follows:

PART 1

Piano Duet-“Spanish Dance, “ ( Moszkowski) Miss Katherine Vincent and Mr Ernest Warrington

Songs – (a) 2 The Rebel” (b) “ Son of mine” (Wallace), ……… . Mr Ernest J. Potts

Violin Solo – “ Gipsy Dance,” ( Sarasate) Mr Ernest Sharp

( Encore)

Recital – “A Question of Identitiy” ( an excerpt from “Comedy and Tragedy”), by W.S. Gilbert………………Mr Hugh Miller.

(Encore – “Mon Ami.”)

Songs – (a) “ Rose in the bud” ( Forster) (b) “Until,” (Sanderson), Miss Katherine Vincent

(Encore – “Waltz Song.”)

Humorous Sketch – “Curates” (Warrington), Mr Ernest Warrington.

(Encore)

PART 11

Duet – “Awake,” (Pellissier), Miss Katherine Vincent and Mr Ernest J. Potts.

Violin Solo – “Valse Caprice” (Wieniawski), Mr Ernest Sharp

(Encore)

Song – “Galloping Dick” (Fletcher), Mr Ernest J.Potts

(Encore – “Go to sea my lad.”)

Recital – “Gunga Din” ( by Rudyard Kipling), Mr Hugh Miller

(Encore – “Once more into the breach, once more,” from King Henry V., Act 2 and 4).

Songs – (a) “A fat I’il feller wid his mammy’s eyes, “ ( Gordon) (b) “Sincerity” ( Clarke), Miss Katherine Vincent.

(Encore – “Caller Herrin’.”)

Humorous Songs – Selected Dialects,. Mr Ernest Warrington.

(Encore.)

Interval for Soldiers’ Sing-Song.

Sketch – “The Peacemaker,” a comedy in one act, by E. M. Bryant.

Characters:-

Elizabeth Lavender Mrs Waldron

Joyce Harford Miss Sissy Dodds

Dr Burton Mr G. P. Boyd

Richard Harford Rev. J.R. Bentley

Parsons Miss Katie Mackay

Scene – Elizabeth Lavender’s Flat in Kensington.

GOD SAVE THE KING

This Week in World War One, 31 December 1915