Spittal

This Week in World War One, 20 September 1918

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 20 SEPTEMBER 1918

 

The Late Lieut Clements

GERMANS ERECT CROSS TO UNKNOWN HERO

We sincerely regret to learn that Mrs Clements, Spa Well Villas, Spittal, has received the sad news that her husband, Lieut. R. C. Clements, N.F., who was previously reported missing, is now reported to have been killed in action. Lieut. Clements joined up early in the war and had considerable service in France as an N.C.O. with the N.F.’s before receiving his commission. He had only been at the Front a few months on the second occasion when he was called to make the supreme sacrifice. Local people will remember what an enthusiast he was in many branches of sport with which he was so prominently connected. The scholars at Spittal Council School (where he served so ably as assistant master) will be sorry to know that he who cared so much for their welfare has had to pay the great price for the liberty they enjoy. We extend to Mrs Clements and her little daughter our deepest sympathy in their most distressing time.

TRIBUTE BY MR BORTHWICK, SPITTAL

Mr T. W. G. Borthwick, headmaster of Spittal Council School, has forwarded us the following particulars regarding Lieut. Clements:-

The news of the death of Mr Robt. Clements, Second Lieut., N.F., was received with regret and sorrow all over the district. In Spittal, especially, where he lived and was so well known, respected and loved, the sad event was the only subject of conversation, evoking universal sympathy for Mrs Clements and her little daughter in their great bereavement. A little more than a month ago Mrs Clements was informed that her husband had been transferred to an Irish Regiment, and later the news came that on August 8th, the first day of the great advance, he was missing.

BRO 1828-1 Lieutenant R.C.Clements bottom right.

He had gone out on a scouting expedition accompanied by three of his men and none had returned. As our troops were advancing, the general opinion was that the whole party had been made prisoners. On Friday night, Mrs Clements received letters from the Colonel and two officers who state that when the regiment arrived at the village of Vieux Berguin the bodies of the three men who accompanied Mr Clements were found lying beside a grave in a secluded corner of the village. Over the grave was the inscription “To an unknown Hero.” The officers opened the grave and found the body of Mr Clements. Death, they say, must have been instantaneous as the head was badly shattered by a bullet, but the badges and other tokens showed without doubt that Mr Clements had been buried here by the Germans. The body was reverently re-interred in the little cemetery of Vieux Berguin.

His brother officers speak of him as a brave and fearless soldier, and this is proved by the fact that Mr Clements had penetrated into the German lines much further than anyone expected.

The death of Mr Clements is a very great loss. Goodhearted, generous, cheerful, full of humour and at the same time gentle and sympathetic, no wonder everybody liked him. To the many hundreds of boys who have had the privilege of being his pupils he was more than a teacher. They worshipped the very ground he walked on; waited to escort him home from school at night, and hung around his house door to walk down to school with him in the morning. They clung to him like needles to a magnet. What shall I say of him as a teacher? Mr Clements was a man of great natural ability and his initiative and individuality were great assets.

The whole community in Spittal mourns his loss; many were moved to tears when they heard of his death.

Mr Clements was the oldest of three assistants who have served in this school. The two younger men, Mr Roy Hunter, and Mr John M. Tate, both university graduates and fine men have been killed. They were not so well known as Mr Clements, but their memory is held in loving respect by all who were associated with them.

I had hoped that Mr Clements might have been spared to us, but all three are lying out there on the field of honour in France, three brilliant young men whose memories will be cherished by their colleagues and hundreds of older scholars of Spittal Council School.

After his death, Robert’s wife Minnie and their daughter, Nancy stayed in Spittal. Minnie continued to teach at Spittal School which their daughter also attended. Nancy won a scholarship and eventually moved away from the area. However, in the 1970s, she returned to Spittal. In 1982, she presented Spittal School with the Clements Cup in memory of her parents and the family’s long connection with the school

 

LOCAL NEWS

Captain R. C. Richardson was decorated by the King at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday week with the Military Cross. He has had a month at Aldershot, and at the end of a fortnight’s leave expects to go to France.

The Distinguished Service Medal has been awarded to Lieut. William Douglas Baird Thompson, M.C., D.L.I., for having showed great courage and determination in holding the line, which was the left flank of the battalion, and not in touch with any other unit, beating back every attempt of the enemy to advance. After dusk he restored the situation by his energy and fearlessness. Lieut. Thompson is the son of Mr Wm. Thompson, shipping agent, Newcastle, and grandson of the late Mr and Mrs Richard Thompson, Cheswick Farm, Goswick. Mrs R. Thompson was a Miss Fawcus of Charlton.

 

BELFORD

Mrs Cuthbert, High Street, Belford, has received official news that her only son, Priv. R. Cuthbert, has been wounded and gassed and admitted into hospital in Birmingham. In civil life he was a butcher employed by his mother, and on attaining his 18th year joined the colours. He put in a few months training, and afterwards sailed for France in the beginning of this year. He has our best wishes for an early and satisfactory recovery.

The High Street, Belford, in the early 1900s, where Private R Curthbert worked as a butcher for his mother before joining up. © Berwick Record Office, BRO 0515/39

Private John Scrowether, husband of Mrs Scrowether, West Street, Belford, has now spent four long years in a German prison camp. Jack was an old soldier and was called up at the outbreak of war, and was sent to France almost immediately. He took part in all the early battles of the war, and fought till taken prisoner in the battle of the Aisne. He is going on well and by his photo looks exceedingly well, through having had to work very hard. He has our best wishes for an early return

This Week in World War One, 3 May 1918

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 3 MAY 1918

WAR NEWS

FORMER SCREMERSTON SOLDIER WOUNDED

We regret to hear that Bombadier Esau Wilkinson, who for many years resided in Scremerston, a nephew of Mr and Mrs Younger, East Allerdean, has been wounded and is now in Bolton Hospital, Lancs. Bomb. Wilkinson was knocked out by a wound in the head and right hand while carrying a wounded comrade. The shell which knocked him over was responsible for the death of three other men. He joined the R.F.A. in the early stages of the war and has seen some heavy fighting since going out to France three years ago.

FORMER ROYAL SCOTS WOUNDED AND GASSED

News has been received by a friend in Berwick, that Sergeant George Gardiner, Machine Gun Corps. Late Royal Scots, has been wounded and gassed in the big offensive.

British troops blinded by tear gas in 1918. © Author: Thomas Keith Aitken (Second Lieutenant). This photograph Q11586 is from the collections of the Imperial War Museums (collection no. 1900-22).

BERWICK SOLDIER A PRISONER

Lance Corpl. James Roughhead.

Information has been received by Sergt. Wm Purves, K.O.S.B., that his nephew, Lance-Corpl. James Roughead, Durham Light Infantry is a prisoner of war in a German Camp. Lance Corpl Roughead was at one time a member of the M.C. Section of the local Territorials, but had severed his connection prior to the war. In civil life he was employed as a stone mason.

 

BERWICK BOARD OF GUARDIANS

CARE OF SOLDIERS’ CHILDREN

A circular, enclosing resolution, from the Farlington Boarding Out Committee on the lack of supervision of our sailors and soldiers children was submitted in which they invited the cooperation of the Guardians to bring the matter before the Local Government Board. It was alleged that there were large numbers of children boarded out at the present moment without adequate supervision, and the circular advocated the appointment of trained women inspectors and visitors. In the course of a discussion the Chairman said there was a strong animus against allowing such children to come under Guardians’ care, and he thought it was a foolish sentimental feeling. It was agreed to remit the matter for further consideration to the Boarding Out Committee.

 

NOTES FROM SPITTAL

Mr and Mrs William Moffat, 18 Middle Street, Spittal, have received news from their son, Private John Moffat, Royal Scots, that he has been wounded in the thigh, during the recent heavy fighting, and is now in hospital at Sheffield, Private Moffat joined up early in the war and has had a long spell in France, this being the third time he has been wounded. Prior to the war he was a pitman. Another brother, William, joined the Northumberland Fusiliers at the outbreak of war and has seen a lot of severe fighting. He also has been wounded twice, and is at present serving in France with the Staffordshires.

Mrs King, 13 West Street, Spital, has received official information that her husband, Private John King, Royal Scots Fusiliers, is missing. Before going to France, private King was stationed at Berwick for a considerable time, and was attached to “A” Company, Royal Scots. We trust Mrs King (who was formerly Miss Wales, daughter of the late Mr John wales, painter, Spittal) may soon hear good news regarding her husband.

Mrs O’Connor, 20 Middle Street, Spittal, has received information from her husband, Private Robert O’Connor, Northumberland Fusiliers, that he has been taken prisoner by the Germans and is now interned at Limburg.

Pictured is the WW1 prisoner of war camp at Limburg, where Private Robert O’Connor, Northumberland Fusiliers was interned.

The German offensive is still being actively carried on, which makes it impossible for any of our soldier lads to get home on leave. Thanks to our Navy’s supremacy on the sea, the German Fleet do not feel inclined to come out and try a Tussle. For the time being this enables the Navy men to have a great advantage with regard to leave over their soldier comrades. This week we are glad to see Seaman David Scott and Jos. Elliott, R.N.R., spending a few days at home. Both seem to be enjoying the best of health. In civil life Seaman Scott’s occupation was that of cooper, while Seaman Elliott was a fine fisherman, being one of the crew of a Spittal coble

Seaman Thomas Martin, R.N.R., who is engaged in the dangerous work of minesweeping off the East Coast, is, we notice, having a few days’ leave at home. He joined up in January, 1915, and during his long spell of service has had some exciting experiences. Before the war Seaman Martin was a fisherman.

Seaman John Moody, R.N.R., son of Mr Robt. Moody, West Street, Spittal, is having a few days’ leave from his active duties. We are glad to know he is enjoying the best of health.

This Week in World War One, 11 January 1918

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BERWICK ADVERTISER, 11 JANUARY 1918

 

 

Tragic Death of Lieut. Fedden

AS THE RESULT OF EXPOSURE

DESCENT IN CHANNEL ENDS FATALITY

 

 

Berwick was shocked to hear on Monday after news of the death of Lieut. Fedden, who only some six weeks ago was married to Miss Shena Lennox Fraser, eldest daughter of Dr. Chas. L. Fraser, Elder House, Berwick. He met his end by exhaustion, through having been compelled to come down in the Channel on account of engine trouble, while flying near Bythe.

Lieut. Fedden during his short stays in, the town had won the respect and esteem of all who knew him, and admired him for the capable officer he was. An experienced and reliable member of the Air Service his will indeed be a loss to the Country, and we are sure that we voice the feeling of all in Berwick when we extend to the young widow, and both families our deepest and heartfelt sympathy in the great affliction which has come upon them.

Lieut. Fedden was the son of Mr. T. Player Fedden, of Glenthorpe, Barnet, served with the Punjabis in Mesopotamia and France, and had been wounded in the arm. Since then he has held important appointments at certain Aerodromes where his knowledge of aircraft has proved of great benefit to the service. In November, when his marriage took place, he was under orders to proceed to important work in Italy. He has died before he got his marching orders.

Lieut. Fedden was one of the officers who gave evidence before the Commission which enquired into the Mesopotamia campaign.

Just a fortnight ago he was with us in the town on short leave, today he is but a memory, yet a memory which is pregnant with all that we feel for a soldier and a gentleman who has fought and who has yielded up his life in the service of his country.

 

LOCAL NEWS

 

Of course there are many grumblers, but on the whole, people are managing fairly well with their half-pound of sugar a week. We hope the sugar will be more constant than the

An example of a WW1 sugar rationing card.

paper ration. Imports of paper were first reduced by a third, then the two-thirds that was left over reduced by half, and now the one third of what was used in 1914 is to be reduced by another third, leaving only 29ths or under a quarter of the 1914 supply.

 

BERWICK OFFICERS’ EXPERIENCES

ON THE ITALIAN FRONT

 

“Where I am now we get very little news and very seldom get the chance to see a paper. I have only had one mail during the last three weeks, and the latest letter was dated November 26th, so it is rather a change from France, where everything went so smoothly. We have been in the line now for about three weeks, but there are hopes of my Brigade being out for Christmas. I am afraid the boys will not get any plum puddings this year, though we can get plenty of turkeys and geese; you can buy a very good one for from 7 to 10 lire (3s 6d to 5s). There are no E.F.C.’s yet and cigarettes and tobacco are not to be had unless you can go a long way back. Some of the men have actually been reduced to smoking tea leaves, etc. I am running a small canteen, but can only get about 200 lire worth of cigarettes a week, and then have to go nearly 40 kilometres for them.

The country is very pretty, and up at the front line it is a most extraordinary contrast to what we were used to before. The two lines are separated by a very broad river bed (1400 to 2000 yards across) so there is no sniping. There is very little water in the river just now, as the snow has just begun. Very high mountains rise up from the river bed, and it is magnificently pretty.

When we first took over the line it was very quiet, and to give you some idea of what it was like, an order came out in D.R.O. that “No clean washing had in future to be hung out to dry on the wire entanglements in front of the front line trenches. “Men used to go down to the river and wash their clothes in the middle of No Man’s Land. It is very different now, and there is quite a lot of shelling, though officers in the front line can still sleep in very comfortable beds in the little houses along the banks of the rivers.

We can make ourselves very comfortable as the people fled and left all their worldly goods behind. We have very dry weather, but it is fearfully cold and frosty at nights, and generally bright during the day. We have a lot of boys in our Brigade now from the North of England, and some from round about Haggertson and that way. Of course we area north country division.

I was very lucky, as I was one of the entertaining officers at our departure station in France, and came in with two N.F.’s by ordinary passenger train all the way to the frontier, and managed a day and night in Paris, and half a day in Genoa. I am afraid we shall get no leave from here for along time, which is rather rotten. If we have a heavy snowfall it may hurry it on a little.”

 

BART LOUGH, OF SPITTAL

 

We have decided to open a “Berwick Advertiser” fund to provide a new boat for Bart Lough of Spittal who, as we reported last week, has lost his coble, the “Mary Harrison”.

In the ordinary way one should expect a fisherman to insure his boat and tackle when their loss mean so much to him. We are told that this is practically impossible. Lloyd’s is the only available agency, and they are not interested in such small craft. We feel, therefore, we have a strong case to put before the public. Mr Lough is not to blame for not insuring his boat; it was lost through no fault of his own, but rather by his own perseverance in providing food for the nation, when food is short. All along the coast he is known as a fearless and experienced fisherman, who has frequently risked his own life and property to assist others.

 

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