News from the Front December 1914

been given a commission, worked to within 50 yards, and commences training at nearly up to our barbed wire High Wycombe shortly; entanglements. This is not a whilst their eldest daughter, critical position, as where the Kathleen, has been appointed rest of the line moves senior assistant at the forward we will be able to Military Hospital in do so, but no advantage will Felixstowe.” be gained by moving

19th December 1914 independently. North-Eastern Daily Gazette The Germans say in the papers that Ypres is untouched, but this is not CHRISTMAS POST true. A large number of the “The Post Office notifies that houses are blown to pieces, Christmas parcels for the and it is still being shelled. Expeditionary Force must not The Cathedral has had exceed seven pounds in several shells through the weight, and must not be roof. There is little change posted later than the 12th here, and this battle looks December. Letters should not like lasting longer.” th be later than the 14 5th December 1914 December.” Stockton & Thornaby Herald th A STOCKTON APPEAL greatest wars in history. 5 December 1914 “Mr R. Tyson Hodgson, The coming Christmas to Stockton & Thornaby Herald CHRISTMAS PLUM honourable secretary of the the wives, families, and PUDDING RECIPE Stockton branch of the Soldiers’ widowed mothers will lack QUIETNESS AT THE “Take three-quarters of a and Sailors’ Families’ much of its cheerfulness on FRONT pound of flour, two heaped- Association makes the following account of the absence of many “A Billingham Trooper in the up teaspoonfuls of appeal on behalf of the wives, that are dear to them, and the Northumberland Hussars, Borwick’s Baking Powder, families and widows of soldiers anxious circumstances in which writing from the front, refers two ounces of breadcrumbs, and sailors in Stockton and they are placed. Will you help to the quietness which one-and-a-half pounds of district:- us to make it as bright as the prevails at the seat of war, suet, two pounds of raisins, “It has been decided by the circumstances of war will and remarks that they have one pound of currants, ten committee of the Soldiers’ and permit? Subscriptions will be started the old exercises and ounces of sugar, two ounces Sailors’ Families Association for thankfully received and duly wrestling on horseback, etc. of almonds, one pound of Stockton and district to acknowledged in the Press.” to keep them fit. He says:- mixed candied peel, salt and inaugurate a fund to provide a th 5 December 1914 “I think we are settled here spice to taste. Mix the suitable Christmas present for Stockton & Thornaby Herald for the winter. All the ingredients well together and the wives, children, and inhabitants of the village add six eggs, well beaten, widowed mothers of men who where we are stationed have and three-quarters of a pint are at present serving their A PATRIOTIC FAMILY got notice to leave on account of milk, divide in two, and country. “The family of Dr and Mrs of spies. We might also think boil for eight hours. I feel that the public of Beatty of Stockton, have we were back, except for this ” Stockton and district only distinguished themselves in the country and the weather. It is require an opportunity to show service. Their eldest son, snowing now, and has been their appreciation of the splendid Norman Beatty, has secured a wet and cold for the past few services the soldiers and sailors commission in Kitchener’s weeks. have already rendered in the army, and will probably be We are not under fire, but defence of this country, and it is posted in the Engineers; Dr we can hear the guns very unnecessary to remind them of Cyril Beatty received a clearly and also the crackle of the peace and comfort now commission in the R.A.M.C. the rifles, especially at night, enjoyed during one of the and goes abroad in the first where they make most of the week in January; the third son, attacks. The trenches are only Keith, in the 13th battalion, about 150 yards apart, and in Durham Light Infantry has also a few places they have

News from the Front December 1914

STOCKTON’S FALLEN STOCKTON CAPTAIN’S be the recipient of There are no servicemen LETTER a quarter-pound recorded in Stockton’s Book of “Captain F. A. Bagley*, South box of chocolate, Remembrance as having died or Lancashire Regiment (of also fruit. The been killed in action for the Stockton), who has been through treat is to be month of December 1914. the campaign from the outset, provided by writes from hospital, where he is Councillor T. We have however found a detained by an injured arm, to a Burns, lessee of photograph of a serviceman local friend:- the Empire printed in the Stockton & “We want thousands more men Theatre in Thornaby Herald who was listed out there yet. These war-worn conjunction with in last month’s Stockton’s Fallen: regiments cannot fight fresh army the North-Eastern corps every day, or twice nightly Symphony as some of the men say, it is Orchestra (per Mr beyond human endurance, though George Cooper) there is very little sickness from funds amongst the men, and I keep as collected at the fit as a fiddle. The most Empire concerts. wonderful part of our army out The number of there is the commissariat children provided for is 3,000 A brilliant array of the best (A.S.C.). The men are fed like and the tickets for the treat are talent in the district have fighting cocks. I think there is no to be distributed through the given their services doubt that our Territorials with agency and the kindness of the absolutely free of all costs, three months’ training will be Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Families and a most diverse infinitely superior to the German Association.” programme has been Landsturm and Landwehr. The 19th December 1914 arranged for each evening. ordinary German shooter cannot North Eastern Daily Gazette A football match shoot; in fact they shoot from the between two local teams hip.” will take place on New STOCKTON’S ALLIED 5th December 1914 Year’s morning on the SPORTSMEN Stockton & Thornaby Herald Victoria Ground (the “During the past two or three directors of the Stockton weeks meetings of * Captain Frank Adam Bagley, of F.C. having granted the free representatives of cycling, Hartburn, was again injured at Le use of same), kick off at cricket, football, boating, Cateau in July 1915. He was later 10.30. billiard, rifle, musical and social wounded again and unfortunately Also two whist drives th bodies of the district have been Private John Hughes, 4 his wounds proved fatal and he are to be held in the held at Stockton., the outcome Durham Light Infantry, was died in Hooge, Belgium on 2nd Masonic Hall on Fridays, of which is an organisation killed in action on 19/11/1914 October 1915. He is buried in Jan. 22 and Feb. 12. having the title of “The Allied after going to France with the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery These are some of the Sports, Musical and Social Expeditionary Force. He had also in Belgium. schemes the organisation served in the Boer War. He was Bodies” the object being to has brought to a head for 34 years old and had worked as a evolve charitable schemes the present, and it only crane driver at Blair’s CHILDREN’S TREAT AT whereby those who have not yet remains for the public of Engineering Works. Born in STOCKTON joined the forces or are the district to show their Stockton, he lived at 22 Haswell “The Stockton and Thornaby ineligible may assist in appreciation by patronising Street with his wife, Ada, and his Fresh Air Fund have completed providing the wherewithal for the several efforts and thus six children; John James, Ada, their arrangements for a monster the benefit of those who are enable a presentable sum to William, Thomas, Lily and treat to the soldiers’ and sailors’ doing their duty for their be handed over to the James. His name is listed at children of Stockton for New country. deserving funds in Ploegsteert Memorial in Year’s week. A special matinee The organisation has arranged connection with the present Belgium. of war and other pictures for a series of concerts to be crisis.”

exclusive for this performance held in the Hippodrome Theatre, th comprising 8,000 feet of film is Stockton, on Tuesday, 12 December 1914 to be shown at the Empire Wednesday and Thursday in Stockton & Thornaby Theatre, and each child will also Christmas week (twice nightly). Herald