Railway Tragedy at Sharnbrook

Private James Joseph Rothwell (centre) [from Bedfordshire Standard, 8th January 1915]

Thursday 7th January 1915:  An inquest was held today into the tragic death of Private James Joseph Rothwell, a National Reservist, who was hit by a train while guarding the railway at Sharnbrook Viaduct on Tuesday. Private Rothwell went on duty at 6am, together with Private Edward Fookes. At 9.30am Private Fookes saw Private Rothwell in the hut and warned him to be careful because the weather was very foggy. William Goodman, who was driving the 9.27 train from Bedford, said that before reaching Sharnbrook Bridge he blew the whistle. He glimpsed Private Rothwell at the side of the line, where he appeared to be in the act of stepping from the left rail. There was no time to stop and the engine struck the Reservist on his side. He was quickly taken by special train to Bedford, but died before arriving at the County Hospital. The cause of death was given as a fractured neck. It appears that Private Rothwell did not take sufficient care while on the line and it has been suggested that he had been bending over to put coal on the fire. The jury gave a verdict of accidental death.

Private Rothwell was called up for the National Reserve in November and had been on duty at Sharnbrook for a month. His thirteen years of service with the 2nd Middlesex Regiment included the war in South Africa where he took part in the Battle of Spion Kop. He received the Queen’s Medal with six clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps. After leaving the Army he was a clerk at the Queen’s Engineering Works in Bedford where he lived at 10 Cromwell Road. He was an active Unionist and a street list man for the Borough Unionist Association. He leaves a widow and three small children.

Source: Bedfordshire Standard, 8th January 1915

News of Old Bedfordians

Troops in Bedford Grammar School Field 1914 [Z1306/12/5/5]

Wednesday 6th January 1915: There have been a number of casualties among the Old Boys of Bedford Grammar School serving at the Front. David Inglis, a Captain in the 4th Gurkha Rifles was killed in action on 21st December 1914 and Captain M.K.Sandys was killed leading an attack on a trench at Le Touquet, near Armentieres. Captain Peter “Pat” Benson Maxwell went to France with the East Yorkshire Regiment on 7th September and was severely wounded in the Aisne Valley on the 20th of the same month. He managed to crawl back to the trenches and was taken to a Field Hospital where he passed away on the evening of 23rd September. Pat had married his wife Eileen, daughter of Major-General Hamilton Gordon in 1912 and leaves a daughter, Joan, aged 14 months. In more cheerful news Second Lieutenant G.G.R.Williams of the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, who had been reported wounded and missing in East Africa, has now been reported to be a prisoner and is said to be doing well.

A number of Old Boys have written with accounts of their experiences. Captain B.O.Smyth of the Northamptonshire Regiment  sent thanks for the copy of the school journal Ousel he received just before Christmas. He says that he “sailed from England on 4th November, and after a few days in a rest camp at the base, the regiment came straight up to the front. There has not been very much in the way of fighting going on since our division arrived, and our worst enemy now is the rain, which bids fair to inundate the whole country, which is as flat as a pancake. Our battalion was in the trenches on Christmas day and took part in the impromptu proceedings that followed the truce. Apparently, this state of affairs, although not arranged between the higher military authorities of both sides, was agreed upon locally. A certain number of both our men and the Germans came out of the trenches, and exchanged gifts of cigarettes, bread, jam, etc. One division, I am told, took the Germans on at football, but we have not yet got the results. Whether this sort of break in hostilities is a good thing or not I am unable to say. Perhaps it would make a good subject for discussion at the next meeting of the School Debating Society.”

H.M.S.Canopus [Wikipedia]

Another Old Boy is serving in the South Atlantic on H.M.S.Canopus.[1] On 1st November he took part in the Battleof Coronel off the coast of Chile where the Royal Navy was defeated by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee. H.M.S.Canopus then returned to defend the Falkland Islands, which at first the fleet feared were already under German occupation and which were at grave risk. On December 7th a fleet of reinforcements arrived; when they engaged the Germans the next day they won a splendid victory.[2] Our correspondent says “it is fine to have been in action, and you should have seen them scoot”. The Canopus is now full of German prisoners.

Source: The Ousel, February 3rd 1915 [Z447/22]

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[1] No name is given.

[2] At the Battle of the Falklands all but two of the German ships were sunk. German casualties included Admiral Spee and his two sons.

A Sea Voyage

S.S. Kaiser-i-Hind [Z186/5]

Tuesday 5th January 1915: Mrs Cochrane-Forster of 20 Kimbolton Road, Bedford has received letters from her daughter Bee who sailed for India with her four year old son Gilbert and a French governess Mademoiselle L. Coller.[1] They left London on the P and O vessel S.S. Kaiser-i-Hind on Saturday 2nd January, travelling second class. She says there a large number of sailors on board the ship travelling to Gibraltar; these are also travelling second class apart from the officers who are in first. As a result the small second class saloon is rather overcrowded, though she anticipates matters will improve once it is warm enough to sit on deck.

On the first night the ship anchored off Southend and the passengers were instructed to draw the curtains over the portholes. On Sunday night they anchored at Plymouth, where she was able to have the letters taken ashore. The food on board is quite good, though the children’s breakfast is at the early hour of 7.30 and the adult passengers dine at the “awful hour” of 6.30, which leaves both Mrs Chaldecott and the governess hungry and struggling to sleep. Gilbert, fortunately, is sleeping well. Both Gilbert and Mademoiselle are fine but she is suffering from some motion sickness, though she is all right “if I lie down a good deal”. Fortunately Mademoiselle “really is being a brick” and is taking good care of the little boy.

They have seen some wrecks from the terrible gales and a submarine quite close. On one occasion they were stopped by a government boat. She was told by a sailor that the mine field is altered each night, so the pilots have to be told the safe channel every day. Gilbert has made friends with two little boys who are travelling to Egypt with their baby sister to rejoin their parents, and with a little girl travelling with her mother. There is plenty of deck space for the children’s games and Bee finds it “a very fine boat”. She was anxious for a time as she was unable to track down the case of milk she had brought with her, but it eventually turned up in the butcher’s refrigerator.

Source: Letters from Evelyn Beatrice Chaldecott to Mrs Cochrane-Forster, Z186/6-7

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[1] Mrs Evelyn Beatrice Chaldecott was the wife of Captain William Henry Chaldecott of the Royal Engineers. In the letter the governess is called Mlle Collins, but the ship’s passenger list gives her name as Coller.

Confessions to Gertie Grimmer

Confessions of Betty Benfield

Monday 4th January 1915

Gertie Grimmer, currently nursing at the 1st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge, received a “Confessions” Album for Christmas from her friend Ethel.[1] Here are some "confessions” from three of her friends: Betty Benfield, Isabel Campbell, and Ruby Whytock.

Of what country are you a native?

Betty:  England

Isabel:  India

Ruby:  Bonnybridge, Scotland

Who is the greatest state man living?

Betty:  Sir John Jellicoe

Isabel:  Earl Kitchener

Ruby:  Sir John Jellicoe

Should bachelors be taxed?

Betty:  Good heavens yes!!

Isabel:  No

Ruby:  Certainly not

Who is your favourite hero in history?

Betty:  Nelson

Isabel:  General Gordon

Ruby:  General Gordon

Who is your favourite heroine in history?

Betty:  Bloody Mary

Isabel:  Grace Darling

Ruby:  Grace Darling

Do you prefer the Town to the Country?

Betty:  Town rather

Isabel:  Town

Ruby:  Yes

At what age should a man marry?

Betty:  It depends on his stability

Isabel:  28-35

Ruby:  28-30

At what age should a woman marry?

Betty:  When she feels inclined and gets the chance

Isabel:  25-30

Ruby:  When she is asked and feels like it

Are you in favour of “Votes for Women”?

Betty:  No

Isabel:  No

Ruby:  No. No. No.

What is your life’s ambition?

Betty:  To travel

Isabel:  Ain’t got any

Ruby:  To get married and have children

Do you object to women smoking?

Betty:  Certainly not

Isabel:  Certainly not

Ruby:  No

Where would you like to live?

Betty:  On the top of the car

Isabel:  Glasgow, Scotland

Ruby:  Capital of Scotland, Edinburgh

What is your favourite Outdoor Pastime?

Betty:  Boating and ….

Isabel:  Golfing

Ruby:  Tennis

What is your favourite Indoor Pastime?

Betty:  Music and ….

Isabel:  Sleeping

Ruby:  Cuddling

Do you consider yourself to be useful or ornamental?

Betty:  Both. Am absolutely necessary.

Isabel:  Neither

Ruby:  ?

What are your favourite Christian Names?

Betty:  Ebenezer and Sophia

Isabel:  Lionel and Eileen

Ruby:  Ormond and Jean

Source Confessions Album of Gertie Grimmer[X291/498]

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[1] Gertie Grimmer was the aunt of well-known Ampthill local historian, Andrew Underwood.

News from the Villages

Strawplaiting at Barton-le-Clay, 1917 [Z1306/7/13/1]

Sunday 3rd January 1915

Barton-le-Clay

The roll of honour of men from the village who have joined the Forces has increased by ten, making a total of about 50. These include five of the bell ringers. Five Bartonians have already returned wounded, but all are making satisfactory progress on the whole. At the Ringers and Church Officials' Christmas Supper Private Bradshaw gave a graphic description of the Battle of Mons, during which he had lain wounded for five hours under the dead horse he had been driving in the artillery service. Mrs Sturgess has received a letter from her son in the 1st Bedfords who has been promoted to Lance-Corporal.[1] He says “We haven’t much to grumble at, for we have plenty to eat and plenty of warm clothing, but what we don’t like is the wet weather; it makes everybody so miserable, but we grin and bear it … We stayed for a day or two in a Church where there was a nice organ. Someone started playing a few old hymns, and you ought to have heard us sing. It made us think more of home than ever … You ought to see us now, we look like a lot of bears, as we have had some fur coats given us.”

A house and furniture have been arranged and weekly subscriptions promised sufficient to maintain eight Belgian refugees, so it is disappointing that none have arrived. The matter is being kept in hand for a time in case any wish to avail themselves of the village’s hospitality later on.

Gravenhurst

Percy Parrish has written on behalf of himself and his brother Cyril to their parents: “We have joined the army … You must not worry for you know it was our duty to go. We are not going to have a German to rule over us”. The Rector urges every unmarried man of military age and strength to join the army, and every non-combatant unfit for the front to join in prayer, to contribute by self-denial, and to do some work for those suffering from the war.

Flitton and Greenfield

The series of lantern views and war slides concluded in December and a grand total of £3 14s 4d was sent to Lady Eleonora French requesting that it be spent on warm clothing for men at the front, but not on socks. She has suggested that vests and pants are most needed right now. Efforts are being made to establish a Boy Scout Troop and eleven lads are already in training. Funds are being raised to purchase uniforms and other equipment.

Silsoe

The children in the Junior Classes in the Mixed School have contributed 5s 5d and the Infants 1s 3d to the fund for the maintenance of a Belgian family in the village. Nothing more has been heard about their arrival, but the village is ready to give them a cordial welcome.

Westoning

A total of £7 12s 2d has been handed over to the Belgian Distress Fund following the concert held in the New Schools.

Clophill

There is great excitement in the village at the news that over 200 soldiers are to be billeted at Clophill. The Parish Room is to be turned into a Recreation Room with a refreshment stall. Only men in uniform will be allowed but members of all branches of the Services will be welcomed. It is hoped that the visitors will be made most comfortable, but also that there will be no “unseemly foolishness or rowdyism”.

A branch of the newly formed League of Honour for Women and Girls is also to be started in the village. The League aims at uniting all women and girls over 14 in Prayer, Purity and Temperance during the war, offering them the highest scope for true patriotism.

Source: Monthly Magazine for the parishes of Barton-le-Cley, Clophill, Flitton and Greenfield, Gravenhurst, Silsoe, Westoning, January 1915 [P21/30/17]

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[1] Leonard Sturgess of Barton joined the Bedfordshire Regiment in 1903 aged 19 and was transferred to the Reserve in 1905. He rejoined the Regiment at the beginning of the War and was discharged in January 1916 at the termination of his first period of engagement. He served in France between 30th August 1914 and 28th January 1915. His pension record describes him as “a cheerful and industrious worker”. 

The Luton Hat Trade

Actress Blanche Sweet in straw hat c.1915 [Wikimedia]

Saturday 2nd January 1915: As 1914 ends and a new year begins the ways in which the war has affected the straw hat industry are becoming clear. During the autumn the straw hat trade was unusually depressed with velvet hats very popular. Luton’s market for these suffered from competition with absurdly low priced hats produced by Jews in the East End of London. Fortunately the local industry is able to look confidently forward to the new year.

The main sources of straw and hemp plait supplies for ladies hats are in the Far East. For some weeks interruptions to the route through the Suez Canal caused a shortage of material and an increase in the value of supplies that were already in the country. When new supplies did eventually arrive there were delays in delivering them from the docks. However the elimination of Germany as a competitor and a reduction in demand from Paris will help to secure future supplies and thanks to the efficient protection afforded by the Army and Navy it is expected that shortages can be avoided.

Manufacturers producing men’s hats are faced with the prospect of significantly reduced demand as a million men are expected to be engaged in some sort of military capacity. If the war lasts until the summer these men are no longer likely to want the straw hats they would normally wear. On the other hand it may be possible to capture some of the South American market from the Germans, although the New York trade will gain the most benefit from the diversion of German trade.

Great efforts are being made to win a share of the early spring trade and manufacture must begin early to ensure plenty of stocks are available for the spring rush. Predicting new styles and market requirements is important to ensure that the right hats are produced. It is expected that demand for lower priced hats will be higher than usual as higher taxation to meet military expenditure will reduce demand for luxury items, including higher priced hats. Customers are also likely to make do with two hats where they would normally buy three.

Spring styles are expected to be small hats made of fine materials with a military and international influence. Scottish, French, Dutch and Russian features are likely to be popular. Moving into the summer season larger hats than those currently being worn are likely to come back into fashion. Hemp plait is easily the most popular material. Most supplies of this come from Japan, supplemented by Italian and Swiss plait. All three of these markets remain open. The Swiss plait is by far the best, but its use is limited by its high price. Fancy plaits made from artificial silk are also in demand. The normal supply from Vienna is unavailable so English manufacturers are now producing these with great success.

Luton News 31st December 1914

A Highland New Year in Bedford

Seaforth Highlanders at Bedford 1914 [Z1306/12/6/28]

Friday 1st January 1915: Last night’s Hogmanay celebrations passed off in great style. At every venue the soldiers were served with a cold meal of joints of meat, mostly ham and beef, followed by hot plum pudding and sauce, tea and cakes. The Modern School Hall was used as a central depot for crockery, cutlery, silver and utensils. Supplies of cakes and mince pies were also kept at the School, with a total of around 30,000 distributed. This report from the Guild Hut in Bedford Park describes just one of the eighteen separate suppers.

The Rev. Herbert Reid, M.A., was Chairman and Chaplain at a little supper party of 460. The forty stewards of both sexes included four Brigadiers of the Bedford Fire Brigade, who obviously found their new avocation as much to their taste as fire-fighting. Just before the appointed hour the 460 members of the 6th Battallion Seaforths, headed by their pipers, reached the hall, which was absolutely ‘it’ for such an occasion, and took their seats with military orderliness. The three long tables stretched the full length of the hall, which only that day had received the finishing touches from the decorator, and looked beautifully spic and span. Filled with such a fine body of men, it was a sight to gladden the heart. Grace having been said by the Rev. Chairman, the men made a determined attack on the abundantly spread tables.  

The Chairman, in proposing “The King” said that on the program the Committee had artistically combined the Thistle and the Borough Arms, and he hoped this association would long continue. He was sure they would carry away very warm memories of their stay in Bedford. Mr Burridge, proposing “Our Scottish Hosts” said the men’s good fortune in being sent to Bedford had been Bedford’s good fortune too. Bedford people now looked upon them as ‘our boys’.

The New Year began at midnight with an enormous crowd of Scottish soldiers gathered in the market place linking hands to sing in 1915 with Auld Lang Syne. Today yesterday's arrangements will be repeated to provide more simultaneous suppers for the rest of the Highlanders. 

Source: The Highland Division at Bedford: An Illustrated Souvenir [X414/162]; Bedfordshire Times 1st January 1915