::... 4th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers

Company Sergeant Major Charlton and the 4th Bn recruiting team - Tynedale - Christmas 1914

Hexham Courant

DALESMEN WHO HAVE JOINED THE COLOURSA FEW ALLENDONIANS

OTHER NAMES WILL BE GIVEN ON THIS PAGE FROM WEEK TO WEEK

THESE BOYS DIDN'T SHIRK.

They want help!!

Listen for a moment. Can't you hear them calling TO YOU?

BE A MAN.

There's a Kings uniform waiting for YOU.

Go and put in on NOW.

GOD SAVE THE KING!

Cigarettes and tobacco

Article in Hexham Courant Newspaper - 29th May 1915

THE GIFT FROM THE GEM PICTURE PALACE TO THE N.F.

As most of our readers are aware, Mr Waugh, the popular manager of the Gem Picture Palace, Hexham, collected a considerable sum to send cigarettes and tobacco to the local men out at the Front, and has sent out 30,000 woodbines, 7,000 gold flake, 3,000 capstan and 100oz of twist tobacco. In reply to a letter advising the despatch of these, Captain F. Robinson writes: -

Dear Mr Waugh, - Many thanks to yourself and patrons of the Gem for the magnificent gift you are sending to the two Companies. It has not arrived yet, but when it does I will see that it is shared all right. I am glad the picture you took was a success. It certainly came out well. I am only sorry that so many of the boys on it are no loner here, but they certainly have done spendidly, and are still doing so. I hope Hexham will send us some more of the same sort as we need them, for there are only about 130 of us now out of 234. The picture referred to by Capt Robinson was one taken of the two Companies at Blyth before they left.

Letter published in the Hexham Courant - 12th Jun 1915.

From Quarter-Master Sergeant A.G Richardson,

‘Just a few lines on behalf of the Hexham and Corbridge Companies to thank the patrons of the Gem and yourself; for the handsome gift of cigarettes which we received all right on Friday last. As there was such a large consignment Lt Turner our Coy Officer, advised me to hand them over to Colonel Foster, who said I had better divide them among the battalion. This I did, and everyone got a good share, as I am sorry to say our numbers are now greatly reduced. Our Coy started with 253 and we are now 127 strong, but several of the men who were wounded near Ypres are now returning, and gradually bringing us up again. Our boys had a second dose in the trenches over Whitsuntide, for 10 or 11 days, being attached to the Somerset Regiment, and had an adventurous time. We are now back resting for a while. The weather is very hot during the day, but still rather cold at nights. I hear we are to remain here for some time unless something happens to disturb us. I hear you have Capt Robinson back at Hexham. We all wish him a speedy recovery and hope to soon have him back here again as our leader, also that Capt Plummer will not be long following. All the boys that are here are enjoying good health, only the heat is very tiring through the day. I wish you could have had a picture of them, the way we are living in these woods. A lot of them say they are going to live outside when they get back to old England again, and that they will not be able to rest when it comes to lying on feathers. You can let the Hexham people know that Sammy (the regimental dog) is still going strong and goes wherever we go. He has had his dose of gas, same as most of us, but he is alright now and enjoys himself chasing the pigs around about when we are billeted at farms. Last Saturday the men were all taken to a large brewery, and had a good bath (not in beer), as some of them wished it had been, but in hot water in the large vats there. I expect you will soon have your new place ready and that it will go all right. You might send a free ticket for the opening night and we might take a trip by aeroplane to see what it is like that night

Clothing

Letter published in Hexham Herald Saturday - 16th Jan 1915

HAYDON BRIDGE AND THE FUSILIERS(To the Editor)

Sir, - I shall be obliged if you will allow me through your columns to thank the ladies and inhabitants of the Haydon Bridge district through whose kindness a large consignment of Cardigan jackets was received at Christmas for the benfit of the NCOs and men of this battalion. I need hardly say that we highly appreciated their kind thought and all their efforts on our behalf. The garments were most welcome and have been of great benefit to the men who received them. - Yours faithfully.

A.J.FOSTER, Lieut - Col.,Commanding 4th Batt. Northumberland Fusiliers.

Blyth

Article published in Hexham Courant - 22nd Dec 1917

NEWS OF THE DISTRICT

ALLENDALE

The Wooley and West Side Working Party sent to soldiers the following: - 24 parcels of food, 12 pairs of socks, 4 pairs mitts, gloves and cigarettes.

HAYDON BRIDGE

A meeting covened by the Haydon Parish Council, was held on Thursday night, in the Town Hall, Haydon Bridge, to form an association for looking after the welfare of soldiers belonging to the parish, particularly to see that soldiers on leave were given a warm welcome home; to send parcels to men at the front, and to arrange, through the official association, for the supply of food to any prisoner of war. Mr Makepeace presided. It was decided to call the new body the " Haydon Parish Soldiers' Welfare Association, " and the following gentlemen were appointed to carry out the work: - .........

To reduce the work of the secretaries, it was decided that the committee meet fortnightly, on a fixed day, the first meeting to take place on Monday, the 7th January.

Eggs

Article in Hexham Courant - 29th May 1915

EGG COLLECTION FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS

At Falstone an egg collection has been made for wounded soldiers. A box containing 96 eggs, collected by Miss Inglis, has been forwarded to London. The contributors were Mrs Brown, Highfield; Mrs Moscrop, South Stokoe; Mrs nicholl, Hawkhope; Mrs J.B.Elliot, Plashetts; Mrs Hutton, Billing, Plashetts.

Article in Hexham Courant - 29th May 1915

GREENHEAD CHILDREN AND WOUNDED SOLDIERS

The children attending Greenhead Church Schools have shown considerable zeal in collecting in ten weeks over 1,200 new laid eggs for our wounded soldiers, which have been forwarded each week to hospitals in the North of England. Mr Spencer Bell, the assistant master, has taken the responsibility of packing and dispatching the eggs, and the many grateful letters received by him show how much appreciated are the gifts of the children.

Comforts commitee

Article published in Hexham Courant - 18 March 1916

4th NF Comforts Committee

The following donations and comforts have been gratefully received:-
........................................................................................................£ ...........s ..........d
Previously acknowledged ...........................................................355 ......18 ........0
Mrs Spencer, Walbottle Hall (2nd Donation) ...............................10 ......10 ........0
Riding Mill War Clothing Fund per Lady Scott (3rd donation) .....5........ .0 ........0 Total .............................................................................................£371 ........8 ........0

Northumberland Voluntary Aid Hospitals

Article published in Hexham Courant - Saturday 22th May 1915

Several of the soldiers now located at the 3rd N.V.A. Hospital, Convalescent Home, Hexham, are quite unable to get about, and motor drives would be very acceptable to them. We are sure this only needs mentioning to secure them such necessary outings

Article published in Hexham Herald - Saturday 29th May 1915

3RD N.V.A. HOSPITAL, HEXHAM

The Matron begs to acknowledge with thanks the following gifts: - Collected in the Tarset district by Mrs Robson, eggs and cakes; the Misses Spencer, motor ride to Hallington and tea there; Mrs J.C Straker, rabbits; Martha Watson, flowers; Mrs John W Robson, cauliflowers; Mrs Roy Charlton, eggs and magazines; Mrs Hulsen, fruit; the Misses Hulsen, toffee and cakes, Mrs Russell Cairns, two motor rides; Mrs Steadman and Miss Houghton, lettuce and water cress; Miss Barrasford, eggs and flowers; Miss Savage, chocolates and sweets; Mrs Plummer, scones; Mrs Clark, magazines; Mrs Smith and Mr Benjamin Dodd, slippers, papers, cigarettes; Mr Grant, motor ride; Mr Bennett, cigars; Edith and Maynee, matche and paper.

Wanted. - Hats (for soldiers to wear in garden) straw or any material not heavy: fruit and green vegetables.

Article published in Hexham Courant - 25th March 1916

4TH N.V.A HOSPITAL, DILSTON HALL, CORBRIDGE

The commandant of the 4th Northumberland V.A Hospital, Dilston Hall, Corbridge, acknowledges with very many thanks the following gifts:- Mrs Stappard, 6 eggs; A friend, 6 eggs; Mrs Dent, 12 eggs; Mrs Coulson, 8 eggs; Mrs Ridley, 10 eggs; Mrs westaby, 8 eggs; Mrs Croudace, 16 eggs; Mrs Laws, 7 eggs; Mrs Laing, 12 eggs, scones; Mrs Heslop 6 eggs; Mrs J.H Straker, teacakes and oranges; scholars of Townfield school and other friends, 100 eggs; Misses Ord, eggs; Mrs Wardle, eggs; Mrs Mewse, eggs; Mrs Ball, eggs; Mrs French, eggs; Misses Peacock, eggs; Mrs Dinnin, 6 eggs; Mrs Heslop, 7 eggs; Mrs Laing, four pairs of socks; Mrs Stoppard, eggs; Miss Straker, 12 eggs; Mrs Norman Newall, 12 eggs; Mrs Cuthbert, vegetables and fish; Mrs Sewell, 24 eggs; Mrs Forrester, 7 eggs; Miss Ridley, 7 eggs; Miss Wood, 12 eggs; Mrs Nesbitt, 6 eggs; Mrs Bryant, 6 eggs; Mrs Pigg, scones and 8 eggs; Mrs Stevenson, 2 eggs; Miss Dixon, teacakes and 6 eggs; Mrs Lebour cake and 6 eggs; Mrs Drury, cake; Mrs Hutchinson, cake.

Article published in Hexham Courant - 15th May 1915

9TH N.V.A HOSPITAL, CHESTERS, HUMSHAUGH

www.juroch.demon.co.uk/UKhospitals.htm#Northumberland

More information on the NVA Hospitals at Hexham, Dilston Hall and Chesters would be greatly appreciated

Respirators

Published in Hexham Courant - Saturday 1st May 1915

THE APPEAL FOR RESPIRATORS

In response to an appeal from Mrs Taylor of Chipchase Castle and Mrs J.H.Cuthbert for respirators for our soldiers we have been displaying in the window of the "Courant" office a specimen respirator and details of how to make them.We had intended to follow up this by an appeal through our columns, but on Thursday the Press Bureau stated that -

Thanks to the magnificent response already made for respirators for the troops, the War Office are in a position to announce that no further respirators need to be made.

4th Territorial Battalion

Northumberland Fusiliers

1914 - 1918

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