The Great War News from
Lancaster in 1914
11th September 1914
These pages include reports from the local press in Lancaster and
district from September 1914.
The “Roll of Honour”
How Colonel Dykes was Killed. Officers’ Bravery and Heroism
A story told by a sergeant of the King’s Own gives some brief intimation
of how Colonel Dykes and two of his officers met their death. Here is
the story, told with laconic bluntness – a soldier’s description, in
fact, of an engagement which a war correspondent would have been able to
present in thrilling fashion: The King’s Own with the Lancashire
Fusiliers and the Middlesex Regiment were ordered to cover the retreat
of the allied forces from Mons. On Tuesday 25th August, they left the
position in which they had been entrenched to take new ground, and were
marching through the night, finding themselves at day break between
Cambrai and Le Cateau. Several French regiments and a Highland regiment
had passed their lines, when as the King’s Own were taking breakfast,
the German artillery boomed forth. Several shells fell in the vicinity
of the trenches without doing much harm, but the enemy’s artillery was
much superior in numbers to that of the allies, and they poured in a
raking shrapnel fire before the English guns began to speak. There was
no doubt either about the enemy’s range finding, under cover of the guns
the enemy came on in the proportion of six to one. Men were mowed down
like ninepins by the bursting shrapnel, and it seemed as though the
King’s Own had been singled out for the special fury of the onslaught.
Colonel Dykes fell at an early stage of the engagement while shouting
encouragement to his men. Fighting continued furiously from 4.30 until
9.30. Then there was a lull, and the enemy, seemingly reinforced, made
good their advance, and another five hours’ desperate conflict ensued.
The allies fought the advance inch by inch, fighting becoming so close
that the King’s Own got home with several dashing bayonet charges. One
of the most brilliant of these bayonet charges was led by Captain
Clutterbuck, who, with a handful of men, routed four times the number of
men under this command. He paid the price of his gallantry with his
life, but the casualties to his men were singularly light. The sergeant
said, “It was just like Clutterbuck.”
“Then,” continued the sergeant, “there was Lieutenant Steele-Perkins,
who died one of the grandest deaths a British officer could wish for. He
was lifted out of the trenches wounded four times, but, protesting,
crawled back again till he was mortally wounded. The first man knocked
over was one of the most popular of the Rugby footballers in the Dover
garrison. He was shot through the mouth. Lieutenant Woodgate
distinguished himself in bravery, and Major Parker was coolness
personified.
“A German aeroplane,” proceeded the sergeant “which came over our
position on the day preceding the battle was accounted for; assailed by
a shower of bullets from more than one regiment, its reconnoitring
career had a sudden stop. The enemy swooped down on us so quickly at the
finish that we were unable to remove all our dead and wounded. Stretcher
bearers were shot down, and I, who had been wounded with a shrapnel
bullet in the muscle of the left arm, was taking a message for the
doctor from the field hospital (a school) when a shell came and
demolished the roof. All the King’s Own dead are buried in France, a few
miles from the frontier. We saw many burning villages, and our artillery
helped along many old women and children who were fleeing before the
enemy.”
Colonel Dykes’ Distinguished Career
Colonel Dykes was born in 1874, and was the son of the late Mr William
Ashton Dykes, of The Orchard, Hamilton, NB, an of Mrs Dykes who is still
alive. He was educated at Glenalmond, and in 1894 received his
commission in the King’s Own, passing in through the militia. He
received the highest number of marks of any of his competitors. In his
early twenties, as a subaltern, he became adjutant of the regiment,
serving in that capacity in South Africa, rejoining his regiment after
having done duty for a short time as embarkation officer. He was
dangerously wounded at Spion Kop, in the vicinity of the Boer Trenches,
and an endeavour to locate their exact position. He was invalided home,
but in a few months he returned to the seat of war, where he was
employed on convoy duty. He distinguished himself in the defence of
Vryheid, successfully repulsing an attack by Louis Botha in greatly
superior numbers. He was twice mentioned in despatches, and was offered
the choice of DSO or a brevet majority. He chose the latter, being then
but 27 years of age. He received the Queen’s medal with four clasps, and
the King’s medal with two clasps. He was staff captain at the War Office
between 1904-08. He had also passed through the staff college, and for a
short time he was in command of a company of gentlemen cadets at
Sandhurst. On the death of Colonel Marker in August last year he was
appointed to the command of the 1st Battalion of the regiment. He was
then but 39 years of age, and was the youngest lieutenant colonel in the
line. To his fine soldierly qualities were added an extreme personal
charm, and inexhaustible fund of humour. He was beloved by both officers
and men in all the positions he occupied. On the 21st April this year he
was married in London to Rosamund Ann, daughter of the late Mr Frederic
Willis Farrer, and of Mrs Farrer, of 26 Palace Court.
Captain Clutterbuck
Captain Henry Clutterbuck was born in 1873, served seven years in the
ranks, and joined the King’s Own from the Yorkshire Light Infantry. He
served through the South African war, being attached for part of the
time to the Army Service Corps, as was with General Hunter’s advance in
the Western Campaign, including the capture of General Cronje. Known
among the “Tommies” as “Daddy Clutterbuck” he was very popular.
Captain Theobald
Captain Frederick George Theobald, born in 1875, joined the King’s Own
from the Militia. He got his company in 1907. He was ADC to the Governor
and Commander in Chief at Ceylon for five years. He was engaged in the
South African war, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal. He
obtained the Queen’s and King’s Medals.
Lieutenant Steele Perkins
Lieutenant Cyril Steele-Perkins, born 27th February 1887, joined the
Regiment in 1908, obtaining his lieutenancy three years ago. He was a
gallant young officer, and wounded men from the front state that he
crawled back into the trenches after having been four times wounded.
Prisoners of War at Lancaster
The Class of Men Interned at the Wagon Works.
No small interest has been aroused in Lancaster, and not unnaturally, by
the ever recurring detachments of prisoners of war arriving almost daily
for internment at the Wagon Works. A large proportion of these appear to
be seamen who have been brought in from alien ships captured by British
men of war on the high seas, while others comprise alien “enemies” from
different ranks of life who have either omitted to take out
naturalisation papers, or have been objects of suspicion to the police
in different cities and towns in England.
The Wagon Works are not ill-suited for a place of detention, and the
large sheds which are contained within the lofty walls of the works make
admirable dwelling and sleeping apartments for the motley crowd therein
collected. Circumscribing these sheds and the open spaces near them, the
curious public of Lancaster have been able to descry from the
surrounding high ground lofty fences of barbed wire, constructed in
inner and outer rings and of such a height and formidable nature that it
would be a matter of more than ordinary ingenuity for any of those
interned to effect an escape. Armed sentries are, of course, posted at
various points around these fences, and brilliant lights burn all night.
Outlooks are also posted on platforms, and promenade among the roofs of
the offices and sheds, and every movement of the prisoners can be
carefully noted. In fact, it may be confidently stated that nothing has
been left undone by those in authority to insure the interment of the
prisoners under the safest and most salutary conditions.
Personal observation of the prisoners and their tempers leads to the
conviction that there is at present a very cheerful and resigned tone
prevalent. Many of those who have been brought to Lancaster are
doubtless far more comfortably situated than they would have been had
they found themselves without employment or the prospect of obtaining
any, and it was mentioned the other day that all that they lack is their
liberty and news of happenings in the outer world. The former they bear
for the most part with a cheerful resignation which appears to be but
the veneer of an inward satisfaction and self-congratulation on having
found such a comfortable abiding place; while the latter is a condition
of necessity to which they are rapidly becoming accustomed.
While too much must not be said about the conditions under which the
prisoners live, it may be stated with authority that they are fed and
housed in such a manner as to call forth many expressions of
satisfaction at, and gratitude for, their lot. Numbers of them have
voluntarily offered their services to the commandant in any capacity in
which they could be found useful, welcoming the prospect of some
definite duties to relieve what must obviously become in time rather a
monotonous way of spending their days. A distinctly cheerful note
prevails, and this finds expression in the frequent singing and music
that is heard each afternoon in the encampments. Quite a first class
band has been recruited by the prisoners themselves from amongst their
numbers and as it was not necessary to deprive them of their instruments
some excellent concerts have taken place. At the same time their
indulgences must not be taken to suggest that they are left in
possession of anything which could possibly be a source of danger to
their fellow prisoners or to the soldiers who guard them, and each fresh
arrival is most rigorously searched before he is allotted to his
“company.”
A strong proof of the trust placed by the prisoners in their English
captors is found in the fact that those who have any considerable sum of
money in their possession appear only too anxious to hand it over for
safe keeping to the authorities, from whom they are able to from time to
time to draw small sums for the purchase of “extras” at the canteen in
addition to their ordinary quite adequate fare. All correspondence,
incoming and out-going, is of course strictly censored, but no bar is
placed upon the receiving of letters and parcels from friends under
these conditions.
Were the average prisoner at Lancaster to be asked his candid opinion of
the conditions under which he lives he would probably reply that he was
quite comfortable, that the food was good, that he was kindly treated;
but that he hoped the war would soon come to an end. That it can end
otherwise than favourably for the Allies does not seem to be a question
for consideration at all, and what has been heard described as the
“madness” of the Kaiser is looked upon as entirely responsible for
bringing about the upheaval of Europe.
It was been stated that the Wagon Works will accommodate two thousand
prisoners, though whether anything like that number will ever be
interned there is not known. But this much can be said definitely – the
prisoners are secure, well cared for, and comfortable; they are
generally contented, and well disposed towards England. Many of them
wonder vaguely why they have been brought here, but with an
unquestioning mind resign themselves placidly to the inevitable. And the
inevitable is in this case far from unenviable. Are British prisoners
abroad so comfortably “interned”? We wonder!
A story was published in a London newspaper last Saturday which stated
that 960 Germans, taken prisoners by the British during the fighting at
Mons, had been brought to Lancaster, and the story also went on to give
the narratives of some of the prisoners, and their views on the war, as
expressed by them to members of the military guard who brought them
here. We are assured that the report of 960 German prisoners from the
field of battle having been brought here is inaccurate.
On Saturday a party of aliens was brought to Lancaster from Manchester
by a force of armed police. They were mainly destitute aliens, whose
internment was considered desirable, as otherwise they might be a menace
to the community. The prisoners, although chained in groups, were quite
cheerful and seemed in no sense dismayed at the prospect of being
provided for at the expense of this country. They were provided with
cigarettes by people on the Wigan station platform, and they were on
excellent terms with their guard.
The Commandant of the place of internment is Colonel H Cholmondeley CB,
Rifle Brigade. Major Hatton, Seaforth Highlanders; Captain Fairclough,
Royal Welsh Fusiliers; and Lieutenant Graves and Ackerley are also among
the officers. Lieutenant Faulkner is the medical officer. A strong
detachment of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers form the guard. The boy scouts
have done a great deal of useful work in assisting the staff.
Stories by Wounded Soldiers
A Lancaster Soldier’s Story
Amongst the wounded in the rearguard action after the British forces
retired from Mons is a sergeant drummer of the 1st King’s Own, a native
of Lancaster, who has been invalided home with a nasty wound in the left
arm from shrapnel. He did not actually take part in the battle, being
within 100 yards of the fighting with the transport, but received his
wound from a shell which burst amongst the transports. He states that
his regiment arrived at Boulogne on the Sunday, and were in camp on
Monday. Early on Tuesday morning they boarded trains for the firing
line, having about a seven hours’ journey. They then marched for upwards
of seven hours, staying at a small village for food, after which they
were ordered to entrench themselves, and hardly had they done so when
the allied forces retired in good order through their lines. The
Germans, to whom he pays a high tribute, quickly found the range. He and
his comrades had a marvellously providential escape, three shells
exploding in their trenches without injuring anyone. He stated that the
son of ex-Quartermaster Sergeant Williams, of Bowerham Road, who was
reported missing, was safely entrenched when he left. Mr and Mrs
Williams, however, have as yet received no news. The sergeant
corroborates the statement that the hospitals were fired on by the
Germans, the one he was in being shelled.
Germans are Brutal Cowards
Drum Major Wilfred Thompson, of the Royal Lancaster Regiment, who has
just returned home to Warrington, states that at Mons he just raised his
arm in time to prevent a piece of shrapnel from entering his breast. His
arm was severely injured. Describing a skirmish with a party of Germans,
who were caught looting, Thompson said the enemy were brutal cowards.
When caught they whined on realising what was in store for them. His and
other Lancashire Regiments, he added, made dashing bayonet charges, as
well as riddling the enemy with bullets.
King’s Own in a Trap
“As soon as we arrived in France on Saturday night they rushed us in the
firing line,” says another private in the King’s Own Royal Lancasters.
“We entrenched, but found it too hot, and had to retire. We marched two
days and nights. I put my foot in a hole and twisted right round. and so
fell out behind the regiment. I was not more than 100 yards behind them
when they walked into a trap set by the Germans, and our poor chaps were
shot down like rats. A stray piece of shrapnel caught my foot and cut
the boot and barely grazed by ankle, but with having it twisted I could
not walk at all. I think it was a very lucky accident for me, because
out of 1,100 of my regiment there are only 300 left. An ambulance cart
came along, picked me up with the wounded, and rushed us off to Rouen.
“Just a word about the people of Belgium and France. It was heart
breaking to see the poor women trudging along with their kiddies,
breaking their hearts at leaving their homes and everything behind them.
We retired through one village, and the inhabitants gave us fruit, bread
and anything they had. About half an hour after we looked back and the
same village was in flames, being burnt to the ground, and I daresay the
people with it. It is quite true about the Germans killing innocent
people.”
Remarkable Escape of Royal Lancasters
A party of men of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment has arrived at
Shorncliffe, being part of a body of men who were cut off in the rear
guard action at Le Cateau. They tell an interesting story of how they
came through the German lines. They were covering the retreat of the
main body of men after then hours’ hard fighting. Finding themselves cut
off they crept along in units. Five of the party fell in with other
stragglers, and altogether a party of 70 of different regiments were
collected under Captain N P Clarke and Captain A S Tregona of the Dublin
Fusiliers, bot of whom could speak French and German fluently. They had
a brush with the enemy at an early stage of their adventures, but
scattered them, and for the rest they marched by night and slept by day.
They cold not sleep in the villages, because if the enemy had found them
being harboured the villages would have been burnt. They slept in woods
and under sheaves of standing corn, the villagers bringing them
refreshments.
A Salford private was with a private of the Somersets taking refuge in a
cellar when the house was burnt over their heads. Without map or compass
the two made their way eighty miles across country. They spent several
nights in a culvert. The villagers at length gave them civilian clothes
and provided them with food and guides.
A French girl wrote on a postcard “Please give me a drink,” and other
such requests. In this way their requirements were met without payment,
and before they got to the coast they were sleeping in feather beds.
King’s Own Men’s Thrilling Experiences
Seven Days in a Cave
A party of seven King’s Own men, including Sergeant Adams, who comes
from North Shields, and Private Harrison of Lancaster, reached Bowerham
Barracks from the front on Wednesday morning with the marks of war thick
upon them. They told a thrilling story of fighting and adventure. With
the regiment they took part in the fight in the neighbourhood of Mons,
including the big battle of 26th August. When their company (D company)
was ordered to fall in they found themselves, in the confusion caused by
the terrific German fire, among the Dublin Fusiliers, and, of course,
completely isolated from their regimental comrades, and set off “on
their own.” They found shelter in a cave, which they made their home for
seven days. The cave was in a garden, and they filled up the entrance
with boughs of trees in order to hide themselves from the Germans, who
swarmed all over the countryside. Near the cave was a well, and the
kindly Belgian peasant who occupied the garden, in his visits to the
well, after careful reconnoitring brought them food in his water bucket.
This he did for seven days. During that time German patrols passed the
cave every day, and their conversation was distinctly heard, if not
understood, and the day before they left a German convoy passed close
by. The peasant was extremely watchful, and when the coast was clear of
the enemy he gave the fugitives warning and helped them to a change of
clothing. Thus disguised, and after many narrow escapes, they found
their way to Bolougne, where they found themselves among friends and
embarked for England. One of the men reached Lancaster wearing bandages
on his forehead. He was accidentally spiked with a bayonet by one of his
comrades during the charge on the German front.
Private Harrison stated that they came across a discarded German baggage
cart, filled with biscuits, some of which they took possession of. For
three nights they crawled about on hands and knees so as to keep out of
the Germans. One of the men had two bullet holes through his sleeve, and
two through his hat.
Lancaster and the War
A meeting of the borough magistrates has been called for this morning to
consider the early closing of public houses.
Ninety additional members of the Mayor’s Own Civic Guard were sworn in
last evening, bringing up the total, after deducting enlistments into
Territorials etc to over 400.
The Lancaster and District Co-operative Society has decided to grant (to
all men in their employ joining the colours) 5s a week for each man. In
the case of married men 2s a week additional will be allowed for each
child.
Mr Kenneth L Storey, only son of Mr H L Storey, has been granted a
commission in the 20th Hussars, with which his brother-in-law, Mr H De
Freville, holds a commission, and his father-in-law, the late Colonel De
Freville, was connected.
The law clerks of Lancaster have levied themselves for the National
Relief Fund to the amount of £2 per week.
Major Holmes, who has charge of the hospital at the Bowerham Barracks,
has placed the duty of nursing the sick and wounded soldiers who may be
sent to the hospital in the hands of the members of the 24th West
Lancashire, Voluntary Aid Detachment, (of which Miss Garnett, of Quernmore Park is commandant), and has informed the War Office that he
does not need the assistance of trained nurses.
The Lancaster police have this week arrested four aliens, who are now in
custody awaiting instructions from the War Office as to the place of
detention to which they have to be sent. They were arrested under the
War Office order which provides that all Germans or alien enemies liable
to military service in their own country, are to be detained. It must
not be assumed that these four persons have committed any overt act
against this country.
Generous Offer by Laundry Proprietors
The steam laundry proprietors of Lancaster and Morecambe district have
offered to do all the laundry work of the 24th West Lancashire Voluntary
Aid Detachment free of charge in the event of the detachment having to
establish a hospital in or near Lancaster. The offer has been gratefully
accepted by Miss Garnett, of Quernmore Park, the commandant,
National Reservists Wanted
A requisition was made yesterday on the Lancaster battalion of the
National Reserve for the immediate supply of fifty men from Class II
(ex-Territorials). The enlistment is into the Territorial force for one
year or for the duration of the war, with service for any place in the
United Kingdom. Up to last evening over twenty men had volunteered.
The Equipment of the Soldiers’ Hospital Beds
The Matron of the Royal Lancaster Infirmary reports that the following
additional gifts have been received towards the equipment of the thirty
beds in the infirmary placed at the disposal of the military authorities
for sick and wounded soldiers:- pair of blankets and old linen, Mr and
Mrs Dodds, Victoria Avenue; quilt from Miss Skirrow, Greaves Road.
Recruiting at Bowerham Barracks
The full effect of the new army order as to recruiting under which men
are only accepted for one day with the colours to stay at home on
reserve pay (3s 6d per week) until called upon has had some effect upon
the conditions at Bowerham Barracks, but there is no lack of recruits.
Three hundred and forty men were sent off on Saturday, and 240 on
Tuesday to join the Kitchener battalion, but notwithstanding this relief
nearly all the available accommodation was filled up again on Wednesday.
Despite the continued rush of recruits there is still great need for
ex-NCOs, especially sergeants and colour sergeants. During this week six
police officers have been called in to assist in maintaining discipline
and drill instruction. Two have come from Barrow, two from the
Lancashire constabulary (including PC Barber of Galgate, an ex-ranker of
the Leinster Regiment, and one (PC Leadbetter) from the Lancaster force.
Private Leadbetter has over 16 years’ service in the King’s Own, and
went through the Natal Campaign, including Spion Kop, Pieter’s Hill and
other engagements, with General Buller.
Among those who have joined the regiment this week is a reservist who
has given up a good position in Italy.
Shouldering Responsibilities
Many thousands of people are anxiously asking themselves just now “How
can I help my country?” We cannot all don the King’s uniform, but those
who are forced to remain at home can serve the nation faithfully and
well if they will shoulder their responsibilities. There is in general
the will to do this. All that is needed is an indication as to the best
way. This is particularly true of women, and to them to a very large
extent is given the power to preserve the balance of affairs in many
trades and industries.
One of the problems of this nature is to continue to find work for the
200,000 women and more who are engaged in the laundry industry. It is
quite natural, when desiring to economise, for a lady to first think of
the possibility of reducing the household laundry bill. What she does
not realise is that by so doing she is reducing the amount of employment
and seriously affecting a class of worker who can ill afford any
reduction in her wages, especially at a time when, in very many cases,
the entire responsibility of keeping up the home is thrown on her
shoulders by reason of her male relatives having been called up to the
front.
Unfortunately, already there has been a great falling off in the
quantity of linen being sent to laundries from week to week. In some
cases as much as one half of the usual trade only is being done. It is
obvious that unless something is done to remedy this, many women will be
thrown out of work. It will be generally admitted that it is very much
better for these women and their dependants to receive the necessary
income by way of wages, rather than by doles from any charitable fund.
It is therefore, without doubt one of the first duties of those who can
in any way afford it to continue to send the usual quantity of linen to
the laundry.
More Aliens at Morecambe
At the county police court, on Saturday, Victoria Sasson and Rebecca
Salise were charged with, being aliens, and residing at Morecambe, they
neglected to furnish to the registration officer the particulars
required by the Aliens Restriction Order; and Francis Edward Whittaker,
with whom the women lodged, was charged with failing to report that they
were in his house – Inspector Whitfield said on Thursday the 27th
August, the two women went to the police station and registered
themselves as aliens. Both described themselves as being Turkish
Jewesses, and belonging to Constantinople. They said they came to
Morecambe on the 14th July, and when told they would be reported for not
registering themselves, Sasson said the did not know that they had to be
registered until told be the detective. Salise was the wife of a man in
Leicester, and both women had charge of a linen department near the
Tower. Supt Scott said the cases were reported on the Friday, and could
not be heard along with the other cases on Saturday, the 29th August. In
reply to the Bench, Supt Scott said he had no reason to think the
description given by the two women was wrong. He did not press the case
– they had acted more in ignorance than anything else, and they had
given no trouble since. Sasson said she could not read English, and no
one had told her she had to be registered. Whittaker said he acted
through ignorance, not having seen the notices. He admitted, however, he
had lived in Morecambe for four years. Defendants were ordered to pay
costs.
Maurice Saul, a Turkish Jew, born in Constantinople, was charged with a
similar offence in not registering himself with the registration officer
at Heysham; and Samuel Dawson Bargh, with whom Saul lodged, was charged
with not furnishing particulars of the fact. A second charge against him
related to Nellie Sepero, another alien lodger – Inspector Whitfield
gave particulars of the cases, and added that Saul arrived at Heysham on
the 3rd August from Manchester. Saul told the Bench that he had come to
Morecambe for five or six years during the season, and if he had been
told he would have registered. Bargh said he did not see the notices,
but the Chairman said they were posted all over the district. Bargh
added that he had not seen a newspaper containing directions about the
registration of aliens. The Chairman said defendants would have to pay
costs. They were, however, liable to penalties of £100 each. Saul: I am
quite aware of that, now.
5th Battalion King’s Own Reserves
Recruiting for the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment Reserve
Territorial Battalion has proceeded briskly during the week, and,
counting in the men transferred from the 5th Battalion, it is now about
750 strong. Three hundred and twenty five have been enrolled at
Lancaster, 185 at Fleetwood, and 104 at Morecambe. Captain Seward, the
officer responsible for collecting the recruits, has spared neither
himself nor those associated with him in bringing about this remarkable
results. On Tuesday he addressed a meeting at Stalmine, on Wednesday he
was at Galgate, and last evening he spoke at Carnforth. The men are keen
as mustard, and put in several hours a day at drill, under volunteer
instructors, but in the near future their drill will be under taken by
three officers – Captain Keen, Lieutenant Dochard and Lieutenant
Wolfendale, who have been sent up from the parent battalion for
instructional purposes. The foundations of training, however, are being
well and truly laid, and ere long the men will have been licked into
some thing like drill efficiency. The Lancaster recruits are being
drilled on the Giant Axe Field and the Morecambe and Fleetwood
detachments in their own districts.
Only a proportion of our collections
are on display at anyone time. Certain items are on loan for display
in other institutions. An appointment is required to consult any of
our collections which are held in store.
