1918

   A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 

 The Great War 1918

JANUARY

   At the council meeting the health visitor gave details of a scheme for obtaining condensed milk for children. Cr Poppleton protested, not for himself, he said, but on behalf of all the tradesmen, at the transfer of Nestle's Milk from the tradesmen to the health visitor. He said there was no advantage in it for the babies, and the distribution was not improved.

  Cr Murphy said the supply of this milk was endangered, and the only object in asking the firm to deliver to Miss Lee was to ensure the babies received a supply. Cr Poppleton said he did not think there was any fault with the present distribution, and by Miss Lee receiving a supply the tradesmen's quantity was reduced and distribution interfered with.

  Cr Evans said the tradesmen were not getting enough now, and she was sure to get some. If the tradesmen got it there was no guarantee the babies would have priority. The new arrangement would do that. 

  The surveyor was instructed to obtain a price for a two ton motor lorry. Cr Scholes said they should buy one straight away if it was for the health of the people, rather than invest more money in War Loan.

  The Local Government Board inspector had visited the site the council had proposed for the next council houses. The council had asked for a loan to buy the land. 

  The Food Control Committee considered a scheme for giving priority for milk to children, invalids and persons under medical care, but they decided it was not yet necessary.  Two butchers produced statements showing what they had to pay for some beasts and the amount they could obtain when selling the meat at the fixed price. These showed they were making a loss, so the committee agreed the price could be raised.

  In order to obtain a better distribution of tea, butter and margarine it was agreed to adopt a system where each customer had to obtain a ticket, and the dealers had to be registered.

  Lance-Corporal Galey of Moor Road won the Military Medal in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. It was hoped to present him with it at Pontefract barracks while he was on leave, but before it could be arranged he had to return to France.  

FEBRUARY

  The Food Control Committee were told food supplies, especially meat and margarine, were very low, and customers would get only half their usual supply. The committee were annoyed some outside butchers were not coming to Featherstone to sell meat to their previous regular customers. They had been allowed meat supplies on their last October sales, and if they did not come to Featherstone this meant their other customers were receiving more than they should. Those who they did not supply would be without because no other butcher could take them on.
  The Ministry of Food's milk scheme was adopted which would give priority to infants and invalids. The price of milk would go up to 7d a quart delivered. 
  In order to lessen queues, and provide fair shares for all, all the dealers were to be asked to supply regular customers only, and customers were to be asked to stick to one shop.
  Two weeks later it was decided to introduce a meat rationing scheme. All over five years old would have a meat ration card. Under fives would have one only if a doctor said it was necessary.
 

  Lance-Corporal Tom Wilson of Kimberley Street was decorated with the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was in the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

   At the council meeting there was a complaint from Ackton Hospital that a patient sent in with typhoid for observation was practically dying. After consulting Dr Steven the council wrote back refuting the claim but said the doctors would be willing to visit the hospital and have the matter fully investigated by the hospital committee.

  The fees for the firemen were put up by 10s a year on the retaining fee and 6d per drill. There was a request from Major Smith, the Pontefract assistant director of recruiting, for the council to appoint a ladies committee to collect subscriptions for the provision of light refreshments to men at Pontefract Barracks who were being examined. The council agreed to consult the local organisations. 

MARCH

  Mrs Hemingway was walking in Old Purston Lane, Wakefield Road, when some children ran up to her and said there was a little boy in the pond. She raised the alarm and Joseph Gregson of Purston Terrace ran and got him out. The boy, Joseph Livesey age two, was unconscious and Charles Arthur Heptinstall, an ambulance man, gave artificial respiration for about an hour. Dr Finch then arrived and pronounced life extinct.  

 The Food Control Committee discussed the possibility of communal kitchens in Featherstone. It was agreed to invite representatives of the miners' unions at all three local collieries to go with members of the committee to inspect communal kitchens in Leeds and Bradford.

  Those who kept pigs in the allotments wanted to know if they could sell half a slaughtered pig to a friend. The answer was no - they could only sell to a shopkeeper.

  The deputy medical officer, Dr Steven, told the council there was a severe outbreak of measles and four people had died. Nurse Fletcher had been appointed as a school nurse.

  The Palace management applied for permission to convert it into a billiard hall, lock-up shop and caretaker's dwelling. This was approved for a five year period.  The clerk announced  there would be no council elections in 1918.

   The main entrance to the Palace with the lock up shop on the right. A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection.

APRIL

  The Vicar of Featherstone, Revd A P Birch, told a vestry meeting he was leaving the next day for France to be a chaplain in a fighting area. He then received a letter from the YMCA saying no new chaplains were to be sent to the Western Front at present. He asked to be sent to a home base to begin work with the soldiers in this country. The curate, Revd H R Adams, would be in charge during his absence.

  Dr Steven told the council the number of measles cases had now reached 301. Some schools had been closed. He also said there was a shortage of milk and he suggested the health visitor should obtain a supply of dried milk to put on sale. 

  The war bonus for employees was increased to 15s. Cr Maxwell proposed the rates remain at 2s 1d. He said they might have been able to reduce it by one penny but he considered they should keep hold of their £2,000 balance which would come in useful sometime.

  This was the last meeting of the council's year and thanks were expressed to Cr Holiday for the devoted way he had served the council. The members who had served throughout the war were Messrs R Holiday, D Protheroe, P Darlington, T Waller, T Leadbeater, J Oakley, A Evans, J Poppleton, J J Murphy, E Edwards, W H Scholes and J Maxwell. Cr Waller (on important national work) and Cr Protheroe (serving abroad) had not attended any meetings during the year.

  An inquest was held on William Johnson of Phipps Street who slipped and was trapped between two tubs at Snydale Victoria Colliery. He died three days later in Clayton Hospital. The verdict was accidental death.

MAY

The council decided the health visitor should obtain a supply of Glaxo (dried milk for babies) for sale at a cheap rate to mothers who needed it and could not otherwise afford to buy it.

  It was agreed to buy some extra land from the Ackton Estate which bordered onto the land for the new council houses - to be paid for out of the rates. The Local Government Board had said they would sanction a loan for the other land when the war ended. The council had agreed to pay Christ Church £1,530 for the land within six months of the war ending.    

  The licence for the Hippodrome was renewed on condition it was sprayed and cleaned more frequently. John Holgate had offered to buy the old smallpox hospital. The surveyor was instructed to see him on the site.

JUNE

  An inquest was held on Charles Summernall aged 77 who lodged in Albert Street. He came out of the Hippodrome on March 12 during an air raid warning and all the street lights were out. Someone ran into him and knocked him down. he was helped home by two men and later taken to Clayton Hospital with a fractured femur. He gradually weakened and died on May 30. The verdict was he died from heart failure following a fracture of the left thigh, caused by being knocked down by an unknown person in the darkness during an enemy air raid. The coroner said that's another one against Wilheim.

  Company Sergeant Major Charles Henry Spires of Featherstone Square was awarded the Military Medal for pluck and courage during a retreat.

  The council agreed to put the war bonus up to 18s a week for all employees. Dr Buncle was back after a long illness, and he was warmly welcomed by the council. He said he hoped he would always, as for 40 years past, have their confidence as medical officer and adviser. It was agreed Dr Buncle and Miss Lee would formulate a scheme re-maternity, child welfare and general nursing to meet the requirements of the Local Government Board.

  A letter was read from Mr J Harris saying all the requirements at the Hippodrome had been carried out, and he would be pleased to do anything further that was necessary.

JULY

  There was a national epidemic of influenza. The local schools and Sunday Schools were closed, and many men and boys were absent from the local collieries. The Express said the local medical men were having a very strenuous and trying time.  

  There was an inquest at Clayton Hospital into the death of George Richard Williams aged 65 of Gladstone Street. His widow, Rebecca, said he had injured the lower part of his body on 23 June 1915 at Featherstone Main Colliery and he was off work for 13 weeks. He went back to the coal face but had to ask for a light job. He did this for eight months but had to give that up too. Dr Elder recommended an operation and he went to Clayton Hospital where he later died.
  Dr Guillaume said she knew nothing about the injury until after the death. William was suffering from a tubercular hip and he gradually got worse. The post mortem showed he had had this for about a year and there was general blood poisoning. This disease could be set up by quite a slight injury, but there had to be a pre-disposition to it.   
  After the coroner had summed up, Tom Ryan, a miners' representative, said he wanted to put some questions to the foreman of the jury. The coroner refused, and after further remarks by Ryan the coroner said if he was not careful he would be locked up. The jury decided in accordance with the medical evidence, but they could not decide whether or not the disease was set up or accelerated by his injury. 

AUGUST

  The medical officer told the council the influenza epidemic was practically ended. It was reported Mr Fearnley could not yet prepare a final statement regarding the first council house scheme. A woman tenant in one of the houses was told to stop having lodgers or move out. 

  There was a problem with the land for the second council house scheme. Christ Church wanted the council to complete the purchase as soon as possible, but the Local Government Board would not loan the money until the war was over.

SEPTEMBER

  Revd A P Birch, Vicar of Featherstone, had managed to get to France to minister to the troops. He arrived back in Featherstone after a four months tour of duty.

  A boy called Hodgson had a live cartridge given to him. He passed it on to a boy called Swallow who was in the Featherstone Volunteer Corps with his friend called Topliss. They both attended drill on Sunday morning in the Featherstone Hotel and afterwards were standing in Green Lane

  They put the cartridge in a rifle but it jammed. While they were trying to free it Mrs Catherine Saul of Newport Terrace came along wheeling her baby in a pram to take her husband's snap to Featherstone Main Colliery. The rifle went off and the bullet went straight through Mrs Saul and through the hood of the pram but it missed the baby. Dr Steven was sent for and he ordered Mrs Saul's removal to Clayton Hospital where she was later said to be comfortable.

  An unnamed Featherstone woman was quoted by the Express as saying there should be a memorial to those Featherstone men who had made the supreme sacrifice. The Express said if the council would take up the suggestion there would be no doubt of it being successfully carried through. 

  George Henry Laver, undermanager, and Frederick Holdway and Thomas Harper, deputies, were awarded the King Edward Silver Medal for rescuing Ernest Riley who had been buried by a fall for 24 hours at Ackton Hall Colliery last May.

OCTOBER

  Gunner James Higson of Whitely Street was awarded the Military Medal for carrying a wounded Canadian officer to a dressing station while under very heavy shellfire.

  Thomas Ellis aged 15 of Leeds Street was run over by tubs in Ackton Hall Colliery, and he died before he could be taken out of the pit.

  The council heard from Dr Buncle that Mr Haigh, the clerk, was seriously ill with pneumonia, and everything possible was being done for him. It was agreed to invest another £850 in War Bonds. The rates for the next six months remained at 2s 1d.

  Mr Garritty of the Ackton Hall Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association asked for the streets to be better lighted. He also asked the council to try and obtain a better meat supply for the miners saying the shortage of meat undoubtedly increased absenteeism at the pits.

  The council agreed to approach Superintendent Ackroyd about the street lights, and to ask the Food Control Committee to do all they could about meat for miners.

NOVEMBER  

  Peter Hall, the Labour candidate for the new Normanton Division which now included Featherstone, addressed a meeting at the Hippodrome. He said there would be at least 400 Labour candidates at the next General Election and he hoped to see a Labour Government formed.

  He was delighted to be able to say we were on the eve of the cessation of hostilities. He spoke at length on the Labour Party's attitude to Germany at the end of the war and what they hoped to do if they were elected.    

  A resolution was passed approving Mr Hall as candidate and pledging every effort to get him elected.

  Second-Lieutenant E Callear of the West Yorkshire Regiment was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and initiative.

  The council were told influenza was back again and all the schools had been closed for three weeks and they had been disinfected. Six people had died from the illness. It was decided not to provide a national kitchen as some other local authorities had done.

  An application from Ackton Hall Colliery to use the Lister Baths for a presentation was agreed providing the colliery supplied labour to lay the floor which covered the pool.

  One of the influenza victims was Jarvis Mulkin aged 52 who lodged in Dickinson Terrace. He had had a severe attack of the flu and at times had been delirious. He died in Clayton Hospital and the inquest was told he had been found in the early hours of the morning lying in a passage near his house badly injured. Dr Steven was called and he ordered his removal to the hospital at once.

  George Mosby, who was the tenant where Mulkin lodged, said he found the bedroom window open and there were marks on the window ledge. Charles Todd, another lodger who slept in the same room, said when he got up to get ready for work Mulkin was sat on his bed with his trousers and waistcoat on. Edward Wilson, a knocker-up, said while he was on his rounds he found Mulkin and he only had his shirt and stockings on. He carried him into the house.

  Dr Ida Guillaume of Clayton Hospital said Mulkin died from shock and a fractured femur. The coroner, Mr Aitland, said the deceased had lost his life through influenza, having, while delirious, jumped out of the window. The jury returned a verdict agreeing with that. 

  The end of the war was reported by the Express as follows. "Featherstone, which has given so nobly of its sons and means, received the news with thankfulness. Flags were soon flying from many windows, and many were the expressions which denoted the keen satisfaction which the news gave. In the evening bonfires, which the youngsters had reluctantly to forego on the fifth, were lighted, and miniature cannon and fireworks were discharged. The young folk paraded the streets in merry mood, and bands of munition girls sang lustily, not at all perturbed their occupation was practically gone.

  "How many were thinking of the near and dear one "over there", and what of the homes to which the "boys" will return no more? The sense of loss was tempered by the knowledge these lives had not been sacrificed in vain. And heard above the note of personal loss was surely gratitude the sacrifice of human life was ended."

  Cr Roslyn Holiday told the council he was sure they all experienced a feeling of thankfulness, and a marvellous sense of relief. For while they rejoiced their terrible troubles were over, their joy was tempered with sorrow in that so many, some of whom were present, had suffered so keenly by personal bereavement.

  Their sympathies went out to all in the town and district who had suffered in this way, had long borne up against anguish and strain. Some had managed to keep a cheerful countenance but many had broken down when the reaction came. Some who were present had been sadly bereaved, and he wished to feel they had the sincere, deep sympathy of the council, which might help them a little in their grief.

  He suggested they should attend a service of thanksgiving on Sunday morning as an example to the young, and they should have some lasting memorial to the gallant citizens who had sacrificed their lives for the good of all at home. Something that would abide, and remind Featherstone and Purston people for generations to come of what was done on their behalf by the fallen brave. The council agreed to call a public meeting.

  In the days that followed further bonfires were lit and effigies of the Keizer were consigned to the flames. The council removed the shading from the street lamps to provide better lighting.

  The 60th memorial service for the fallen was held in Purston Church. The vicar, Revd H S Rogers, expressed the hope it would be the last.

  North Featherstone Lane Junior Mixed School decided to carry on with its efforts to raise funds for soldier comforts. For their sixth year they made soap a feature and the scholars brought in 90lbs. It was expected the sale would raise about £70 which would be used to send postal orders to Featherstone's soldiers.

  Roslyn Holiday arranged for the three men awarded the Edward Medal in September to go to Buckingham Palace for King Edward to present the medals. He also included in the party Mr J W McTrusty, the colliery manager, and Messrs J J Birmingham, W Batten and G Guy who had received a letter from the Home Office expressing warm appreciation of their courageous behaviour on the occasion referred to; plus Mr S Garritty, the colliers' local secretary for the Yorkshire Miners' Association, 

  The photo is from the Edward Medal internet site. 

  

  A few days later a presentation of a gold watch was made at the Lister Hall to Mr McTrusty to commemorate his courageous conduction of the rescue operations for Ernest Riley. There were about 140 people present comprising members of the Ackton Hall Colliery Officials' Association and their wives. 

  Roslyn Holiday said he had the greatest pleasure and pride in the great honour done to three of his officials, and he had not the least doubt only Mr McTrusty's modesty had prevented his receiving the same honour. So he was delighted to see the officials marking their appreciation of Mr McTrusty's share of the work. He hoped they would permit him to share in it by providing a gold guard for the watch.

  Mr McTrusty said he was deeply aware of the honour they had done him. He had done what he felt was his duty, and tried to help and inspire others to do the same. Mr Garritty, for the YMA, said all praise was due to those who had done the work, and his committee had done their best to get it recognised by the proper quarter. He also praised the pluck of Ernest Riley who had survived the ordeal and was present as a guest.

DECEMBER

  A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection showing a window replacement at Denis Bullock's shop. The notice board at the doorway reads "These windows was Broke on Purpose by 2 soldiers to get their Discharge from The Army".

 

 Lance-Corporal E Vollans of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was awarded the Military Medal for volunteering to lay an essential telephone cable white under heavy gunfire.

  The council were told the influenza epidemic was abating, and the schools had been reopened. Roslyn Holiday had agreed to the Gospel Hall being used as a mother's clinic.

  It was decided the surveyor's salary would be £400 in 1919, but would go back to £300 in 1920 (no reason was given). The Council agreed to support a proposed scheme for a mother's pension which would enable widows to care for their children in their own home instead of in some cases the children being taken to an institution.

  Peter Hall was elected unopposed as MP for Normanton, which now included Featherstone, in the General Election. 

                  
  On Christmas Day Mr P Darlington, manager at Featherstone Main Colliery, presented the Military Medal to Private C Davies of the Welsh Guards, whose home was in Green Lane Villas, awarded for rescuing two wounded comrades. At a different ceremony Lance-Corporal T Wilson of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, whose home was in Kimberley Street, was presented with the Croix de Guerre for rescuing a wounded comrade under heavy shell fire.