March 16th, 1916. Promotion of Admiral Lowry. British Command Orders intimates that the Admiralty have notified that in future the Admiral whose flag flies at Rosyth Naval Base will have the status of Commander-in-Chief. Admiral Sir Robert Lowry, the present occupant of the post, accordingly becomes Commander-in-Chief at that base. Admiral Lowry is a distinguished Ulsterman, being the eldest son of the late Lieutenant General Robert W. Lowry, C. B., of Aghnablaney, County Fermanagh. (Ed. Near Pettigo.) I.R.
March 16th, 1916. NOTES. A potato famine exists in German towns. In the country districts there is no meat to be had.
The Don’t-want-to-Fight Men of England are being formed into a non-combat corps with the ordinary infantry pay but none of the working or proficiency pay. The corps will perhaps generally be known as The Cowards Corps.
Women are appeal to by the Committee for War Savings to avoid elaboration and variety in dress, new clothes, and all forms of luxury, and not to motor for pleasure, to have less elaborate meals, cut down the number of servants and give up hothouses.
Liverpool dockers have refused to work with women. The old-world prejudice of men was be broken down. Women have as much right to live as men. I.R.
March 16th, 1916. ENNISKILLEN AND DISTRICT. A FERMANAGH WOMAN KILLED GOING TO THE WELL. An inquest was held in the Railway Hotel, Enniskillen on Monday concerning the death of an old woman named Ann Maguire of Drumclay about ½ mile from the town, who was knocked down and killed by the 6.37 train from Enniskillen to Derry on Saturday evening. The woman was about 75 years old, and was somewhat deaf. She went to a well situated quite close to the railway line at Drumclay level crossing to get water. She did not hear the train approach until it was upon her and she was struck by one of the carriages and knocked into the water channel at the side of the line. Her right arm and practically all the ribs on the right side were broken. Dr. Betty was immediately summoned but the woman died within 10 minutes. The jury returned a verdict that the occurrence was purely accidental and that no blame was attached to any person. I.R.
March 16th 1916. THE EXCEPTION TRIBUNALS AND HOW THEY WORK IN SCOTLAND. OF 93 APPEALS; 90 ARE GRANTED. A correspondent sends to The Times a newspaper a report of the sittings of Aberdeenshire tribunals to show how things are being run there. The tribunal for Huntley District met on Saturday and heard appeals with the above results – only three refused. A farmer asked exemption for his brother a ploughman. The applicant said there were 320 acres. There were six on the place and himself. This was the only man of military age. The Chairman asked how is your father and was told he is very well. The Chairman said he is a wonderful man and I propose total exemption I know the family and their history. Total exemption was granted.
Another farmer asked exemption for a son, a cattle man. The applicant stated that there were 100 acres of arable and 14 of pasture. He had two sons at home. Major Gray said the Advisory Committee had refused his application, because the other son had been granted exemption. The Chairman asked how are you to work the farm with girls? Major Gray said you cannot believe all these details. The Chairman said I know the family root and branch. There is not a straighter man in Aberdeenshire than this. A Member said I cannot vote against him I know him so well. Exemption was granted. F.T.
March 16th 1916. AND THE MAN WHO WOULD NOT SERVE ANY COUNTRY. A young man of 21 who applied for total exemption at the Whitehaven tribunal said he was born in England but emigrated to the United States when he was 12. Coming home to recruit his health in 1914, he was not allowed to return to America. The chairman said that as a British subject you ought to be proud to have an opportunity of serving your country. The applicant said I happen not to be proud to serve my country. I would not serve any country. The world is my country and if I do not like the laws of one country I go to another. Application refused.
A conscientious objector said he was a Wesleyan and would not join the Army on any consideration. Replying to a question with regard to David being an instrument in God’s hands when slew Goliath in the war with the Philistines the applicant said God commanded that war but he did not command the present war. The Mayor said how dare you sit there and say that? He applicant said I am as certain as I sit here that the war is not a righteous war. War of any kind as against a word of God. I suppose you accept the protection of the British Crown? Certainly not. I take my protection from God above. Well? You’re not fit to live that’s all. I’m certain I am but there are a lot of people not fit to live. Exemption from combat service only granted. F.T.
Fermanagh Herald March 18th 1916. JOTTINGS. A committee has been formed in Clones and £300 has already been subscribed to promote a memorial to the late Right Rev Monsignor O’Neill, P.P., V. F., Dean of Clogher. The list is to be kept open for one month.
Private Thomas Kelly, Townhall St., Enniskillen, who joined the 8th Battalion Inniskilling Fusiliers, some five or six months ago, has, we regret to say been killed in action. The notification was recently received by his sisters. Private Kelly was previously employed by ex-County Inspector Maguire, and subsequently by the Scottish Corporative Wholesale Society, Enniskillen. His death will cause profound regret among his relatives and friends.
March 23rd 1916. POLICE OFFICERS SHOT. WILD SCENES IN TULLAMORE IN THE FIGHT IN A SINN FEIN HALL. An affray in Tullamore on Monday night arising out of a hostile demonstration against the local Sinn Fein Volunteers by a section of the townspeople has had a sensational sequel. The windows of the Sinn Fein hall were stoned and some of those in the hall replied to the attacks with revolver shots. The police forced entrance to take away the arms from those using them. The Sinn Feiners refused to be searched and fired on the police. County Inspector Crane and Sergeant Ahearn were wounded by revolver bullets. The former was hit on the cheek near the eye; the latter was so seriously wounded that he was removed to the local infirmary where he lies in a precarious condition. The Sinn Fein premises have been wrecked. Several arrests have been made including four prominent members of the Sinn Fein Volunteers. Extra police have been drafted into the town. F.T.
March 23rd 1916. ENNISKILLEN PROSECUTIONS. The practice of depositing ashes and refuse on public thoroughfares in Enniskillen has recently been so greatly on the increase that the Urban Council have been compelled to take legal steps to put an end to it and on Monday they prosecuted three defendants, Mrs. Ann Somers, John Goodwin and James Morrison for having been guilty of this offence. The prosecution said there had been complaints that the roadway at the rear of Ann Street was being obstructed by parties throwing rubbish, ashes and old tin cans on it. Somers was fined 2s 6d and costs, Goodwin five shillings and costs and Morrison two and six and costs.
At Enniskillen Petty Sessions under the Weights and Measures Act Andrew Parker, of Ann St., merchant was charged with having a weighing machine in his shop to one side of which a piece of lead had been attached making in register 1 ½ ounces against the customer. Frederick Carson, a young assistant, in the defendant’s shop stated that he had attached the lead without Mr. Parker’s knowledge. The chairman said that the Bench had taken a very lenient view of the case and decided to impose a fine of 10 shillings with three and six costs.
Fermanagh Herald March 25th 1916. AIR RAID ON KENT. Nine people were killed and 31 injured as four German seaplanes flew over East Kent today. As far as we can ascertain 48 bombs were dropped altogether. Three men, one woman and five children were killed and 17 men, five women, and nine children were injured.
Fermanagh Herald March 25th 1916. ARMY ACCOUNTS. NO OFFICIAL RECORDS OF SOME SOLDIERS EXIST. CLOTHING DEALS: UNIFORMS WHICH COST £2,650 WERE RESOLD FOR £400. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, which reveals the unsatisfactory condition of certain Army accounts, was issued on Saturday. In all dealings with the Army and supplies, there is a considerable amount of muddle, as these vouchers are not infrequently missing or incomplete. Forage, animal, fuel and light accounts for the period immediately preceding embarkation were not filled up. Up to February 12th 1916, no store accounts of transport vehicles had been furnished. This is put down to extreme pressure in the earlier months of the war. Horses arrived by rail at night with no voucher to show who sent them or the station from which they came, or with no identification labels. Units transferred horses to other troops without vouchers, and one unit apparently had failed to keep accounts as no record could be found of receipt or disposal of animals.
The Comptroller refers to large quantities of clothing that had been written off as destroyed on the authority of Courts of Inquiry. The papers showed that in September 1914, a firm offered a supply of part worn clothing for the use of the troops. Purchase was effected, but shortly afterwards complaints were received as to the unsatisfactory condition of jackets and trousers, some being verminous and others threadbare. Large quantities were ultimately condemned as unserviceable and returned to the ordnance officer, and together with the balance unissued from store were resold to the firm for £400 having cost £2,650. Further quantities of the clothing, for which about £4,700 had been paid, were destroyed by units as unserviceable.
A contract was placed “without competition” with a firm for the supply of one million great coats at 30 shillings and 1,000,000 suits at 23 shillings. Arrangements were subsequently made with the Wholesale Clothing Manufacturers’ Federation, under which its members supplied great coats at 28 shillings and suits at 21 shillings and nine pence.
Several officers and men, the Auditor-General continues, were paid rewards for inventions, and a Mr. S. W. Hiscocks received £25 for an improved method of constructing dirigibles. A sum of £5 was allowed to Mrs. Angus Shureys, the widow of a storeholder, for an idea for the strengthening of mallet heads by riveting. Captain C. A. Crawley–Boevey, A.S.C. was rewarded with £250 for a non-skid device for motor lorries.
Many men were taken on pay for whom none of the usual attestation documents were forthcoming. This was more particularly noticed in the case of the Army Service Corps, especially the mechanical transport section, many of the men apparently having been clothed and sent abroad without any record of their existence or identity. The total expenditure on billeting included in the accounts to March 31, 1915 was almost £6,250,000.
Although instructions indicated that the price payable on impressment for an officer’s charger should be £70 it was noticed in the accounts of one command that in three cases £200 per horse was paid in addition to about 20 cases varying from £110 to £160.
Although these purchased cannot be said to be contrary to regulations, they seemed to be of an extravagant character says the report.
cunninghamsway 