Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. MILITARY NOTES. TWO V. C.s FOR INNISKILLINGS. Last Wednesday night shortly before going to Press we received the following brief gratifying message: – Captain Gerald Robert O’Sullivan, 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers has been awarded the V.C. for conspicuous gallantry at Gallipoli. Captain O’Sullivan joined the 1st Inniskillings on 7th of March, 1912. This is the second Victoria Cross won by the Inniskilling Fusiliers, the other V. C. being awarded to Sergeant Somers, a native of Belturbet, particulars of which are published in another column of this paper. The regiment has got several Distinguished Conduct Medals and other coveted decorations. Further particulars regarding Captain O’Sullivan’s gallant feat for which HE has thus been honoured are not yet to hand.
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. THE NATIONAL PERIL OF A COAL STRIKE. 10,000 MEN OUT IN SOUTH WALES. More than 10,000 men have struck in the Abertillery district off Monmouthshire, and they are endeavouring to persuade other districts to follow their example. Mr. Tom Richards, M. P., the Secretary of the miners’ federation, affirms that a strike is inevitable unless the decision of Mr. Runciman, the President of the Board of Trade, that certain classes of men are to be excluded from the “bonus turn” is reversed. There was general satisfaction on Saturday when it became known that Mr. Lloyd George was again in conference with the miners’ leaders.
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. THINGS PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW. SOME PERTINENT QUESTIONS. Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. Is poor Tempo ever going to get a doctor to take up his permanent residence there again? And what is wrong with the district that no doctor will remain in it?
Are the people of Maguiresbridge once more happy and content since they have got their former medical officer again appointed to look after their health?
What is the price of hay likely to be in Fermanagh in another month’s time after so much was destroyed by the recent rains?
How can a number of people who object strongly to football matches and other games on Sundays at home can reconcile their attitude in this matter with their own habit of bathing, swimming and diving in the sea on Sundays at Bundoran during the summer?
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. ROLL OF HONOUR. THE TOLL OF THE BRAVE. LORD ERNE’S FAMILY. ANOTHER TRAGIC LOSS. Few families in the Northern peerage have suffered more through the war than that of which the Earl of Erne, of Crom Castle, County Fermanagh, is the head. A further bereavement has fallen on the family through the death of Lieutenant-Colonel, Sir John Milbanke, Bart., V. C., commanding the Notts Yeomanry, who has been killed in action at the Dardanelles. Sir John, who succeeded to the baronetcy in 1899, was married in the following year to Amelia, daughter of the Hon. Charles Frederick Crichton, eldest surviving brother of the late Earl of Erne. Lady Milbanke’s only brother, Major H. F. Crichton, of the Irish Guards, was killed early in the war.
Sir John was born in 1872, and served in the 10th Hussars, retiring with the rank of major in 1911. He rejoined last October, and was posted to the command of the Notts Yeomanry. During the Boer War he was A.D.C. to Sir John French, and was seriously wounded. It was in that campaign that he won the V. C. for gallantry, rescuing a wounded trooper after he himself had been seriously injured. The baronetcy dates back to 1661, and the daughter of a previous holder of the title was the wife of Lord Byron the celebrated port. There is, we may add, still no news of the present Earl of Erne (Royal Horse Guards), who has now been missing for the greater part of a year.
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. IRVINESTOWN COUNCIL. KILLADEAS POST OFFICE AND THE KESH WATER SUPPLY. Mr. Robert Phillips, J.P. presided and Mr. Clarke moved that the Council renew their guarantee of the Killadeas Money Order Post Office. Although, he said, the office had a deficit of 14 shillings on last year’s working it was a great benefit to the poor, and that if there would be a deficit in the future he would not come again before them with a similar request. Mr. Duncan said it was a matter of 30 years since the old Board had given the guarantee for the purpose of establishing that office. The deficit was so paltry that the people there should have paid it themselves and not asked the council to pay it. The application was unanimously granted and Mr. Clarke returned thanks on behalf of the people of Killadeas to which the Chairman replied, “Don’t come back again.” (Laughter.)
Dr. Patten wrote calling attention to the defective condition of the Kesh water supply and mentioned that the water from the river got into the well. Mr. Duncan said – We spent about £20.00 on the Kesh water supply a short time ago. Mr. May – The well is too near the river and it cannot be changed, but something must be done for there is no drinking water in Kesh at all. It was decided to refer the matter to two local Guardians and the sub–sanitary officer W. H. Simpson.
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. THE IRISH CREAMERIES MANAGERS’ CONFERENCE AT BUNDORAN. The annual conference of Ulster and Connaught members of the Irish Creamery Managers Association was held on Saturday with Mr. J. Timoney, J. P., Belleek presiding. The Chairman said that the past year had been an eventful one. The war overshadowed everything else, but it had not adversely affected the industry in which they were engaged. What the result would be when hostilities had concluded it would be difficult to say, but there seemed no reason to doubt that they were likely to have a great trade depression and heavy taxation. Hence the present opportunity should be availed off to strengthen their resources, to clear off bank overdrafts and machinery debts, and put by a reserve for bad debts, which were certain to be more numerous in the future. While the industry was in a prosperous condition, he was sorry he could not say the same of the position of the managers themselves. It was true that some creamery committees had recognised the greatly increased cost of living and given their managers substantial advances. Others, however, had not done so, though their own income as farmers had been greatly increased, and though the managers, owing to greater experience, and taking advantage of all opportunities placed at their disposal, were producing better and better results year by year.
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. “BILLY” SUNDAY. Here is an example of the picturesque diction of the baseball evangelist “Billy” Sunday who some say has founded a party of buffoonery and blasphemy. “Cleopatra was a flat-nosed wench who sailed up the Nile clothed only in sunshine and climate.”
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. A SON OF SIR CHARLES CAMERON IS DEAD. On Friday morning Lieutenant Ewan Cameron, 7th Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers, son of Sir Charles Cameron, C. B., was found dead in the lavatory of the train which left Dublin for Wexford at 10.15. There was a revolver bullet wound in his head. The keenest sympathy is felt for Sir Charles.
(Ed. Sir Charles presided at the first experiments in the manufacture of Belleek Pottery in the kitchen of Castle Caldwell, Belleek using the local china clay and feldspar. Journal of the Association of Public Analysts (Online) 2009 37 14-39 by D Thorburn Burns.
Sir Charles Alexander Cameron (1830-1921) Dublin’s Medical Superintendent, Executive Officer of Health, Public Analyst and Inspector of Explosives. Although Charles Cameron is not particularly well known these days, he was in his time, very well known in chemical, medical and social circles in Dublin and in London. A deal of information about him is available via his Reminiscences and Autobiography. His importance at the time
can be judged from the report in The Irish Times, March 3, 1921, giving details of the funeral
service and procession “whose proportions bore testimony to the esteem in which Sir Charles
Cameron was held”, and listed the chief mourners, the representatives of the Royal College of
Surgeons of Ireland, the Royal Dublin Society, the Masonic Order, members of the general
public, the floral tributes and the messages attached, and finally the contents of the telegrams
of sympathy received.
Charles Cameron was born in Dublin on 16 July 1830, son of a Scottish British Army
Officer, his mother Belinda Smith was from Co. Cavan. He was schooled first in Dublin and
then Guernsey. After his father’s death in 1846 the family returned to Dublin and Cameron
obtained employment in the laboratory of the Apothecaries, Bewley & Evans. The
Superintendent of Bewley & Evans laboratory, John Aldridge, was Professor of Chemistry at
the Apothecaries Hall Medical School and Cameron received from him a good knowledge of
pharmaceutical chemistry. Cameron studied medicine in the School of Medicine of
Apothecaries Hall, the Dublin School of Medicine, the Ledwich School, the Meath and the
Coombe Hospitals, and studied in 1854 in Germany. During his long career he collected
numerous degrees and memberships and high office in many professional bodies, most of
which were recorded on the title pages of the various annual editions of Report upon the State
of Public Health (see for example that for 1914.).
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. THE 6TH INNISKILLINGS AT SUVLA. ABSOLUTE HELL. The following are extracts from a letter which has been received in Ireland from an officer in the 6th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
August 10, 1915. Here we are back on the beach “resting” though shells are bursting all around after three days of absolute hell. How any of us got through alive God only knows; but a few of us did, though the poor old Division is cut to ribbons. However, it has made a name for itself that will live. I suppose you have read by this that we made a new landing on August 7, and in one day won4 miles after desperate fighting. If dispatches have been published by the time you get this, you will see that the regiment was specially complimented for their brilliant attack. Our General said he had never seen better work by infantry.
Well, we landed at dawn on Saturday morning in lighters, and as we got to the shore shrapnel began to burst about us. It is the most absolutely terrifying sensation you could imagine. The thing comes with a vicious whizz, bursts with a bang, and all round you the air seems full of flying lead. We had not many casualties landing as we advanced for a mile or so under cover. We were then told we had to take a hill about 2 miles away, and as we advanced across a stretch of sand the high explosive shells began to come. It was ghastly: they blew whole groups to pieces, and we had lost pretty heavily by the time we got to the first cover. While we were getting a breather here and getting the battalion sorted out, against shrapnel found us, and on we had to go. It was worse now, as both shrapnell and high explosives were coming. One hit the ground about 10 yards from me, but luckily did not burst, although it buried me in sand. Another bit of shrapnel carried away my ration bag from my side. At the next ridge where we halted I found a Brigadier–General with his leg blown off, and I left him my water bottle. The sights here were absolutely sickening – far too horrible to describe. On we went again, but were getting more cover now from our own artillery and naval guns were beginning to quiet the enemy. Things were better till we got within about 800 yards of the position, and then all hell broke loose, and we began to know what rifle and machine gun fire was like. Rushes were now very short, and when you got down you had to lie in the open, face flat to the ground, and bullets …………..
Fermanagh Times September 2nd, 1915. A CHILD IS DROWNED IN LOUGH ERNE AT BALLYSHANNON. Since Wednesday last the 25th ult., nothing was heard of a little boy named Thomas Sheridan, aged four years. The child is a son of Sergeant Sheridan, Connaught Rangers, who was wounded in the present war, and is at present in hospital in Dublin. His wife, who is staying with her parents at Ballyshannon, missed the child some time on Wednesday evening, but it was thought it might have strayed into the country. Though search parties scoured the country no information as to the child’s whereabouts was ascertained. It was feared the little fellow fell into the Erne which flows past Mrs. Sheridan’s residence and was drowned. The river below Ballyshannon Bridge was dragged several times but for days no trace of the body was discovered. During the dragging operations a man named James Daly, and ex-soldier of the Irish Guards, had a narrow escape. A strong current carried the boat which was being used over the smaller of the two Assaroe Falls, and only he was a very strong swimmer he would have lost his life. The body of the boy was eventually discovered on Monday evening floating in the Erne below Ballyshannon Bridge. The remains were removed to the residence of the child’s grandfather, Mr. Charles Gallogly, jeweller, West Port, Ballyshannon.
Impartial Reporter. September 2nd 1915. SECOND LIEUTENANT R. TRIMBLE’S ESCAPE. HOW CAPTAIN JOHNSTON WAS KILLED. A letter from Mr. Reginald S. Trimble6th Royal Irish Fusiliers, tells how he was knocked down at Gallipoli. He had been three days on the firing line; and on the fourth day he was standing between his colonel and adjutant in conversation under a hot fire so that the high explosives were making fireworks where they were. A shell came along and tore the colonel’s harm to pulp and passing Mr. Trimble who was slightly behind the line of fire dashed the unfortunate adjutant, Captain Johnston of Magheramena to pieces. It was a wonderful escape, he adds, but then everyone has wonderful escapes at times. He was dazed and fell and when he was lifted his head was sore from the concussion.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. DISTINCTLY AND INEXCUSABLY LIBELLOUS. We devote a good deal of space this week to dealing with the malicious vagaries of Mr. William Copeland Trimble regarding the family of the Editor of this paper. We have had sound legal advice that the articles and letters that have appeared in the Reporter are distinctly and inexcusably libellous. We detest law proceedings. We have never been afraid of the Impartial Reporter. Where ability and honour are involved we have never felt in confronting the Editor it was a case of Greek meeting Greek, or that he was a foeman worthy of a steel. He has always been a poor sort of antagonists. We cannot recall an instance where in an encounter with us he has not been ignominiously countered and shut up. The public will pardon, we know, the implied vanity of the statement, but it is an absolute truth, and is a necessary declaration in surveying the past relationship of the two papers. Instead of flying to lawyers for help we will continue to fight our own corner. With some sections of the inexperienced public Mr. Trimble may pose as a luminary; with as he is a light of a very poor magnitude indeed – and he knows it.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. TREMENDOUS FIGHTING AT GALLIPOLI. Mr. Ashmead Bartlett, says the Daily Mail, closes a thrilling narrative of the great battle in Gallipoli for the crest of Sari Bair with the following vivid passage, which epitomises a glorious failure in which Generals and Colonels fought with rifles and bayonets alongside their troops in the firing line. It was a fierce hand to hand struggle among the scrub, through broken ground, in which no man knew how his comrade was faring. Many commanding officers were killed, including General Baldwin, who had throughout these four days set a splendid example to his men. Gradually the enemy was driven back and the ground we had been obliged to abandon regained. Thus closed for the time being, amid these blood-stained hills, the most ferocious and sustained soldiers battle since Inkerman. But Inkerman was over in a few hours, whereas Englishmen, Australians, New Zealanders, Ghurkhas, Sikhs and Maoris kept up this terrible combat with the Turks for four consecutive days and nights, amid the hills, dongas and ravines 900 feet above the sea, to which point all water, rations had to be borne along paths which do not exist except on the map, and down which every man who fell wounded had to be borne in the almost tropical heat of August in the Mediterranean.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. ENNISKILLEN GUARDIANS, THE FERRYMAN AND THE TEMPO DISPENSARY. Mr. Patrick Crumley, M. P. Presided over the weekly meeting of Enniskillen Board of Guardians on Tuesday. Some laughter was created by the Clerk reading a letter from Dr. G. F. Luke, who wrote enquiring if Tempo Dispensary District was again vacant and asking to be informed when the appointment of a medical officer to that dispensary would be made. Dr. Luke is the gentlemen who, in or about July, 1914 was appointed to Tempo Dispensary. At the meeting of the Board on August 4, 1914, the Clerk mentioned that in connection with the appointment he had received 11 letters and eight telegrams from Dr. Luke, and a couple of days after his appointment Dr. Luke wired asking could he resign. It was then decided to re-advertise for another doctor. When his letter was read on Tuesday a member suggested that it be marked read. The Chairman –Why should I initial a letter from a fellow who is humbugging the old country round. He was at Cookstown and then he joined the army, and now he is on the loose again. The letter was thrown to one side
Joseph Feely, the ferryman, wrote applying for five guineas for extra work which had fallen upon him through having to bring the medical officer over to the infirmary after 7.00 p.m. He had to bring the doctor over 42 times and he asked that he be allowed two shillings and sixpence for each journey. The Clarke explained that this was unusual and was accounted for by the fact that the doctor had frequently to attend a serious case in the hospital. It was decided to adjourn the matter till the patient got better.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. BELTURBET’S VICTORIA CROSS. In view of the fact that Sergeant J. Somers, of the Inniskillings, who has won the V. C., is being claimed as a Tipperary man, the following particulars of his career show that he is an Ulsterman. He was born in Church Street, Belturbet, 21 years ago, his father being Robert Somers, then sexton of the parish church, a position which his grandfather also held. His mother was Charlotte Boyce, a native of Wexford, who previous to her marriage was the parlour-maid at the residence of Mr. Fane Vernon, D. L., Erne Hill, Belturbet. His grandmother, Mrs. Somers, and his aunt, Miss Anna Somers still reside in Belturbet, another sister being Mrs. McLean, wife of Mr. A. McLean, USA, formerly town surveyor of Belturbet. His parents left Belturbet when he was a boy.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. WAR NEWS. The war is making heavy demands upon the life assurance companies, particularly those of the industrial type. About £860,530 has been paid out in respect of 46,200 sailors and soldiers killed during the war, while in the past four weeks £90,530 has been paid to settle 4,200 claims. With regard to officers the claims now amount to over £2,800,000 and in many of the cases the insurances are very heavy.
Hundreds of women are now engaged in the rural districts of Lancashire in lifting the potato crop and assisting in dairying and other farm work in order to release men for the colours.
About 100 troopers have arrived at Plymouth from South Africa to enlist. They have paid their own expenses.
An officer just back from the front has had a German bullet, which penetrated his shoulder and came out by his wrist, mounted in gold and made into a charm, but not altered. Others have had rough pieces of shrapnel which have struck them mounted in gold wire; for tiny fragments a little gold cage had been made. German shells have been mounted to serve as dinner gongs, and the base of a shrapnel case turned into an ash tray; a cigar box too, has been constructed from a German helmet, with the Prussian eagle on the lid.
The death of M. Pegoud, the well-known aviator, has caused deep sorrow among the French public, whose affection he had gained no less by his personal modesty and by his wonderful skill, and the Matin suggests that as a mark of popular esteem a Paris Street should be named after him. (Ed. Adolphe Célestin Pégoud (13 June 1889 – 31 August 1915) was a French aviator and flight instructor, who became the first fighter ace during World War I. Pégoud served in the French Army from 1907 to 1913. Immediately thereafter he began flying, earned his pilot’s certificate, and in a few months, on 21 September 1913, as a test pilot for Louis Blériot, in a Blériot model XI monoplane and in a series of test flights exploring the limits of airplane manoeuvres, he flew a loop, believing it to be the world’s first. Pégoud’s feat was consequently widely publicized and believed by many to be the first loop, although Pyotr Nesterov, a Russian army pilot, had flown the first one on 9 September 1913, just 12 days earlier, in a Nieuport IV monoplane at an army airfield near Kiev. Pégoud also was the first pilot to make a parachute jump from an airplane. He also became a popular instructor of French and other European fledgling pilots.
At the start of World War I, Pégoud volunteered for flying duty and was immediately accepted as an observation pilot. On 5 February 1915, he and his gunner were credited with shooting down two German aircraft and forcing another to land. Soon he was flying single-seat aircraft and in April claimed two further victories. His sixth success came in July. It is not known how many of Pégoud’s victories involved destruction of enemy aircraft, as early air combat was rare enough to warrant credit for a forced landing. However, it is certain that Pégoud, rather than Roland Garros (four documented victories), was the first pilot to achieve ace status of any sort.
On 31 August 1915, Pégoud was shot down by one of his prewar German students, Unteroffizier Kandulski, while intercepting a German reconnaissance aircraft. He was 26 years old. The same German crew later dropped a funeral wreath above the French lines.)
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. THE SINKING OF THE HESPERIAN. The splendid Alan Line twin screw steamer Hesperian in command of Captain N. S. Main, F.R.G.S., bound from Liverpool to Quebec and Montreal with upwards of 600 passengers and crew on board was torpedoed at 8.30 on Saturday night by a German submarine about 135 miles west of Queenstown. No warning whatever was given by the submarine of her intention to attack, and although neither the submarine nor the torpedo was seen there is a consensus of opinion among officers, passengers and crew that the liner was torpedoed. The fact that the attack was made upon the ship just as darkness had set in made the work of the lowering of the boats more difficult than it would have been had the same task to be carried out in daylight, and, under all the circumstances there is room for congratulation that the loss of life was not appalling. A few of the passengers and crew expressed the opinion that the German submarine follow the liner for some hours in daylight, but was afraid to venture an attack as the liner carried a gun for protection purposes. This gun was quite visible, and the feeling is that the enemy watched until darkness came down on the Hesperian before making the attack.
A remarkable thing occurred in connection with the attack on the ship which deserves mention. Along the passengers on the ship was a Canadian soldier, named Chambers, of Truro, Nova Scotia. He was returning to his home owing to having completely lost the sight of both eyes, but, strange to say, when the ship was torpedoed, and he felt the great shock caused by the impact, his sight was suddenly restored to him. His first act on landing was to telegraph the good news to his parents in Nova Scotia.
Fermanagh Times September 9th, 1915. LIVE AND LET LIVE. A curiosity of trench life is noted in Blackwood’s Magazine, by an officer. It is that while the night work behind and between the trenches is going on, there exists an informal truce, founded on the principle of live and let live so long as each side confines itself to purely defensive and recuperative work, there is little or no interference. After all, if you prevent your enemy from drawing his rations, his remedy is simple – he would prevent you from drawing yours. Then both parties will have to fight on empty stomachs, and neither of them, tactically; will be a penny the better. So, unless some elaborate scheme of attack is brewing the early hours of the night are comparatively peaceful.
Impartial Reporter. September 9th 1915. THE NEW SCHEME UTILISING THE FALLS OF BELLEEK FOR MUNITIONS OF WAR. FACTORIES TO BE CONNECTED BY CABLE. It reads like a chapter from the Arabian Nights. The immense water power of Lough Erne and that of the Shannon is to be utilised to produce Electric Power to run factories for producing munitions of war. When the Impartial Reporter last April gave the exclusive information that the company was being formed to obtain Parliamentary powers to acquire the water power of the falls of Lough Erne at Belleek and the Shannon at Killaloe to generate enough Electric Power to light a large area of country, people rubbed their eyes in wonder, and asked had the Impartial Reporter been deceived or could the hope of many minds be so near fulfilment! Some newspapers even sneered at it. The dream of the engineers is now to be realised.
It was noticed that a party of men under Government supervision were at work in the Belleek district last week along the line of the proposed works and we are now in a position to acquaint the public with some of the details. The company, which was registered last year has been permitted by the Cabinet to be formed when all or nearly all others have been forbidden, and that this company has been allowed to consider fresh issues of capital is a sufficient guarantee of the Bona Fides of the undertaking which has now assumed a new phase. The consulting engineer is Mr. Theodore Stevens, a well-known expert; and Mr. P. J. McAndrew, now of Sheen Lodge, Bundoran is the superintending engineer. Mr. B. L. Winslow is the solicitor for the company.
Impartial Reporter. September 9th 1915. SIR ROBERT S. LOWRY, K.C.B. A DISTINGUISHED ULSTER ADMIRAL. Admiral Sir Robert Swinburne Lowry, K.C.B. commanding the coast of Scotland is a distinguished Ulsterman, being the eldest son of the late Lieutenant-General Robert William Lowry, C. B., of Aghnablaney, County Fermanagh, by his marriage with Helena MacGregor, daughter of the late Mr. Thomas Greer of Sea Park, County Antrim, who represented Carrickfergus in Parliament from 1880 to 1884. He is a relative of Lieutenant-Colonel R. P. G. Lowry, D.L., of Pomeroy House, Dungannon, the senior representative of a branch of the Earl of Belmore’s family.
Impartial Reporter. September 9th 1915. VOLUNTARY RECRUITING AND COMPULSORY SERVICE. REPORT OF THE CABINET COMMITTEE. The Cabinet Committee presided over by Lord Crewe which has been engaged in drawing up a report on the measures that may be required for maintaining and increasing the strength of our armies has agreed upon its report. It will recommend the system of recruiting by public appeals for battalions, district by district. But it has finally decided that if the quota required for the depot for replacing the casualties and increasing the numbers is not forthcoming the men should be taken from the districts compulsorily. That is to say the recruiting officers should have the power to conscript men to fill the gaps if these are not filled by the voluntary enlistment resulting on the public appeal by the leading men of the district. It is understood that the national register is to be used for the purpose of discrimination, and no doubt the much discussed “pink form” would provide the recruiting officers with the data for their selection of conscripts. Lord Crewe’s committee consists of the following members: – Lord Crewe (Chairman), Lord Curzon, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Austen Chamberlain and Sir Arthur Henderson.
Impartial Reporter. September 9th 1915. CLOGHER VALLEY RAILWAY FATALITY. An inquiry was held at Augher on Monday evening relative to the death of John McKenna a Farmer of Altnaveagh, Augher who was knocked down and killed by the 7.30 train on the Clogher Valley Railway near Clogher on Saturday evening last. Deceased jumped out of the way of an approaching bicycle when he was struck on the head by the engine and death took place 20 minutes later. The train at the spot runs along the county road, and the deceased was evidently unaware of its approach. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
Impartial Reporter. September 9th 1915. PROMOTIONS. LIEUTENANT COLONEL G. H. C. MADDEN. Major Gerard Hugh Charles Madden, Irish Guards promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel, is the second surviving son of the late Mr. John Madden, D. L., of Hilton Park, County Monaghan, and brother of Lieutenant Colonel G. C. W. Madden, commanding the 4th Battalion Princess Victoria Royal Irish Fusiliers at Victoria Barracks, Belfast. Lieutenant Colonel G. H. C. Madden is 43 years of age. He served with the 16th Lancers in the South African war and took part in the relief of Kimberley and the operations at Paardeberg where Cronje surrendered, obtaining the Queen’s medal with two clasps. He also served for a time in the 3rd King’s Own Hussars.
Lieutenant Colonel G. H. C. Madden married in 1901 Mabel Lucy, daughter of Sir George Macpherson Grant, Bart., of Ballindalloch. The Madden family settled in this country in the 17th century, Thomas Madden of Baggotsrath, near Dublin, Comptroller to the Earl of Stafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, being M.P. for Dungannon in 1639. One of his descendants, Rev Samuel Madden, D. D., a great benefactor to the country, was known as ‘Premium’ Madden, having founded the system of giving premiums in 1731 for the encouragement of learning at Trinity College, Dublin and in 1739 for the encouragement of Arts &Industries in connection with the Dublin Society, to which objects he personally contributed considerable sums. ‘His was,’ says Dr. Johnson, ‘a name Ireland ought to honour.’ ‘Premium’ Madden was a great grandfather of the Right Hon. Mr. Justice Madden, who was succeeded in the parliamentary representation of Trinity College by the Right Hon. Sir Edward Carson, K. C., M. P., the Attorney-General for England.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. CAVAN’S VICTORIA CROSS HERO. Sergeant Somers, V. C., 1st Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, of Belturbet, County Cavan, in the course of a statement regarding his experiences, said that the Turks had advanced to the trenches and compelled the Ghurkhas and the Inniskillings to retire. He alone had stopped in the trench refusing to leave. He shot many Turks with his revolver, killed about 50 with bombs, and forced them to retire. The enemy, however, rushed into a sap trench, and he commenced to bombard them out of it; but failed. Then he ran back for the purpose of getting MEN up to the trench to occupy it. Some of the officers said that it was impossible to put the Turks out, but the gallant sergeant held the position. He got some bombs and got up in the trench, under rifle and Maxim gun fire, and eventually succeeded in bombing the Turks had of the sap trench. When he had finished his officers clapped him heartily on the back and Sir Ian Hamilton send for him and told him that he had done his duty like a man.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. Sergeant James Carney, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, whose name appeared in the list of Russian decorations published last week, is a son of Mr. Edward Carney,
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. A PATRIOTIC ENNISKILLEN FAMILY HAS SIX SONS WITH THE FORCES AND RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING. At present much efforts are being made in certain quarters to belittle the efforts of Nationalists in the part they are playing in the European conflict. In the Unionist Press photographs and names of fathers who have sent three or four sons to the front are held up before Nationalists in a somewhat sarcastic manner. We, therefore, extend our congratulations to Mr. Patrick Keenan, Enniskillen who has given six sons to the forces while another brother of Mr. Keenan has enlisted in the Irish Brigade. Mr. Patrick Keenan is a brother of Mr. Thomas Keenan, a member of the Enniskillen Urban Council and a lifelong worker in the cause of Irish Emancipation. Mrs. Keenan has been the recipient of a letter from the King. It says that his majesty has heard with the deepest satisfaction that Mrs. Keenan has six sons serving with his Majesty’s Forces.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. Every village needs a “village fool” or in Enniskillen’s case the “town oracle” who’s ludicrous effusions are to be found in the columns of the Impartial Reporter.
The leading articles, paragraphs of self-adulation, hypercritical bosh, and brazen bunkum to be found embodied in the writings in this paper afford to the hardworking townspeople a tonic after their day’s labour. The paper was, is, and always will be, the enemy of Catholicity and Nationality, written by individuals who are absolutely devoid of friendly feelings towards their fellow countrymen and who have no desire to hold out the olive branch for better understanding of all creeds and classes.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. “D. C.,” writing to the Press with reference to the losses of the 1st Inniskillings said that of the 23 officers who left Rugby on the 17th of March with the 1st Battalion and landed on their Gallipoli Peninsula with the “immortal 29th division” on that forever memorable 25th of April, only one officer – namely, the Quarter-master, Captain Morris – is now with the battalion. One has been invalided after gaining the D.S.O., and the remainder have all been either killed or wounded.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. FOR 30 HOURS AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A GERMAN TORPEDO the liner Hesperian made a gallant fight for life, and were it not for the adverse circumstances of wind and weather might have been safely landed in the harbour of Queenstown. Over 60 miles from land at 6.45 AM on Monday, the liner which was in tow of two steamers, began to settle down in the ocean. There was a strong wind and sea running and Captain Maine who stuck to a ship to the last, with portion of the crew, had to abandon her. In a few minutes she began to sink rapidly and disappear beneath the waves head foremost, shortly before 7.00. 3,700 sacks of mail went down with her, as well as all the luggage and most of the personal possessions of the passengers who had abandoned her in the darkness of Saturday night. It has been ascertained at the offices of the Alan Line that 13 of the passengers are missing and four of the crew.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. IN ADDITION TO THE HESPERIAN THREE OTHER VESSELS WERE ATTACKED by submarines during the week off the southern Irish Coast. The Norwegian barque Glimt was torpedoed early on Saturday morning off County Cork. Eight minutes were given the crew had to leave. The German commander ticking of the minutes and at the eight shouted time up. “I’m going to shoot when the boat is clear,” and then stated to the captain, “I am very sorry but I must blow up your ship.” On landing and the crew expressed great indignation, declaring the ship to be Norwegian and carrying a neutral crew.
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. AN AMAZING STATEMENT CONCERNING THE 10TH IRISH DIVISION. One of the new divisions sent out to the Dardanelles was the new 10th Division under General Mahon – the first to go out of the distinctly Irish divisions. Admittedly it was a very fine unit, and Ireland took a great deal of legitimate pride in it. On its arrival it is said to have been broken up, and all but three battalions dispersed among other divisions. Now we would merely ask whether it is conceivable that, say a Canadian, an Australian, or a New Zealand division should have been handled in this way and how long what will it be, before the military authorities are made to realise, as they should be, that the local and national feeling of Ireland is as worth treating considerately as that of the Dominions. After all the War Office’s blunders in connection with the other Irish divisions – the 16th – the course had taken seems, on the face of it, a really grave matter, which the Cabinet ought not to overlook. Widespread attention and, needless to say, strong indignation has been excited by this information. As a prominent Liberal said it in commenting upon the matter, “these War Office people are beyond hope. Such a thing makes one a truly despair of ever getting British officials to understand Ireland.”
Fermanagh Herald September 11th. 1915. A BALLYSHANNON SOLDIER’S GRAPHIC STORY ABOUT THE FIRST LANDINGS AT THE DARDANELLES. Lance-Corporal W. Doyle, 1st Battalion Inniskillings, who has returned from the Dardanelles, is at present at his home in Bishop Street, Derry. He is a native of Ballyshannon, and is a fine type of Irish soldier – comparatively young in years, but old in the art of warfare. He gave a Derry pressman some interesting details of his life in the Army. He was through the South African campaign, for which he has two medals. Afterwards he rejoined the army. He has had over 11 year’s foreign service, during which time he took part in the suppression of the Chinese Revolt. Lance-Corporal Doyle is of the opinion that every man who participated in the landing at Cape Helles was deserving of the V.C. The first party to attempt to get ashore were completely wiped out. There was a dash for life to get under the cover of the cliffs, but those who were fortunate enough to reach this position of security had to come cut a way through barbed wire entanglements and scramble over their dead and dying comrades. No language, says Lance-Corporal Doyle, can adequately describe the scene or do justice to the bravery of the troops who first got a footing on the stronghold of the Turks.
When the survivors got formed up they had four days hard fighting, after the end of which they had pushed the enemy inland a considerable distance. Both sides were then so fagged out that for practically a whole day there was not a shot exchanged. According to Lance-Corporal Doyle the British units were so disorganised at this period, and different regiments so mixed that had the Turks driven home a counterattack they might have succeeded in hurling that portion of the Expeditionary Force back to the sea. But the Turks were either so reduced in numbers and fatigued, or had learned to respect the British for their daring, courage, and endurance that no such attack was attempted. Except for this lull fighting has been continuous.
Lance-Corporal Doyle who was twice wounded received the congratulations of the commanding officer for a gallant act performed by him. Like all soldiers who have been in Gallipoli he pays a generous tribute to the Turks, who are stubborn yet fair fighters, and he concurs in the view that they have not their heart in the work.
The Turkish snipers are very daring, and a constant source of worry to the British. How Lance-Corporal Doyle who is a crack shot, dispatch three of them is worth relating. For some days they had been giving a great deal of annoyance, and it was impossible to discover where they were located. At night Lance-Corporal Doyle and some comrades went out a distance in front of the British line and constructed a trench shaped like a “T.” When this was completed they crawled back. Having procured a days’ rations, and taking with him a telephone, Doyle returned and ensconced himself in this trench. He was not there long until he heard a report away to the left. Looking in that direction, he saw, almost in a line with the trench he occupied, three Turkish snipers or two Turks and one German. He waited his opportunity, and before evening had succeeded in “popping off” the three of them. This was probably the act for which he received the congratulations of the commandant of the division, but when the note was passed along the trench to him he first thought that someone was having a joke at his expense.
The strain on the troops in Gallipoli is much more severe than it is in Flanders, for wherever they go they are under shellfire. They cannot escape from it. Even when hearing Mass they had to crouch in under the cliff to avoid injury from bursting shell. When the Turks not shelling them from Gallipoli, they were from the Asiatic side. Lance-Corporal Doyle returns to his battalion in a few days.
Fermanagh Times September 16th, 1915. THE SOLE SURVIVOR. A CIGARETTE AMONG THE DEAD. A private in the 2nd Durham Light Infantry gives us a remarkable description of his experiences in the assault for the recovery of the lost trenches at Hooge. He writes home to a friend as follows: – At 2.30 a.m. of the ninth we were led into a wood and got orders to lie down, and then hell opened. Our artillery opened fire and they replied. It was simply awful, but we lay there waiting for the orders to charge. They came and we lost all control of senses and went like mad, fighting hand to hand and bayonetting the hounds. I did not like to kill, but it was sports like, so I did it and wanted more. We got into the first line and went straight on to the fourth and passed it and then dug ourselves in under hell’s flames. Nothing better.
I found my section, and there were nine of us digging in the trench I turned my back one second and when I looked again water a sight! I will remember it till I die. Every man in the trenches blown to atoms; arms, legs, and heads staring you in the face. You will hardly credit what I did under the circumstances. I sat down and lit a Wild Woodbine, for the simple reason I was not in my right senses. I was stuck there by myself for 16 hours and all the time a heavy bombardment of our trenches. I was expecting every moment to go to Glory, but I still kept on smoking. When night came on I got out and went back. When we were all formed up the survivors answered their names. The old commanding officer, who is nearly 70 years of age and a trump, was crying. I can tell you we got anything we wanted. I know I got a gill of rum and went to sleep. When we woke up we were marched back to rest where we are now. It was well earned. We are nearly ready to go back again.
Fermanagh Times September 16th, 1915. BELLEEK DISTRICT COUNCIL. MR. P. SCOTT, J. P., PRESIDING. A letter was received from Mr. J. Campbell, contractor, asking the Council to relieve him of his contract owing to the scarcity of men in the neighbourhood who have joined the Army and the increase in the cost of building materials. After a protracted discussion the council decided to relieve him of his contract for the erection of three cottages in the townlands of Tonagh and Churchhill, subject to the sanction of the Local Government Board. Owing to the abandonment of one cottage to be built with the loan from the Local Government Board the sum of £170 was deducted from the loan. The tender of the Belleek Pottery Company was accepted for the lighting of Belleek with electricity.
Impartial Reporter. September 16th 1915. STUPENDOUS COST OF WAR. In the House of Commons yesterday Mr. Asquith rose to move the new vote of credit for £250,000,000. He said this was the fourth vote of credit for the present financial year, making a total for the year of £9 million. If the present vote was accepted the total sum included in the several votes of credit since the 6th of August of last year would be £1,262,000,000. Last July when the last vote was passed the daily expenditure was three million, and the gross expenditure from the 17th of July to September 11 was an average of £4,200,000 each day. The general tendency of expenditure was still upwards. The present vote would last till the third week in November. These figures afforded some evidence of what we were doing in the war. He did not say if we were doing all we might or even ought to do. The number of men serving was not short of three million. Recruiting had been kept up fairly well to the last few weeks when there was a slight falling off. The advances to other countries amounted to £250,000,000.
Impartial Reporter. September 16th 1915. HUNTING SUBMARINES. ADMIRAL JELLICOE’S CHART. The anonymous writer who signs himself ‘Polybe’ publishes in the Paris Figaro an article on Britain’s great war fleet. After describing the magnificent spectacle at which he was present on the occasion of his visit to the British Fleet he says –England has never had finer crews nor a more homogenous fleet, nor one so well armed there nor one which was at the same time so solid and so rapid. Every unit has improved after a year of war. All the imperfections have been corrected.
An Englishman makes it a point of honour to be just. He regards the work of the German submarines, which torpedoed liners, merchant vessels, and fishing smacks, as infamous, but he is not ashamed to admire their crews of the fifth. Admiral Jellicoe showed me the chart on which was marked with pinpoints where German submarines have been sunk, burnt or captured. There are many pins on this chart. There have been more submarines sunk than captured. Submarine hunting is organized in the most methodical way, and is considered very fine sport. Several methods of dealing with submarines have been invented. They are hunted with nets, with guns, with explosive bombs, and in other ways. At first submarines thought they could act with impunity, but they now know that when they leave port they have far less chance of returning than of being put to sleep in the eternal depths of the sea.
Impartial Reporter. September 16th 1915. DISSATISFIED THE TYRONE DOCTORS. At the meeting of the Dungannon Guardians on Thursday a letter was read from the County Tyrone Medical Association intimating that the county doctors had resolved to dispense with the old scale of fees for consultation with the Poor Law medical officers, and that in future the fee would be agreed upon prior to the consultation. The six medical officers of the union also intimated that medical officers when applying in future for vacation would request four weeks leave of absence with payment to their local tentes of £4 4 shillings per week for 4 weeks’ leave with payment of £3 3 shillings per week.
Fermanagh Herald September 18th. 1915. MANORHAMILTON RECRUITING MEETING. A TRIBUTE TO CAPTAIN O’DONNELL. From a correspondent. I cannot let the occasion pass without offering a few words of congratulations to Captain John O’Donnell, DL, Larkfield on the unprecedented success of the recruiting meeting held in Manorhamilton on last Monday. Although a fair day – and a very large fair to – almost all the leading merchants of the town attended, thereby showing their sympathy with the object of the meeting, and at the same time paying a special tribute to the popularity of Captain O’Donnell. It was indeed in a great day and I have no doubt but Captain O’Donnell will be kept busy enrolling recruits for some time to come.
Fermanagh Herald September 18th. 1915. THE ANTI – VACCINATION CAMPAIGN IN DUNGANNON; PUBLIC MEETING. On Tuesday night last a public meeting was held in their Square, Dungannon, organized by the National Anti-Vaccination League, London. Mr. R. Brown, Donaghmore, who occupied the chair, said that he protested against vaccination because he thought that the people of Ireland should not be treated differently in the matter from any of the other British Colonies. He instanced a number of cities in England where the death rate from smallpox was less than in other parts, were vaccination was compulsory. In this country if they did not get their children vaccinated they might be fined in £1 and they could beat their wives four times for that. (Laughter.)
Fermanagh Herald September 18th. 1915. BELLEEK PETTY SESSIONS. SERVANT SUED. Patrick Melly, of Fossa, a farm servant was sued for the sum of £5 damages for leaving his employment without giving notice to his employer. Mr. Thomas Orr, solicitor, who appeared for the plaintiff, asked the bench to inflict the full penalty as the defendant was well treated by his employer and had no complaints to make for his action in leaving. The magistrates assessed the damages at a sum of £2 10 shillings with 10 shillings and sixpence cost of court.
The Whealt Creamery Society charged by two men named Thomas and John Campbell, with the larceny of a creamery can which was stated to be value for a sum of £1 17 shillings and sixpence. The Manager of the Society stated in his evidence that the defendants had no authority to interfere with the property of the Society as they were not milk suppliers to the creamery. A witness named William Teevan, was examined and stated that he saw the defendants take away the can and put it in their cart. The defendants said that they took the can in mistake for their old can. The bench discharged the defendants on their own recognances to come up for judgment when called upon.
Fermanagh Herald September 18th. 1915. A WOMAN POSTMAN. The Belleek postal officials have appointed Mr. Bridget Gonigle to deliver letters and other postal packets in the Belleek Rural District.
Fermanagh Times September 23rd, 1915. A SHOCKING FATALITY NEAR ENNISKILLEN. A YOUNG LADIES SAD DEATH AS A CYCLIST AND A MOTORIST COLLIDE. A distressing fatality occurred at Drumawill, 1½ mile from Enniskillen on Wednesday morning when a prepossessing young lady named Margaret Hodgins, whose parents reside at Arney, lost her life. Being employed by Mr. McLean, Draper, High Street, she was cycling from home to business and near the bend in the road at Drumawill, opposite Maria Smith’s licensed premises, she collided with a motor car, driven by Dr. M. Betty, Enniskillen. As result of the impact death was almost instantaneous. The deceased was well known in Enniskillen and was very popular with all who knew her.
Fermanagh Times September 23rd, 1915. THE WAR. BRITISH TROOPS TERRIBLE EXPERIENCES AT THE DARDANELLES. A GREAT ARMY IN A WILDERNESS. THE 8TH INNISKILLINGS AT SUVLA BAY.
Rhyme From The Trenches.
PILLS FOR FUNKERS.
Air-—Inniskilling Dragoon.
Come all you lazy slackers,
And read this little song;
Think of the boys who’s gone to join
The British fighting throng.
Twelve months ago yon got the chance To shoulder up the gun,
Conscription day is on the way,
And says that—you must come.
There’s lots of funkers yet at home
That’s if they only like
From Drumawill and fair Lisgoole
And on through Belnaleck
Arney, Moybrone, Letterbreen
And Moybane, just the same,
On a Sunday at Rudden’s cross
It is a crying shame.
(Chorus.)
Fare ye well lazy slackers,
We would not with you stay
We have all come to France’s plains,
To join the fighting fray:
And when the war is over,
Sweethearts we’ll have galore,
We’ll take them for a pleasure trip,
Down by old Erne’s shore.
My Second verse I’ve started
As strong as with the first,
And when you’ve read it though and
Through,
You’ll find it not the worst,
Lord Kitchener and Lord Derby,
You know what they require;
But still you, like old women,
Sit round the kitchen fire;
You sit and smoke as happy
As if no war at all.
If all the boys were just like you
Old England’s crown would fall:
Come forward now like soldiers
And let the Kaiser see,
There’s fighting men in thousands
Across the Irish Sea.
Come, rouse ye lazy slackers
And join our manly throng
And if you’ll only do your bit
The war it won’t last long.
And when we’ve beat the Kaiser
How happy we shall be,
We’ll all return to Erin’s shore
And visit old Drummee.
So now my third and last verse
With a puzzle in my mind,
As to why you’re not in khaki?
And stopping yet behind;
Some say the army is too hard,
But I say that is a lie;
When you are one month in it,
For the Union Jack you’d die.
I know you don’t like soldiering
You hate the very name,
You’d take a trip to Yankee land,
If it wasn’t just for shame.
Just one request I may repeat
Before I lay down my pen-
That’s, Come and join the army,
And for goodness sake be men.
So good-bye to every one of you,
I hope you’ll change your mind,
If this makes you scratch your brow,
It shows that you’re inclined,
So now my poem I must conclude,
My point I have made clear.
And Wishing a happy Christmas
And a glorious New Year.
From one of the Service Squadron of the Inniskilling Dragoons.
Fermanagh Times September 23rd, 1915. MARS OUSTS CUPID ON WEDDING CAKES. The very latest war fashion is of the military wedding cake. So largely has this become a feature of weddings associated with military and naval men that the wholesale manufacturers’ are specializing in toy ornaments of a war like character to decorate the cakes. They are mostly ornamental cannons, guns and rifles, with battleships for naval men, and very well executed models of aeroplanes for bridegrooms connected with the Flying Corps. Armoured cars and flags of all nations also figure in the lists supplied to the retail trade. Sugar Cupids and harps are at a discount. The little ornaments on the cake are distributed as souvenirs to the wedding guests.
Fermanagh Times September 23rd, 1915. THE TROUBLE AT CAMMELL LAIRD’S. STARTLING FIGURES AS TO THE LOSS OF TIME. DISGRACEFUL SCENES IN COURT. A number of platers, drillers, smiths, and apprentice platers appeared before the Munitions Tribunal at Liverpool on Saturday charged by Messrs. Cammell Laird Co., with persistently losing time. Mr. J. W. P. Laird said that in 20 weeks 15 per cent of the men employed lost a quarter and 10 per cent did not work at all. On every day of that period the loss of working hours on ordinary working days was a million and a half and represented a full week’s work for 30,000 men or alternatively the time lost practically represents a complete shutting down of the whole establishment for three working weeks. Apparently the trade unions concerned were enabled to influence their members in the matter. Fines varying from five shillings to 50 shillings were imposed, and the decision was followed by disgraceful scenes, both outside and inside Saint George’s Hall.
Fermanagh Times September 23rd, 1915. ENNISKILLEN’S NEW BOROUGH SURVEYOR. Mr. James Donnelly, Enniskillen, has been unanimously selected out of 11 applicants for the post of Borough Surveyor of this urban district. A number of first class men with exceptional credentials applied for the position, but the Council, after hearing the splendid testimonial Mr. Donnelly had received from the County Surveyor of Fermanagh, under whom he has worked for the past two years, had no hesitation in entrusting him with the responsible duties attached to the Surveyorship of the Borough. Mr. Donnelly as a young man full of energy, and in the various public positions he has held in this County, in Monaghan, and in Dublin has, by his integrity and devotion to duty gained the goodwill and respect not only of his employers in those different places but also of the public.
Impartial Reporter. September 23rd 1915. INNISKILLING V.C. KILLED. Information has been received from the Dardanelles which leaves little doubt that Captain Gerald Robert O’Sullivan, V.C. 1st Batt., Royal Inniskillings previously reported missing, was killed in action on the 21st during the attack on Hill 70 or Burnt Hill at Suvla Bay. Captain O’Sullivan was seen to advance at the head of his men to the second line of Turkish trenches, where he fell, and it is believed that he was killed, but his body has not been recovered.
Impartial Reporter. September 23rd 1915. 7830. Sergeant James Carney, 2nd Battalion Royal Inniskillings received the Cross of the Order of Saint Georges, 4th class for gallantry on 28 October, 1914 when he brought in a wounded comrade under heavy machine gun fire, thereby suffering his own wounds. He served through the South African war, and at the battle of Coenso brought a wounded comrade from the firing line to the field hospital amid a hail of bullets, and was complemented by his commanding officer. He was specially promoted to Corporal in the Mounted Infantry on which he served two years, first scouting with ability. He has the Queen’s Medals with five clasps and the King’s Medal with two clasps. He served three years in Egypt under Major Hessey. Sergeant Carney, who has a younger brother a sergeant in the Inniskillings, is a son of Edward Carney, Abbey Street Enniskillen.
Fermanagh Herald September 25th. 1915. THE BUDGET. SWEEPING NEW TAXATION. No half penny post. Duties on sugar, tea and tobacco increased and there is a 40 per cent increase on the income tax. Substantial additions are made it to the super tax now charged on incomes over £3,000 with the following results: – an income of £5,000 pays £1,029 tax; £10,000 pays £2,529 tax and an income of £100,000 pays £34,029 tax. Mr. McKenna imposes the following altogether new taxes: – 50% of all War profits over £100 pounds; a 33⅓% of the value on imported luxuries namely, Motor Cars, Motor Parts, Hats, Watches, Motor Cycles, Kinema (sic) Films, Plate glass, Clocks.. An American car now priced at £150 will cost £200 pounds of which £50 goes to the Exchequer. A Paris hat costing £12 will cost £16, of which £4 goes to the Exchequer. Tea is increased from 8d to 1s a pound; coffee (roasted) and from 2d to 3d a pound; telegrams 9d for 12 words, and a halfpenny for every extra word; sugar, to the public ½ penny a pound dearer; tobacco from 4s 8d to 7s per pound; cigarettes from 5s 8d to 8s 6d a pound and had no additional beer or whisky duty. Fifth for
Fermanagh Herald September 25th. 1915. IN AND AROUND BALLYSHANNON. Ballyshannon is an old-time place with a past. It has, for the most part, steep and crooked streets, with houses built over them and along them. If you tumbled over the door step into the streets it would be something like falling over a precipice. In more modern times Ballyshannon acquired a sort of local notoriety as being the headquarters of the travelling tinkers of the North-West, no more important section of the community 100 years ago. The tinker in those days was part and parcel of our National Life, and his periodical visit to the various localities in their turn for the mending of various domestic utensils, was considered absolutely essential for the wellbeing of the community. His stock of ancient lore and country gossip was inexhaustible, and his prowess in a fight proverbial. The Harvest Fair in the town was his annual field day, and no tinker with any reputation to save, hesitated engaging in the fight which was an absolutely friendly and fair one, the whole forces first pairing of into two even sections. It was indeed one of the tinkers many beliefs that if he had not a little of his blood drawn by fists, or more commonly by blackthorn, on the Harvest Fair day, his health during the next twelve months, would suffer greatly as a consequence. With the passing of the tinker a great deal of the local glory that surrounded Ballyshannon has fled, and the Harvest Fair has been shorn of its greatest charm.
Fermanagh Herald September 25th. 1915. AT ENNISKILLEN PETTY SESSIONS ON MONDAY, Mary Love, Enniskillen, the wife of a military sergeant, was prosecuted by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children for neglecting her three children, aged 11 years, 9 years, and 11 months, respectively. For a total of four offences she was sentenced to six months hard labour. It was stated defendant was entitled to a separation allowance of 25 shillings and six pence per week and that there had been 20 previous convictions against her.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. AT CLONELLY. INVALIDED FROM THE DARDANELLES. Major Fuller and Captain Fitzpatrick are at present enjoying the hospitality of Mr. Ffolliott Barton, J.P., Clonelly. Both officers were wounded at the Dardanelles and both belong to the Australian contingent, which during the war have covered with renown both themselves and their great Colony. We can well believe their statement that no written report could give any adequate the idea of the horrors of the Suvla Bay attack. It was terrific, indescribable. On the top of obstacles that, in other circumstances, might have been regarded as impregnable thundered the big guns, burst highly explosive shells, rattled the deadly bullets of the enemies’ rifles. Not a foot of ground was out of range of some form or other of Turkish and German striking power. The extraordinary thing is that where the enemy had now gathered in tens of thousands, fortified with all the ingenuity and might of modern armaments not a hostile weapon or individual was in evidence two or three days before. Where both these gallant gentleman were struck down was a spot they had visited with absolute safely a couple of days before. The very places which it cost our brave men so much to capture, could have been taken “for the taking” without the loss of a single life any time prior to those couple of days. These invalided gentlemen specified no grievance, attributed no fault anywhere, but to the lay mind it is inevitable that there was blundering somewhere. They are both now, we are glad to record, almost fit again for duty. They laughingly explained that recuperation under Mr. Barton’s roof amid his picturesque grounds is one of the simplest things possible. Major Fuller returns to the Dardanelles on Monday rejoiced to yet another “rush at the Huns.” Captain Fitzpatrick will not be able to satisfy his yearnings so soon. By the way his father was in Enniskillen years ago with the Kents, and it was a matter of pleasure and interest to him to visit the island town about which he had heard personally and a read so much.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. PRESBYTERIAN DIFFERENCES IN ENNISKILLEN. A SERIOUS SITUATION IS CREATED. Differences of a very serious and unfortunate character have arisen amongst the members of the Enniskillen Presbyterian Church in connection with the appointment of a successor to the Rev. S. C. Mitchell. So bitter, indeed, has become the feeling between the two sections that if extreme diplomacy and care are not exercised, lasting, even permanent, injury may be done to the congregation.
The situation is a delicate and awkward one, and as it is an accepted truism that onlookers see most of the game we may be pardoned for expressing the popular opinion of outsiders in Enniskillen, when we state that more careful handling and less violent attempts by one or two members at the outset to force their particular views on all and sundry would have resulted in a more amicable feeling and in practically unanimous settlement of the difficulty. However, that may be, the harm has now been done and during the past few days serious developments have taken place.
In the first place those who are dissatisfied with the choice of the majority have now definitely engaged the Protestant Hall for the purpose of holding a separate Sunday school there, which they claim will be attended by practically two thirds of all the Presbyterian children in the town. This in itself is a serious step to take and shows clearly the intensity of feeling that prevails. But a step of even greater magnitude has been taken in the form of a petition to the Clogher Presbytery, which sets out that the petitioners do not intend to worship again at the Church under present circumstances and requesting the Assembly to make an arrangement for having the gospel preached to them. The petition is signed by three of the Church’s Committee men and by 25 communicants and, it is alleged, has the support of many adherents in the Church who have not been asked to sign such a request. On the other hand to the majority of the congregation who have succeeded in having a call issued to the man of their choice professed to look upon the defection of the minority as only a passing display of temper, and asserts that in a very short time they will resume their former places in the congregation.
From the very beginning of this regrettable controversy the Fermanagh Times has studiously refrained from taking sides in the matter or expressing any views that might be construed as showing a leaning towards one party or the other. We think that this is essentially a matter to be settled by the congregation itself, or by the authorities of the church, without outside interference, and this opinion has moulded our action throughout. Of course as a public newspaper we had to mention the matter, as it was, and is, a matter of considerable local public interest but we did so without bias our favour.
In last Thursday’s edition of the Impartial Reporter, however, there appeared a report of the proceedings in the Presbyterian Church on the preceding Monday evening when a meeting was held for the purpose of appointing a successor to the Rev. S. C. Mitchell. In the course of this report Mr. George Whaley the ruling Elder of the Church, is stated to have made an outburst against the “untruthful and exaggerated” reports which had appeared in the Fermanagh Times. Upon seeing this, our representative, at once went and interviewed Mr. Whaley on the subject as we considered we were entitled to some explanation. Consider our astonishment when Mr. Whaley solemnly assured us so THAT HE HAD NEVER MADE ANY REFERENCE DIRECT OR INDIRECT TO THE FERMANAGH TIMES, but on the other hand he did referred to gossip about the town and statements made by gossipers from which one would think that there were far more serious differences in the Church than really existed, but that the Fermanagh Times was not mentioned by him or in his thoughts at the time. We have also interviewed a number of gentlemen belonging both to the minority and majority on this point, and they unanimously agree with Mr. Whaley’s version. Now either the Impartial Reporter or Mr. Whaley in stating what are not facts. They cannot both be right and our readers must judge for themselves which is wrong.
If, as we fully believe, Mr. Whaley made no reference to us either by direct statement or by innuendo, then another startling proof is afforded the public of the dangerous lengths to which the Reporter is prepared to go in its campaign of virulence and misrepresentation against this journal. We leave the matter at that for the present. Further developments in the crisis which has arisen in our local Presbyterian Church will be watched with considerable interest by the public.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. THE ISLANDERS WHO DEFY MR. MCKENNA. About the only people in this country who would view with indifference the war budget of Mr. McKenna will be the inhabitants of Innishmurray, an island off the coast of Sligo. They have defied rate and tax collectors for a number of years. There is no direct communication with the mainland, and in a report recently to the Local Government Board it was stated that the rate collector could not get a boatman brave enough to row him across. Some years ago two collectors tried the experiment, but they were met with a perfect shower of stones. One of the islanders, an old man, acts as ruler, and all disputes are settled by him, but these are rare. Every summer a priest visits the island, and remains there for a few weeks to perform marriages. During the rest of the year says the Glasgow Herald the islanders hold a service among themselves every Sunday.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. BRILLIANT ANGLO-FRENCH VICTORY AND SUBSTANTIAL ADVANCE OVER A WIDE FRONT. OVER 20,000 PRISONERS CAPTURED AND 33 LARGE GUNS TAKEN. The Anglo-French Army is on Saturday achieved most substantial successes at two important points on the Western front. Sir John French reports that he attacked the enemy and captured his trenches on a front of over 5 miles penetrating in some places to a distance of 4,000 yards. This accurred south of the La Bassee Canal.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. NINE MEN DEAD IN ONE FAMILY. Private William Clarke, of the East Lancashires, now undergoing treatment in a military hospital at Ormskirk, comes of a Lancashire family from which the war has exacted a terribly heavy toll. He is one of nine brothers who were mobilised at the outbreak of war, all in the same regiment. Six have been killed, another is without his right arm as the result of wounds and the youngest is still in the trenches. Three of Private Clark’s brothers in law, his sister’s husbands have also been killed, making a total of nine killed out of 12. Seven were killed in France and Flanders and two in the Dardanelles, where Private Clarke was wounded. The family belonged to Rawtenstall, and the mother is a widow.
Fermanagh Times September 30th, 1915. FLYING OVER THE WESTERN FRONT. …. charred bricks, which had once been a French village. The corn fields were barren except for a heavy crop of wooden crosses marking the last resting place of French and British soldiers fallen on the battlefield of the Marne. As far as the eye could see to the right and left the ground was torn as if a giant plough had made furrows across the fair land of France. The trenches meander across the country in an irregular line. Sometimes the line appears to go straight through a village; now and again an isolated farmhouse stands in the middle of a trench. Suddenly and artillery duel began. A French field-battery began to hurl death into the German trenches. I could see the sudden spurts of fire and the explosion of the shells but not a sound reached my ears; the roar of our engine shut out the sounds of war. The only human beings visible during the bombardment were some French peasants, who went on with their work unconcerned as the shells flew over their heads. Looking to my left I saw what looked like a swarm of grey ants appear in hundreds out of the earth and rush towards the French trenches, and as the sunlight flashed on their bayonets it became manifest that a German infantry attack was in progress. Sports of flame splattered all along the French line for a distance of a mile or more, and through the field glasses I could see the grey mass plainly. But as the mitrailleuses did their deadly work the ants fell in little heaps and the attack faded away.
Impartial Reporter. September 30th 1915. THE BUDGET AND ITS EFFECTS ON THE HOME AND ON TEA, SUGAR AND TOBACCO. Income tax on all incomes over £130 with abatement of £120. The rate is raised from 9d in 1913 to 1 s 9 ½d this year and two shillings and 1d next year. Super tax has been raised so the rich man pays 1/3 his income. Farmers are to pay on rent or on clear profits. Employees with £2 10 shillings a week and more to pay quarterly. New taxes include a 50 per cent on all war profits and 33⅓% on imported motor cars, films, hats, watches and clocks, plate glass and musical instruments. Tea is raised one Shilling per pound, cocoa 1 ½ d per pound, petrol 6d per gallon, sugar ½d per pound, tobacco six shillings and a penny halfpenny per pound,. The half-penny post has been abolished, telegrams will be 9d and there will be dearer telephones and parcels.
Impartial Reporter. September 30th 1915. Some examples of the war profits tax. The tax is ½ war profits. Some examples – Spillers and the Bakers, Millers last profit £367,000; previous average £140,000: War Profits£ 227,000. Tredegar Iron and Coal Company £157,000; previous average £113,000; War Profit £44,000.
Impartial Reporter. September 30th 1915. THE BRITISH AND FRENCH ACCOMPLISH GREAT ADVANCES. The British take 5 miles, 3,000 prisoners and 61 guns while the French win 15 miles and captured 20,000 prisoners on a front of 21 miles.
Fermanagh Times July 1st, 1915. CROM CASTLE. Owing to recent events the Crom Demesne with the exception of the Old Castle and the direct road thereto, which is indicated by notices, is closed to the public until further notice. The public may visit the Old Castle on Fridays, but special permission must be obtained for large parties and pic– nics. Horse drawn vehicles and carriages must, after depositing visitors at the Old Castle, leave the Demesne and only return when required by the visitors. Motors, motor cycles, and bicycles can remain outside the Old Castle. All grounds including the Old Castle and Gad Island are as usual closed to the public on Sundays.
Impartial Reporter. July 1 1915. DUELS IN THE AIR. A THRILLING STORY. THE AEROPLANE IN FLAMES. On Friday June 18 there were two engagements in the air on this day. Near Roulers one of the British machines on reconnaissance duly encountered a hostile aeroplane, and after a machine gun duel, forced it to descend hurriedly to earth. A combat with machine guns at a height well over a mile above the earth’s surface, though now not uncommon, may be considered to provide some excitement, but on the same day two other officers of the Royal Flying Corps had a still more exciting experience. While reconnoitring over Poelcapelle at a height of about 4000 feet they engaged a large biplane having a double fuselage, two engines and a pair of propellers. The German machine at first circled around the British shooting at it with a machine gun but so far as is known not inflicting any damage. Then the observers fire about 50 rounds in return at under 200 yards range.
cunninghamsway 