The Men and Women of Amble and District
 Awarded Orders and Decorations
 

Walter John Casey
 Amble
The Great War: Military Medal, Mention in Despatches.

• 1876 Born in Kilkenny, Ireland

• 1899 Served with 2nd Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in the 2nd Boer War. Wounded 10th December 1899 at Stormberg

• 1911 census living at 2 Acklington Road. A Sergeant Instructor (permanent staff) serving with the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers at Alnwick.

• 1915 21st April, proceeded to France and Flanders with the 7th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Regimental Sergeant Major.

• 1916  Mentioned in General Douglas Haig's (Commander-in-Chief,  British Forces in France) despatch
  of the 30th April. (LG 15th June 1916)

• 1916 Awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field as Colour Sergeant. Award announced in the London Gazette of the 27th October

• 191? Discharged to a Commission in the Highland Light Infantry as Lieutenant and Quartermaster.

• 1920 Relinquished commission on completion of service retaining the rank of Lieutenant

• 1922 Reverts to Quartermaster

• 1941 Captain Casey commands the Amble Detachment of the Home Guard

• 1946 Dies in Amble aged 69 in the last quarter of the year.

Vernon Merivale
Togston Hall
The Great War: Military Cross and Bar, Mention in Despatches.

• 1891 Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, son of John Herman Merivale, mining engineer, and his wife Blanche.

• 1901 and 1911 census: the family are recorded living at Togston Hall, Vernon an apprentice in the mining industry.

• 1910 August: Vernon and his brother John William are commissioned 2nd Lieutenants into the local territorial battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers.

• 1914 September, younger brother Francis is also commissioned into the battalion from the Officer Training Corps, as 2nd Lieutenant

• 1915 April 20th; The three brothers sail with their battalion for France and Flanders.

• 1916 New year's honours; Captain Vernon Merivale awarded the Military Cross and Mention in Despatches.

• 1916 May 6th; Appointed Temporary Major

• 1916 September 15th; the Battalion attack the German lines near Mametz on the Somme. Captain Vernon Merivale commands 'C' company;  his brother Captain John William Merivale is killed in the same attack commanding 'A' company.

• 1918 Awarded the bar to the Military Cross, Announced in the supplement to the London Gazette, 26th July 1918:
  
    "Capt. Vernon Merivale, M.C., North'd Fus. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During two days of severe fighting he handled his company with great daring and ability, and at one time took command of the battalion, leading it with the greatest courage, under intense shell fire, to a most important rendezvous. Throughout the operations he set a splendid example to all ranks."
   

• 1918 November 17th: Lieutenant Francis Merivale dies 6 days after the armistice and is buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

• 1966 September 10th; Vernon Merivale M.C  of 54 Arley Hill Bristol dies at Queen Alexandra Military Hospital Westminster.
   

• Born in Brampton, Cumbria in 1888, the son of Thomas, a tailor and clothier, and Mabel.

• 1891 census – living with parents in Moat Street; Brampton. His father’s brother, a school master, teaching mathematics, is a lodger;

• 1901 census – still living with parents in Moat Street;

• 1911 census – Lodging at 20 King Edward Street, Amble with George Miller, a coal miner and his family. Elementary school teacher.

• 2 September 1915, sent to France. Stretcher Bearer, Field Ambulance, RAMC.

• 1916 Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Citation, London Gazette, 14 November 1916:
  
  “53482 Sjt. R. R. S. Martin RAMC,  For conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on many occasions when in charge of stretcher bearers, leading them frequently through extremely heavy shell fire to and from the front line trenches, and exhibiting a coolness and courage which inspired confidence in all with him. He never relaxed his efforts until all the wounded had been evacuated.”
   

• 13 October 1930, died at the Eden Mount Nursing Home, Stanwix, Cumbria. His address is given as Eastgarth Avenue, Amble. His executor is George Miller, foreman.
  Ronald was, at that time, deputy headmaster of the Church school.
  
   

In St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Amble;
Framed illuminated address behind the south porch;
Litany Desk, given in his memory by his pupils in 1931.

Doris M. Nichol
Amble
The Second World War: British Empire Medal

• 1942 Leading Aircraftswoman Doris M Nichol, Women's Auxiliary Air Force. Awarded the British Empire Medal for Gallant Conduct.
       Nicol, aged 25 of Smith Street Amble, was the first female in the district to receive such an award in WW2.
  During a bombing raid on an East Coast town, Nichol, a W.A.A.F. telephonist, remained at her post despite being wounded when the building she was in was struck. She continued to send urgent messages during the raid and showed great coolness and courage.
       During a later gift presentation at the Amble British Legion Hall, Nichol was modest about her part in the raid:
                 
                  "I just happened to be the one on duty at the time"
                   she said "If I had not done it somebody else would,
                   the award has come as a complete surprise to me."
  
  Before joining the W.A.A.F. Nichol worked as a bus conductress at Alnwick