Illuminated Address presented by Mr Schofield of Alnmouth.

For the sixth time and Amble hero has been honoured at Amble. On this occasion the recipient of a beautiful illuminated address was Lieutenant Edwin Darling, who has had the Military Cross conferred upon him for gallantry in the field. The presentation took place at the Coquet Picture Hall, on Sunday evening. The Reverend J. Trehair Wilkins presided, and was supported on the platform by Mr Arthur Scholefield of Alnmouth, who had kindly consented to make the presentation; Lieutenant Darling, and the following members of the Amble Heroes Fund Committee: —

 The Reverend T.N. Dunscombe, Mr D.D. Kennedy, Mr T.Tully, Mr J.I. Manders, Mr J. Young, Mr G. Young, Mr J. Taylor, and Mr J. Winter. The chairman, in introducing Mr Schofield, said it was very gratifying that those who had gone out from them and had been in the trenches were privileged to come back again and been clothed in honour. (Applause.) They could not pay a higher tribute to those who had gone out from them, to the fathers, the sons, and brothers, who had gladly given everything, to suffer and die for the sake of righteousness, truth and justice; and Lieutenant Darling was no exception to the rule. (Cheers.) They perhaps were not prepared in numbers when war broke out, but they were prepared in the hearts and in the courage of their men; they were ready to lay down their lives. (Cheers.) He had great pleasure in asking Mr Scholefield to make the presentation. (Applause.) Mr Scholefield, who was received with cheers, said he was reminded as he came there that evening that it was in August or September 1914 that he had last the pleasure of addressing an Amble audience. On that occasion he accompanied Lord Grey. Many would remember the addresses that were delivered in Amble and Broomhill, and the effect they had. They would remember that those speeches were made in consequence of the call for recruits made by Lord Kitchener. The appeal was quickly and splendidly responded to not only in that district, but throughout the whole country. Anyone looking back to 1914 would appear a high tribute to the men of the North for their marvellous response to the appeal of Lord Kitchener. (Cheers.) When one thought of what passed in the autumn of 1914 he did not think that anyone imagined it were possible that their army at the time would expand to something like 5 million.  Those of them who read the very sterling speech of the Prime Minister a few days ago at Glasgow (applause) would realise what the British Army had done, more particularly this year. He would not attempt to quote Mr Lloyd George, but the effect was that the British Army have protected and saved the liberties of Europe. (Here, here, and applause.) In consequence of the revolution in Russia, unfortunately her armies were rendered of little use. They could not expect the Russian army to fight through the period of revolution, and if the British Army had not been prepared, the Germans would have seized the opportunity of throwing their battalions into France  and crushing her. They might have had time before Russia realised her position to crush her in her turn. The Prime Minister was justified in saying that it was on the army that the liberties of Europe depended. He hoped they realised that this was no ordinary war. They might search the pages of history and wars of olden times, and they would find most gallant men, but they were far surpassed by what had been done since we crossed the Channel in 1914. The only heard of a fraction of the brave deeds that were done by their brave men. Therefore it was their duty and privilege to mark those upon whom fortunately attention was concentrated by an expression of their appreciation. They were glad indeed to bring a mark before them in the living person of Lieutenant Darling. (Loud applause.) It was a great pleasure to him that a hero of one of those episodes was able to appear at his home and come amongst them so that they might see him in the flesh. (Applause.) Mr Scholfield went on to say that he had been speaking to Lieutenant Darling, and he had found it extremely difficult to talk about what took place. (Laughter and applause.) He was more eager to talk about the other man that accompanied him than about himself. Mr Scholefield then related how Lieutenant Darling had gone out to a depth of three miles into several villages and towns to ascertain whether there were any Germans there. He report the result to his higher officer, and was the means of the cavalry and then the infantry going straight forward. What an amount of time it saved, and what gain was to our troops! It was a conspicuous act of gallantry, and all honour was due to Lieutenant Darling for his bravery. He had great pleasure in making this presentation, and would read to them the testimonial. He was sure Lieutenant Darling would appreciate it, and it would be handed down as an heirloom to future generations: —

“To Lieutenant Edward Darling, M.C.  ?? Howitzer Brigade.

“Dear Sir, we, representing the townspeople of Amble, desire to express our esteem and admiration of your gallantry for which you have been awarded the Military Cross by his Majesty, King George V. We ask you to accept this address as a token of our appreciation of your bravery, and of the great honour you have been the means of bringing to our town; that others reading it in days to come may have their imaginations kindled and our minds inspired by the memory of your noble acts; and that all may learn that they too have a part in, and a duty to, our great inheritance the British Empire. It is deeds such as yours that have built it up and made it glorious.

Thomas Tully, chairman,

Charles W. Scholey, treasurer,

David D. Kennedy, secretary."

Mr Scholefield, turning to Lieutenant Darling, said: “I have much pleasure in handing this to you as a small token of the appreciation of the citizens and townspeople of Amble. I hope you will appreciate and live long to look upon it. You are, I believe, returning to the front, and our earnest wish and hope and prayer is that you will come back to Amble after the war is over. We all appreciate the fullest extent the great service you have rendered to your country. (Loud applause.)

 Lieutenant Darling, who was received with loud cheers, said he wished to thank them all very much indeed for their great kindness in presenting him with that beautiful address. He was not a native of Amble, but he may claim to be a naturalised subject of Amble, because he had come to the town ever since he was four years of age. He wished to pay a tribute of respect to the man, Gunner Martin, who accompanied him on that occasion, and for which he was given the Military Medal. Batteries were made up of six guns. Each [gun ??] was in charge of a subsection, and the man in charge of the subjection was responsible for the life of the gun, his duty being to see that it was kept clean and in working order. He ventured to say that there was no better gun in the British Army than Gunner Martin’s, for he loved the gun as indeed all good artillerymen did, just as they might love a child. He was glad that Gunner Martin had been awarded the Military Medal, unfortunately he regretted very much to say that Gunner Martin was killed shortly afterwards, while serving his gun. The same shell that killed him blew his gun up, so that both he and the gun had lived as well ended their lives together. He again thanked them all for the great kindness in making him the presentation. (Applause.)………… 7/7/1917

Military Medal.

Sergeant Albert Dobson, of Amble.

The Military Medal has been awarded to Sergeant Albert Dobson, Northumberland Fusiliers, of Amble, for gallantry in the field. He took part in the great battle of Arras and in the taking of the village he was in charge of a platoon. The attack by the British was very successful; they took an important position and captured advance post and eight German snipers, four of whom were killed and four taken prisoner. Sergeant Dobson is now fully recovered from his wound and has rejoined his unit. 16/6/1917

Military Medal for Alnwick Man.

For distinguished service on the battlefield, the military medal has been awarded to 30070 Company Sergeant Major Robert Givens, Headquarters Division of the Canadian Army Service Corps. (Canadian Expeditionary Contingent). Sergeant Major Givens is the younger son of the late Mr Thomas Givens and of Mrs G. Wake, Alnwick Moor, and four or five years ago he emigrated to Canada. In the same month as war was declared (August, 1914), he enlisted, and was among the 1^st to be drafted out to France. 3/3/1917

An Amble Hero

Sergeant William Hedley, Somerset Light Infantry, has been awarded the distinguished conduct medal, also the French military medal, for conspicuous gallantry in action. He attacked the party of the enemy single-handed and drove them off. He has at all times shown a fine example of courage and determination, This is the highest honour that is come to Amble and we can be proud of it 14/4/1917

Presentation To Another Amble Hero.
Once again the Amble picture house was crowded with an enthusiastic audience to do honour to an amble lad who has won distinction on the battlefield by his gallant conduct, Sergeant William Hedley, D.C.M. and M.M., was given a hearty reception on Wednesday last, and he fully deserved it.
The chair was occupied By Mr D.D. Kennedy, are genial townsman, who occupied this position in Amble for the first time.
On opening the proceedings he said that angels’ visits were both rare and unexpected, and he was sure that we would agree that the leave which some of their Amble heroes got so that they might visit home was both rare and unexpected, in fact they had not seen some of them since they were decorated, and those who did come home did so unheralded like the angels. That was the reason for the very short notice given of those presentations.
He thought they would agree with him that though Amble was only a small town in point of numbers, yet it was great in the numbers of its men which had earned distinction on the field of battle, for no fewer than eleven of them had been decorated and that this was the seventh presentation the Amble’s heroes fund had made. (applause.) That night’s recipient (Sergeant Hedley) held a unique record for Amble as he had earned both in English and French honour, which spoke for itself as to the brave deed being one of special merit. It was perhaps fitting that during their feast week they should be reminded of the many brave lads who are still fighting for them across the seas by the presence of one of them at this ceremony, and the extended to him in a hearty welcome with the earnest hope that he might be spared to returned safe and sound once more to dear old England after they had been victorious and peace had been declared in the world. (applause.) He called upon Mr Tulley to make the presentation.
Mr Tulley in the course of his remarks said that at the beginning of the war they were not in favour of conscription. But it came and they submitted to it, and he made say that the amble heroes fund had adopted conscription, for they are constricted both he and their chairman that night. There was so little time to make the arrangements that they could not get anyone out of the town to perform the ceremony, so that they had to step into the breach. Mr Tulley went on to say that it gave him great pleasure to be there that night to do honour to Sergeant Hedley. Like all the other heroes it was a most difficult matter to find out from these lads the particular deed for which they were honoured, and Sergeant Hedley was no exception to the rule, but he had learned that their friend had gone single-handed into a German trench and bombed them out, and he had received final recommendations for that noble deed, which was enacted at the taking of Beamont Hamel, and he had conferred upon him the Distinguished Conduct Medal by the King and in addition to that he had received the Médaille Militaire from the French government. Although he did not now belong to the Northumberland Fusiliers he joined as a Northumberland Fusilier and was drafted into the Somersets. He concluded by saying you hope the war would soon be brought to a triumphant conclusion by the crushing of German tyranny, and expressed hopes that Sergeant Hedley would come through the remainder of the war unscathed and be restored once more to the bosom of his family, and that this beautiful address would always serve to remind him of his share in the war and the appreciation of his fellow townsman.
He then read the address as follows: —
“Dear Sir, — we, representing the townspeople of Amble, desire to express our esteem and admiration of your gallantry, for which you have been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal by his Majesty King George V, and the Médaille Militaire by the French government.
“We ask you to accept this address as a token of our appreciation of your bravery, and of the great honour you have been the means of bringing to our town; that others reading it in days to come, may have their imaginations kindled and our minds inspired by the memory of your noble acts; and that all may learn that they too have a part in, and a duty to, our great inheritance The British Empire. It is deeds such as yours that have built it up and made a glorious”
He then handed the address over to Sergeant Hedley amid great applause.
Sergeant Hedley then rose to reply and was received with great cheering. In a few simple and well chosen words he thanked them from the bottom of his heart, for the kind reception they had given to him that night and for the beautiful address. He assured them that it would always occupy a place of honour in his home in the days to come. He again thanked them and resumed his seat amid another storm of applause.
The singing of the national anthem brought the presentation ceremony to a close, and Mr Kennedy said Mr Knox had very kindly provided them with an entire change of programme for the occasion and as they would all be eager to see the pictures he would not take up any more of their time. 1/9/1917

Military Medal

Won by Rennington Young Man.

Private James Henry, Coldstream Guards, youngest son of Mr and Mrs James Henry, Rennington, has won the military medal for carrying dispatches under heavy shell and chlorine gas …. on November 29 in France. He is the first to bring honours to his native village. His friends wish him luck and a safe return. 5/01/1918

Warkworth Recipients of the Military Cross

Second-Lieutenant Robert Thompson, Northumberland Fusiliers. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst on patrol. He led his small party with exceptional skill and good judgment to the attack of an enemy strong point, which he successfully bombed, and eventually withdrew without casualties. The fine leadership which he displayed was all the more praiseworthy owing to the fact that he had been misinformed in the first instance as to his objective, that he encountered a strong hostile patrol on the way which he most skillfully avoided, and finally, that our mortars opened fire upon the strong point just as he was about to commence his own attack. He proved equal, however, to coping with the difficulties and delay caused by these incidents, and handled his men throughout with remarkable ability and determination. Lieut. Thompson is another of the heroes who have honoured Northumberland by their cool, calm daring. Trained in the Duke’s School, Alnwick, he went out to France seventeen months ago where he has seen much hard work. He is still there trying to do his duty. 22/9/1917    

Military Medal Won by Private G. Young, of Alnwick

We are pleased to learn that Private George Young, N.F., a brave Alnwick youth, has won the Military Medal. He is 19 years of age, and the son of Mrs Young, and the late Thomas Young, of Hotspur Place. He enlisted in 1915 into the Territorials, and has been several times in action in France. He was employed at Shilbottle Colliery before joining the Army. He earns the medal by brave work as a stretcher-bearer under heavy fire. 22/9/1917