Absolutely no relation, so far, but there's a Napoleon Bonaparte
Today's Topics:
1. Re: Napoleon Bonaparte Whitehead (gc-gateway@rootsweb.com)
2. Re: WHITEHEAD - KANSAS (gc-gateway@rootsweb.com)
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Message: 1
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:28:41 -0000
From: "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com>
Subject: Re: [WHITEHEAD] Napoleon Bonaparte Whitehead
To: <WHITEHEAD-L@rootsweb.com>
Message-ID: <1346678921.507399@rootsweb.com>
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Author: whsdwhitehe
Surnames:
Classification: queries
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http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.whitehead/440.442/mb.ashxMessage Board Post:
He was my grandfather. I am Garland's 3rd son. My grandmother was Mary Julia Simmons Whitehead.
Dad's brothers and sisters that I know of:
Redmond Napoleon Whitehead (Pete)
Enoch Simmons Whitehead(Teeny)
Alice Whitehead Copeland
Irma Hortence Whitehead Bradley
Hubert Whitehead
Vernon Whitehead Parker
There were 3 0r 4 children who died at an early age.
Doug Whitehead
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Message: 2
Date: Tue, 04 Sep 2012 01:10:14 -0000
From: "gc-gateway@rootsweb.com" <gc-gateway@rootsweb.com>
Subject: Re: [WHITEHEAD] WHITEHEAD - KANSAS
To: <WHITEHEAD-L@rootsweb.com>
Message-ID: <1346721015.581363@rootsweb.com>
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This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Author: normawhiteheadking
Surnames:
Classification: queries
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http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.whitehead/771.773.790.1/mb.ashxMessage Board Post:
Have you heard from B.J. Corman? She called me after seeing my post about our family from Ill and Kansas. At the time I didn't have much information on James and Hannah Theaker Whitehead parents of William,John,Joseph(my GrGrGrandpa)May,Ruth and others. Joseph's son Rudolph Garfield Whitehead is my Grandpa. normaking2506@hotmail.com
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End of WHITEHEAD Digest, Vol 7, Issue 76
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Hephzibah loryman
Born 1847, Dewsbury
Christened 26th July 1847
Daughter of William Loryman & Achsah Knowles
Married Joseph Holroyd 1877
They had 2 children;
Achsah Mozella Oldroyd
Born 1st May 1878, Died 2nd quarter of 1878
Ethel Knowles Loryman
Born February 1881, Ossett, Died August 1882
Thursday, 23 August 2012
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Albert Edward Raab (AE)
Born 1863
Son of Conrad Joseph Raab
Son of Conrad Joseph Raab
1881 - 47 All Saints St.,Sculcoates, Hull, England
1881 left England for Perth, Ontario, arrived with AW in Hope, BC 1891
Died 12th March 1937, Hope, BC, Canada1881 left England for Perth, Ontario, arrived with AW in Hope, BC 1891
From;
Forging a new Hope
P 60 1901-1908 School Trustee
P 75 By 1920, A.E. Raab, J. Bailey and R Palmer had become associated with Tony De Angelis on the Idaho. Assays taken in 1919 gave 0.44 oz/ton gold across four feet on the hanging wall at a 23 foot wide “vein”. J. Fagan and associates started to develop the high grade Pipestem Mine North of the Idaho on the summit between Ladner and Siwash creeks in 1922. The Morning group south of the Idaho, was actively prospected in 1924 by jack Nesbitt and Associates. O’Connell sold part interest in the Pitsburg Group to A. E. Raab before 1919. In the middle 1920’s O’Connell became involved in a disreputable attempt to option the claims to a senior financial concern which resulted in his leaving the area, never to return. Subsequently, the Pitsburg lapsed, and Jack Nesbitt staked the Aurum claims on September 9, 1926, as agent for A.E. Raab, L.B. Cleaves and O. Erlingsen. Exploration was pursued on the Idaho through the early 1920’s, and in 1926 a silicified zone was found along the serpentine contact. This zone was exposed in a series of open cuts up the hill. During 1927, the open cut work was continued, and encouraging results were obtained from panning the soft oxidized material lying between a persistent body of quartz and a decomposed serpentine footwall. As this trench was extended, astonishing values in free gold in a talcose shear zone were revealed.
P95 The road builders in the early 1900’s. Lacking modern day machinery, these men wielded the axe and the pick and shovel. In the oppressive heat of summers long gone they sweated and carved roads out of rock and the wilderness. T hey rested then swung the axe again, sweated a little more, rested and swung again, the ring of their tools singing through the ancient trees. And in winters, too, when the snow fell about their shoulders and on their faces, their shovels were still to be heard, grating on stone. A.E. Raab, foreman of road construction in those early days, left in his tally books a record of those sturdy pioneers who worked for him. The particular areas mentioned in Raab’s records were Similkameen Trail, Summit City Trail, Logging Skidway, Hope-Popkum Road, Siwash Creek, and the Yale and Emory Roads. Experienced workers were at a premium and money was scarce. The government of the time allowed the landowners to pay their taxes in labour. A. E. Raab’s crew often had businessmen, mill owners, carpenters, and farmers, all working on the roads and bridges
P96 Close by Angus’ home was the large cabin named the Lake House. A. E. Raab operated this shelter for travellers coming over the Princeton trail. Mrs. Park Lundstein was caretaker and housekeeper of this shelter. The charge for overnight was 50 cents. Traffic was not sufficient to make the stopping place pay, and it was closed. For years, however, this cabin was used as a shelter for free.
P110 Tom Anderson, Garfield Jones, Frank LaForge and Albert Raab were trappers but took on other jobs out of season. Garfield painted signs and umpired baseball, LaForge wrestled a bear and won; Raab was to rise to a prominent position in the village.
P112 ”A.E. and Ambrose Raab were brothers who came to Hope in 1891. A.E. was miner, trapper, contractor, then chairman of the village commissioners, along with many other projects that took his fancy. Ambrose kept house for his brother.
P116 Officials for the village of Hope 1929-1948
A. E. Raab Chairman 1929-1937 (deceased Mar 12)
P 206 She (Annie Bulger Laidlaw) rented one of Raab’s cottages in Hope moved in with 3 children and bought herself a new Singer sewing machine with her first war service pay.
P229 Time books from 1900 to 1909 kept by A. E. Raab, the then foreman of Highway Construction, list W. Flood among many pioneers of the town and district, as an employee.
P250 On the other hand, A.E. Raab’s doorstop was a hunk of granite the size of a football, with an inch wide vein of gold running right through the centre. The use of this rock was no ho-hum disregard of its value, but just the opposite. It denoted his power, his rank, his absolute security from day one, to any entrepreneur who appeared on the scene. His office was adorned with those classic prints of great English dogs of all breeds playing killer poker and filled with the smoke of expensive cigars and cherished pipes. It was crammed with all the copies of all the deeds, since the fort became a village and was the undisputed power centre where the “word” came down.
P261 Everybody knew A.E. – The man behind the name.
When Albert Edward Raab first came through Hope it was 1882. Andrew Onderdonk was blasting the C.P.R. westwards through the Fraser Canyon and A.E. was working on the bridges. Within the next few years, with local mining and real estate interests already developed, A.E. settled in Hope- this time to stay. To Hope residents A.E. was all things: real estate dealer, conveyance, notary public, insurance agent, money lender, school trustee and mine recorder. He was the road superintendent, war bond campaigner and banker. From 1929 to March 1937 when he died A.E. was chairman of the village commission. He was also host and friend to the local male residents who played poker in his office in the evenings. With liquor, if not exactly flowing, certainly available, the card games often continued well into the night. It was probably for many Hope men a welcome refuge from the cares of the day, an all-male bastion where could be found the camaraderie that exists only in such relaxed gatherings. That he was a dog lover is easily determined, not only from the accompanying photograph, but also from the memories of Hope ladies who were forced to walk on the street to avoid facing the territorial hostility of his two Scottish terriers. That he wasn’t unkind to children, rather the opposite, is evident from Dora (Brunton) Carter’s recollections of him. “He seemed to govern Hope,” Dora says, “and was always there in his office. Saw him in that relaxed position, hands on his knees, showing that lovely diamond ring, and two Scottie dogs at his feet. Mother and I would walk into town often and see Raab. He always gave me a package of MacKintosh’s toffee. Before we left he always said ‘come again another day and I’ll give you more toffee.’ I was shy and never wanted to go just for the toffee, for he kind of scared me until I got used to him, then I liked him. Guess I did a lot of talking with him after a while. He gave all the children in Hope Mackintosh’s toffee.”
Eilidh (Powers) Palmer remembers how A.E. would sit out on the sidewalk in his big oak chair, his binoculars trained on the high crests of the Hope mountain and say ‘Look Eilidh, right over on the left where the sun’s hitting, see that big mountain goat. That’s a prize one.’ He never gave me a nickel but he always had time to talk about anything-the trophies that hung in his office, the mineral samples that lined his shelves, or the new course that the road was being diverted to.....”
Alma Maud Mary Raab
Born 28th Dec 1871, Sculcoates, Hull, England
1881 - 47 All Saints St.,Sculcoates, York, England
Later lived in Birmingham
Married Robinson Scaling Burn, (Born 3/4 1868) 1/4 1900
Died 6th Sept 1958, Jersey CI
Charles Frederick Priestley
Born 2nd Quarter 1875, Batley West Yorkshire
Married Phoebe Anne Brown, Born 4th Quarter 1875, 3rd February 1900, Wittenberge, Germany
Died 9th December 1956, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Sources - Batley News – News from Ruhleben section, part of an almost weekly update on Prisoners of war abroad
Undated - Ruhleben prisoners coming home
From a Batley Alderman’s son: “To anybody in Batley who has relations here”
“Germany Germany Germany England ,
but was pressed to return to Germany Germany ,
but one (Louis) is now in Toronto , Wilfred is at
Sheffield, and son John James is with the Leeds
"Pals” battalion at Colsterdale Camp. Mrs. Ward visited her husband in
Wittenberge last July, and since that time has reside at Harehills, Leeds , where a “News” representative yesterday learnt why
Mr. Ward had returned. He left Wittenberge because notice was given that all
Englishmen under 17 and over55 could leave the country before December 5th.
It was state =d that if they did not leave before that gate they would have to
stop until January 6th, 1915. Mr. Ward who is over military age,
approached Mr. Edmund Naylor, the managing director of the firm of Messrs.
Naylor, and after much difficulty with high officials received his papers. He
was accompanied by Miss Rebecca Cowling, a daughter of Mr. Willie Cowling, head
finisher for Messrs. Naylor’s, and a great-granddaughter of the late Caleb
Cowling, of Batley. Miss Cowling was a milliner at Wittenberge, and was
dismissed on account of her father being English, although she was born in Germany
A working power-loom made out of broken chairs and
biscuit tins
Local men’s inventions
The Mayor of Batley
(Alderman J.W. Blackburn, J.P.), at the beginning of December last, arranged at
a cost of about £70, to send six parcels of food to each Batley man known to be
a prisoners, and we learn from Mr. Charlie Priestley’s letter that the first
batch reached Ruhleben on January 6th, having been one month and a
day on the way. The time was in excess of the average, owing to the German
Government having decided to close the railway to such traffic for the last
fortnight of the old year. Not withstanding the delay the parcels arrived in
good condition. Mr. Priestley says he found inn his first parcel sugar, jam,
tea, cheese, ?, vegetables, biscuits, sardines, margarine, corned beef and 50
cigarettes-the latter of which he did not require as he is a non-smoker. The
second and third parcels arrived between January 6th and 10th,
so that food sent out from London on December 20th was in Ruhleben
by January 10th. Bread is no longer sent from Switzerland but from
Denmark “It is coming through in good condition” is Mr. Priestley’s assurance.
His only complaints arise through the “standard dealing“ of parcels. Although a
good variety is obtained in the course of a month, men who have been catered
for by relatives and friends miss the home made cakes, etc., the sending of
which to individual prisoners is now prohibited. As Mr. Priestley remarks in
his letter “What agrees with one does not agree with another”
The exchange of prisoners “temporarily suspended”
Batley and Birstall Prisoners-of-War committee, who recently received from the Central Prisoners-of-War committee a licence to pack and despatch parcels for British prisoners interned abroad, decided, on Wednesday night, in view of the regulations and restrictions sought to be imposed by the War Office, that it is no longer an advantage to further entertain the question of establishing a local packing depot. The committee will, never the less, combine its work on behalf of local prisoners, and the Mayor of Batley (Alderman J.W. Blackburn, J.P.) at the request of the committee, will continue his appeal for public subscriptions to his Prisoners-of-War fund. Parcels of food are being sent regularly to all British prisoners whose place of internment is known, through the Central Prisoners-of-War committee. Those parcels are packed and despatched fromLondon and monies subscribed to the Mayors
fund will be transmitted to London
London
England
Ruhleben
Textile Circle
Married Phoebe Anne Brown, Born 4th Quarter 1875, 3rd February 1900, Wittenberge, Germany
Died 9th December 1956, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
Sources - Batley News – News from Ruhleben section, part of an almost weekly update on Prisoners of war abroad
Undated - Ruhleben prisoners coming home
British civilians
interned in Ruhleben are to be conveyed in Danish and British ships to Manchester
Aug - News from Berlin – Americans bring a letter from a
Batley Lady
Mr. Willie Chew, Batley,
received news from his wife in Berlin England
being impossible, Mrs Chew hit upon the expedient of conveying news to her
husband through the medium of some Americans returning home via London London 5 Queen
Street Freiburg ,
Germany Germany
26th September 1914 – News from Wittenberge
From a Batley Alderman’s son: “To anybody in Batley who has relations here”
A letter reached
Soothill on Tuesday, and was sent on to Alderman F. Priestley in the Isle of Man (where he is holidaying), from his son Mr.
Chas. Priestley. The latter is a dyer for Messrs Naylor and Co., of
Wittenberge, and has spent nearly all his life from the age of seven in Germany Germany Bath
Street
19th December 1914
What the Germans think of the Kaiser
A Prussian guard’s opinion of the British soldiers
Warriors who stand like a stone wall
Latest news of Textile operatives in Germany
A Birstall natives return
27th January 1917 – Our Prisoners-of-war
Textile experts in Ruhleben
Sensation in the Civilian Camp near Berlin
Splendid work by Dewsbury and Batley Men – Exclusive to
the “News”)
We are indebted to
friends in Ruhleben for keeping us informed of the progress of the Textile Circle Germany Russia ,
Poland , Belgium , France ,
and, indeed, practically all parts of the world, including Japan and China
A wonderful loom
“Your readers will
wonder how he could give a practical lesson, seeing that we have no looms here.
Knowing Mr. Oldroyd so well you will not be as much surprised as some of our
members here were when a mechanical power loom was produced for Mr. Oldroyd’s
demonstration. It was a masterpiece, I can tell you. Men rubbed their eyes in
amazement when they saw it perform its functions accurately and actually weave
cloth. It is a lot? Shaft tappet loom and has been built from the odds and ends
picked up in ? and recovered from dustbins, except that the ? and gear bands
were obtained from Messrs Pickering’s factory in Alsace-
Forty picks per minute
"This will give you a
fair idea of the ingenuity and patience exercised. The loom, mark you, is no
toy, but a proper piece of machinery which, with man power, gives no fewer than
40 picks per minute. It caused a great sensation, as you may well imagine, not
least among the marine engineers in camp, and it sent up our membership. The
next lecture was on the theory of light and colour as known and accepted by
modern colourists. Again we were indebted to Mr. Fergusson who explained
mordants and their uses in dyeing and printing, and then gave a practical
demonstration of wool dyeing. He invited the students to select their own
colours, and then showed how to produce the chosen colours by various methods,
explaining as he did so the difference in the cost and time. His comparisons of
the labour cost involved in the different processes were most valuable. He
described ranges of modern colours and dealt with artificial colouring matters
and up to date methods of employment. Wool washing and scouring with different
methods and machines-English and Continental followed, and again we had to
thank Mr. Fergusson for revealing to us so much of the available knowledge he
has gained in his unique experience. You will agree that our vo---- g a---ents
particularly are fortunate in being able to benefit to such an extent. Our Textile Circle
Batleyite back in Cottbus
Private ?amond Smith
KOYLI of Crossbank, Batley, who was taken prisoner on November 18th
has sent to his parents a card showing that he has been discharged from his
hospital in Berlin, where he was sent for sick treatment and has returned to
his internment at Cottbus. Food and clothing have been sent to him there.
Local men’s inventions
We are pleased `to hear
from another correspondent that the first model made for the Circle was a small
washer and cistern made by Mr. Clifford Leach, son of Mr. Harry Leach of
Batley, who, when war broke out, was a pupil of Mr. Fergusson at Neider Schonweide.
When the model washer was exhibited others began to show their inventive
genius, with the results ---ed. In the work of model making Mr. Oldroyd has
taken a most absorbing interest. When the Circle was formed he was in very bad
health, the strain of a long confinement having laid very heavily upon him, but
the occupation of mind and fingers which has followed the establishment of the Textile Circle
An effort that ought to succeed
We wish Mr. Timothy
Eden, of Ferry Hill, Durham Germany
Against this Mr. Eden
1 The possibility that
after 2 years confinement, not many Germans would be fit for military service.
2 The impression that
would be created in Germany
a)
Our strength
b)
the
small effect of the war on our business prosperity
c)
our
plentiful food supply compared with that of Germany
d)
the
failure of the Zeppelin campaign
e)
the
kind treatment of prisoners etc
3 The guards of the
camps in England
4 The expense of feeding
26,000 men would be borne by the Germans instead of us.
5 The improbability that
26,000 more fighting men would have any effect in a war of millions.
6 The danger of such a
large number of enemy aliens in our midst would be removed and the consequent
leakage of important secrets would cease.
“If the British
civilians in Ruhleben were suffering at home as they are now suffering abroad,
there would be a popular outcry and a demand for their immediate release, adds
Mr. Eden. It is only owing to the fact that they are in an enemy country cut
off from their home and consequently forgotten by most of their compatriots,
that they continue to remain in captivity.
Parcels for prisoners-of-war
The Batley and Birstall packing depot scheme
Before a depot for the
packing of parcels for Batley and Birstall prisoners of war can be established,
the lines upon which a local committee can work under the new regulations laid
down by the Central Prisoners-of-War committee call for much inquiry and
careful consideration. When the certificate to establish a depot for Batley and
Birstall was received a few days ago, the hon. Secretary to the committee (Mr.
R. Roberts, “News Office”, Batley) wrote to the central authority in London
asking for a copy of the new rules under which a packing depot may be carried on,
but up to the present, the necessary information has not been received.
Consequently the committee have not been able to have a meeting. In the mean
time, however, useful information is being collected from other sources and the
hon. Secretary is daily answering inquiries of relatives and friends of
Prisoners-of-War and giving useful assistance. Food is being sent to every
Batley and Birstall prisoner whose name and address has been received.
24th February 1917
When the new parcels arrived at Ruhleben
Now to ensure food supplies for all local prisoners
Pathetic death of a Batley Carr soldier captured on Nov
18th
(Special to “the News”)
Since December 1st
all parcels of food for British prisoners-of-war in Germany have been sent
under the direction of the Central Prisoners-of-War Committee, and anxious
relatives and friends have been asking-ever since they were stopped from
sending parcels themselves-whether the prisoners are receiving food regularly
under the new regulations.
We are indebted to
Alderman F. Priestley, of Soothill, for having allowed us to read a letter from
his son, Mr. Charlie Priestley, who for some time has been in charge of the
Parcels Department at Ruhleben, where British prisoners in Germany are
interned, and, who, therefore processes first hand information. It is evident
from Mr. Priestley’s letter that the list of prisoners from which the name and
addresses have been obtained from the Central Prisoners of War Committee need
careful revision. Parcels have arrived at Ruhleben for 150 men who are no
longer prisoners-one was addressed to Mr. Alec. Barclay, who was released over
a year ago, and who has been working for some time for Messrs. Taylor, Yielding
& Co., Birstall-and some of the men interned have been overlooked.
The surplus parcels have
been handed over to the relief Committee which exists in camp-all Britishers,
who, of course, will do what they can to rectify the matter by using unclaimed
parcels for the relief of those who have not received any.
We are not surprised to
hear that such incidents have arisen. They only serve to show the necessity of
some local organisation to watch the interests of prisoners from each district.
Although the Prisoners of-War Committee formed for Batley and Birstall has not
yet been able to give much external evidence of its existence owing to
circumstances beyond its control, Mr. R. Roberts, editor of the “News” who has
asked to act as Hon. Secretary, is serving the best interests of Batley and
Birstall men ensuring the despatch of food parcels for them.
How to ensure food for prisoners
The name and whereabouts
of every new prisoner should be immediately notified to him, in order that food
may be sent without delay. In this way a prisoner may receive a parcel weeks
before it would get to him in the ordinary way. So if, as we are aware, there
is no other organisation of the kind in the Heavy Woollen district;
consequently some Dewsbury, Morley, Ossett, Mirfield or Spen Valley prisoners
may be faring very badly. As it is most essential that steps should be taken at
once to ensure food supplies for every local prisoner, Mr. Roberts, on receipt
of the names full name, description, whereabouts and home address, will do what
is required. Such communications-which should be made by letter-must be addressed
to Mr. Roberts at the office of this paper.
The Mayor of Batley’s Parcels
Pathetic death of a Livingstone Mills employee in a
German hospital
We are sorry to hear of
the death, in a German hospital, of Private Ernest Archer, K.O.Y.L.I., whose
wife resides with her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Jardine, at 16 Town
Street, Batley Carr. Pte Archer, who was 28 years of age, was the son of Mr.
& Mrs. Ben Archer, 38 Wood Hill, Batley Carr. He was called up in July last
year under the Derby scheme, and went to the front in September. Early in
December he was notified as having been missing since November 18th
and nothing more was heard of him until a few weeks ago, when official
intimation was received that he was wounded and suffering from a fractured leg
in a German hospital. It now appears that he died within a fortnight of his
relatives receiving news that he was missing, and long before he was notified
to them as a prisoner. The letter received by his wife this week is from the
Central Prisoners-of-War Committee who write “We deeply regret to have to
inform you that since writing on the 15th inst. We have received the
news from a German list dated January 22nd,forwarded to us through
Geneva, that Private E. Archer, 33040, K.O.Y.L.I., died on December 18th
1916, in a reserve field hospital at Aisy Le Verge and was buried in a cemetery
there. No further details are given, but should any come to hand we will at
once let you know. Please accept our sincere sympathy. Before joining the
colours, Private Archer was employed in the finishing department at CWS,
Livingstone Mills, Batley Carr. He was associated with Batley Carr Working
Men’s Club. He was very highly respected by all who knew him.
The exchange of prisoners “temporarily suspended”
Germans threaten to torpedo their own wounded
Lord Newton, Chairman of
the Prisoners-of-War Committee, announced in the House of Lords on Thursday
night that the arrangements for the exchange of civilian prisoners over 45 were
“temporarily suspended”. The Germans, in pursuance of their policy of
cold-blooded murder, had announced that they were just as ready to sink their
own incapacitated wounded as they were to sink ours, and the result was that we
were unable to exchange the totally incapacitated. As the Swiss could not
accommodate more prisoners, the visits of the Swiss Commission were also
suspended. The only exchanges that were likely to occur in the immediate future
were exchanges on a very small scale of invalid civilians. The arrangement for
the exchange of civilians over 45 came into force on January 1st and
370 German civilians had been sent back, while the Germans had liberated over
70 British, of whom, only 25 had reached this country. The presumption was that
the balance were waiting in Holland for an opportunity to come here. The
suspension of arrangements was nothing but a relapse into barbarity on the part
of the German Government. He believed they cared little for the fate of German
prisoners, and his firm conviction was that they were only interested in the
fate of a few highly placed personages who happened to be in our hands. The persons who were deserving of consideration
were the officers and men who were captured in the early days of the war. They
had suffered more than the civilians at Ruhleben. The house could rest assured
that the Government would not cease doing all they could for British prisoners.
It was a mistake to suppose that civilians were undergoing greater hardships
than those which were undergone by the military prisoners in Germany. Mr.
Gerard, the American Ambassador, had stated that civilians in Ruhleben were undergoing
less hardships than many military prisoners in some camps in Germany. The
conditions in Ruhleben had greatly improved recently because the German
Government had permitted the British prisoners to organise the camp on their
own lines so as to make the conditions more tolerable. He could not understand
why Bishop Bury had been attacked in this country. He went to Ruhleben by
permission of the German Government, and lived in the camp. Because he had
given an accurate account of what he saw he was denounced as pro-German. If one
could not believe a Bishop, whom was one to believe? (Laughter) Of the 650
prisoners over 45 at Ruhleben, about 110 did not want to return to this
country. Austria had suggested that in return for 200 British civilians in
their hands we should hand over no fewer than 10,000 or 11,000 AustroHungarian
civilians interned here or in our colonies. British subjects had been treated
with a great deal of consideration in Austria and Hungary. Viscount
Brycesuggested that arrangements might be made for the exchange of prisoners
from Germany into Norway and Sweden. Lord Newton replied that in the view of
the Admiralty that was perfectly impossible. When it was proposed a fortnight
ago to send 300 incapacitated Germans in a hospital ship, the German Government
replied that the hospital ship would be torpedoed, although it had their own
wounded, so the Admiralty decided not to send it. If the Dutch boats resumed
sailing he would do his utmost to secure the repatriation of men over 45.
Undated - Comments on “the Parcel business” (Early 1917)
Mr. C.F. Priestley (son
of Alderman F. Priestley, of Soothill), writing to his wife from the Ruhleben
Internment Camp, expresses his thanks for her greetings for the New Year,
“which I also hope will be a year of homecoming and re-union” Referring to the
“parcel business” Mr. Priestley records the receipt of two parcels, and adds:
“The contents were as was made known beforehand. Mine today contained sugar,
jam, tea, cheese, ration, vegetable, biscuits, sardines, margarine and corned
beef; all in good order, and also 50 cigarettes and you know I don’t smoke
them. Where the people get their list from I can’t say, but when I tell you I
saw one parcel for A. Barclay, who went home a year ago, and about 150 for
others who are not here (these parcels are turned over to Relief Committee)
whilst several people whom I know are still waiting for their first parcel, you
will be able to form an opinion for yourself. The bread is coming through in
good condition from Denmark
3rd March 1917 – More news from Ruhleben
Christmas day – It was simply awful
(Special to the “News”)
Influential support was
given to the meeting held in London on Monday in favour of a general exchange
of prisoners in Ruhleben with Germans interned in this country. The Bishop of
London, who presided, said they were asking the Government to consider an
exchange of prisoners all for all. It looked at first sight as unfair to
release 26,000 for 4,000, but let them not forget that we were feeding both
lots already.. There was not the slightest doubt that if our food did not go
over to our 4,000 sons they would be dead in three weeks.. It was said that it
would require an army corps to get some of the Germans to go back. He added
that he would take a deputation to the Prime Minister on the subject.
Lord Beresford moved a
resolution pledging the meeting to do its utmost to bring about the
repatriation of British subjects interned in Germany or their transference to a
neutral country. In seconding the resolution, Mr. T.P. O’Connor, M.P. said that
neither the Prime Minister nor the
Foreign Secretary was keeping the men in gaol. It was the War Office which
sttod in the way because it said that in 25,000 Germans here were sent to Germany
then we should add to the fighting forces of the Germans. Such an arguement
should excite derision, contempt and scorn. The resolution was carried
unanimously.
Speaking in support of a
second resolution empowering the deputation to wait upon the Government, Bishop
Bury, who recently visited the camps in Germany, favoured the all for all
policy. He sais the Germans interned here were regarded as a danger
Batleyite plays football against two Scottish
internationals
Mr. George T. Brearley,
writing from Ruhleben to his parents Mr. And Mrs. Dan Brearley, Carrington
Grove, Batley, acknowledges letters written by relatives on December 18th
and 24th. The old year is over, he writes, is my first
correspondence in the New Year (January 6th). Such a Christmas Day
as we had I have never experienced before. It was simply awful. Had it not been
for the bad weather we could have played football, but no, lolloing about in
the barracks was the best place. New Year’s Eve was much better. We had an
extension of time and so amused ourselves after a fashion. On the first there
was a football match, England v. Scotland. On the morning of December 31st
Barrack 4 (in which Mr. Brearley is housed) played barrack 11 in the second
round of a competition. Barrack 11 have three professionals in their forward
line, and I as left half was up against Bloomer and Pentland, two
internationals. Well we made a draw and yesterday in the replay, they had
another good player, Bodin, who doesn’t play on Sundays. Up to a few years ago
he played for Glasgow Rangers. We were beaten easily.
This Christmas the
Ruhleben Dramatic Society have produced the Mikado with great success. Last
Saturday the American Ambassador and staff with their wives, visited our
theatre and enjoyed the performance. It was really excellent for Ruhleben.
Today most of the men
over 45 have been to sign their passports, but, of course, that does not mean
to say they are going. Still I do hope they will not be here much longer. This
morning about six men left for England. Two were only about 20 years of age. A
young fellow about my age cut the sinews of his hand the other day, and the
hand will probably have to be amputated. Mr. Priestley has just received his
first London parcel – just 14 days after mine.
Danish bread has been given
out this afternoon. I think we shall receive it twice a week. It is good bread
and is being sent be the Government. Everybody seems to receive the parcels, so
you need not worry at all. School starts again on Monday and I have enrolled
for French and Russian again.
I am first class.
24th March 1917 – Our Prisoners-of-War
How food and clothing are needed by captured soldiers
Useful work done by a local Prisoner-of-War committee
Packing depot scheme abandoned, owing to War Office
restrictions
Local Mill manager released from Ruhleben
England a paradise after Germany
Batley and Birstall Prisoners-of-War committee, who recently received from the Central Prisoners-of-War committee a licence to pack and despatch parcels for British prisoners interned abroad, decided, on Wednesday night, in view of the regulations and restrictions sought to be imposed by the War Office, that it is no longer an advantage to further entertain the question of establishing a local packing depot. The committee will, never the less, combine its work on behalf of local prisoners, and the Mayor of Batley (Alderman J.W. Blackburn, J.P.) at the request of the committee, will continue his appeal for public subscriptions to his Prisoners-of-War fund. Parcels of food are being sent regularly to all British prisoners whose place of internment is known, through the Central Prisoners-of-War committee. Those parcels are packed and despatched from
War Office censors visit
Mr. R.G. Rutter, borough
treasurer stated that on Saturday Mr. F.E.O. Gorman, deputy assistant censor
from the War Office paid a visit to Batley and explained that the room selected
for a packing depot would require to be kept under lock and key, and open only
to authorised persons. Food intended for prisoners would have to be purchased
in bulk from an authorised firm of provision merchants. On no account would
relatives be able to send food from their homes to the depot for packing.
Alderman Fred. Priestley said the restrictions the war Office sought to impose
nullified the value of the licence granted by the Central Prisoners-of-War committee.
(Hear, hear). Up to the end of November relatives and friends were able to send
parcels to individuals in Ruhleben or elsewhere. and it was hoped that
permission would be forthcoming to continue those ‘home parcels’ subject to
examination by some duly authorised person in charge of a local packing depot. If
they could not do that, the privilege to pack was worthless (Hear, hear) Mr.
Dan Brearley agreed, There would, he pointed out, a room to find, and the
making of boxes and packing of parcels would entail a good deal of work and
expense for which there would be no corresponding advantage. Under the
circumstances he thought the best course to adopt would be to allow parcels to
go from
What is being done for captured soldiers
There was, however, much
useful work to be done, without a depot. The formation of a committee for
Batley & Birstall had aroused keen interest, and the need of such a body
had been shown by the innumerable inquiries he had received. People from
Batley, Birstall, Gomersal, Dewsbury, Morley, Ossett, Ravensthorpe, Mirfield, Wakefield London
A local soldier perishing with cold
If anyone doubts the
need of organised effort in the interest of our prisoners let him read the
following-
Sunday January 28th
1917, “Dear wife and loving children – I write these few lines hoping they will
find you all in good health, as it leaves me just at present. I have written
several times asking you to send me some socks and undershirts as I want some
very badly. I am nearly perished without them. It has been so cold that I have
some very feet with frost. We have had snow all January. I hope you will send
me about four pairs of good thick socks, undershirts, some gloves and some wool
and needle so that I can mend the socks. Send as soon as possible.” The writer
is a Batley man, a soldier prisoner, to whom clothing was sent some time ago.
Evidently he has not received the parcel. In such a case another attempt is, of
course, being made to supply him with the comforts of which he stands in such
need.
Released from Ruhleben
Amongst the last batch of prisoners released
from Ruhleben is Mr Willie Kemp, who for twelve years has been a director of A
and A Lehmann, woollen manufacturers, Neider Schonweide. Mr Kemps father left
Heckmondwike some forty years ago, taking his family with him to Germany Carlsbad England Berlin England Holland , with plenty
of good food and successful medical treatment here has done much to improve his
condition, and he is now wit relatives in Yorkshire ,
with his wife and family. Mrs Kemp left Berlin Somme last
year, fell ill in November with Typhoid fever, and has not been able to rejoin
his regiment until this week. The eldest daughter married in Germany , the youngest daughter has been in England
Mrs Harold Eastwood, who
was residing in Grunburg, Silesia, when her husband was interned in 1914, crossed
on the same boat as Mr Kemp. She understood her husband was to be released from
Ruhleben, and expected to meet him in Holland Huddersfield , is a
German lady well known in the district. She says she finds this country a
“paradise” compared with the fatherland, where she had had personal experience
of the food shortages that exist there.
Ruhleben conditions are “Not improving”
A London gentleman who
has shared a box at Ruhleben with Mr. Charles Priestley and Mr. George T.
Brearley, of Batley, was released at the same time as Mr. Kemp and in a letter
to Alderman F. Priestley he says “your son is keeping in good health and
spirits when I left but was of opinion that no stone should be left unturned to
get an exchange arranged for us all. The conditions in the camp are not
improving. They are absolutely dependant on the food supplied from England
The exchange of civilian prisoners
Answering questions in
the House of Lords on Tuesday, Lord Newton, Chairman of the Prisoners of War
committee, said the military objections to the exchange of British and German
civilian prisoners continued to increase. British prisoners at Ruhleben
numbered only 3,300, and they were being released at the rate of 50 a week for
work unconnected with the war. We might adopt the solutions ourselves if there
were not some people in this country who wanted to see every Hun in this
country interned. He saw no objections to a German being allowed to practise as
a dentist if he desired to do so, in view of the shortage of dentists at the
present. ? to military prisoners whose ? in Asia Minor
were intolerable. It was also hoped that Switzerland
would consent to receive a number of disabled British officers from Germany
10th August 1918 – Our Prisoners-of-War
Germans at their dirty tricks again
Prisoners detained in Holland
Mr. Chas Priestley, son
of Alderman Fred Priestley, Soothill, who since his release form Ruhleben a few
months ago has been in Holland
30th November 1918
Terrible treatment of British soldiers
More Batleyites released from Ruhleben
All the members of Mr.
George Pickering’s family are now free men again. Four sons, one son-in-law
(Mr. Harry Moorhouse, formerly of Wakefield
The Germans stripped the
factories of all leather and rubber, and there will be new belts and other
things to provide before the mills can be started again. All civilian prisoners
in Ruhleben have been released and their transport to England Copenhagen England
Heart rending stories
The stories told be
repatriated soldiers who have been prisoners in Germany Cassel . Men belonging to this district are known to have
been interned at three places. If any write home we shall be glad to hear of
the fact. The Editor of the “News” acting on behalf of the prisoners-of-war committee
will be glad to hear from relatives and friends immediately they receive a
communication from a prisoner. In this way and this way only is it possible at
present to glean authoritative information about the captives, now that the
ordinary postal communications with Germany Germany Germany
How the Germans lied to our prisoners
The following document
dated May 1917, has been received by Mr. Jonas Beardsall, Eastthorpe, Mirfield,
from his son, Sergt. Percy Beardsall, Duke of Wellington’s, a prisoner-of-war
who has just arrived safely in this country-
Declaration to
English prisoners of war
Upon the German request
to withdraw the prisoners of war to a distance of not less than 50 kilometres
from the front line the British Government has not replied. Therefore it has
been decided that all prisoners of war who are captured in future will be kept
as “prisoners of respite” i.e. very short of food, bad lodging, no beds, hard
work, also working besides the German guns, under shell fire, no pay, no soap
for washing or shaving, no bath, no towels, no boots, etc., etc. The English
prisoners of respite are allowed to write to their relations or persons of
influence in England England Wahn , Germany
7th December 1918
A white table cloth dyed in the camp by a Batley prisoner
How the Germans clamoured for food and clothing when the
Armistice was signed
Curry powder sold for cocoa at 12/- a packet
£7 10s 0d for an old ragged overcoat
When the Armistice was
signed on November 11th the German military guards at Ruhleben
pulled down the Prussian Eagle and hoisted the Red Flag of Revolution – a white
table cloth dyed by Mr. Clifford Leach, son of Mr. & Mrs. Harry Leach,
Healey, Batley, who has since returned to England with other repatriated
prisoners. After four years internment in Ruhleben the following have been received
in the district in the last few days –
Mr. Clifford Leach and
his brother Mr. Willie Leach.
Mr. George Brearley, son
of Mr. & Mrs. Dan Brearley, Carrington Grove, Batley.
Mr. Willie Nettleton,
son of Mr. & Mrs. Walter Nettleton, Back Lane
Mr. Fred Longbottom, who
is staying with his brother-in-law, Mr. Willie Chew, Healey Lane
Mr. Harry Moorhouse, who
has joined his wife, parents-in-law (Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Pickering) and other
relatives in Ebury Street
Mr. Harold Pickering,
eldest son of Mr. Charles Pickering and nephew of Mr. Harry Moorhouse.
Mr. John Douglas Walker,
son of Mr. John Hy. Walker, Highgarth, Mirfield.
Three of these
repatriated prisoners are sons of local men who had previously been released
from Ruhleben. All the civilian prisoners have now been cleared out of the
camp. Mr. John Kershaw and Mr. James Kershaw, whose father, being over military
age, has been allowed to remain throughout the war at Neider Schonweide where
he is employed by A. and A. Lehmann, are remaining in Berlin
Mr. Charles Priestley,
son of Alderman Fred Priestley, Soothill, who was permitted to go to Holland
several months ago, has not yet be able to return to England, owing to the
restricted transport facilities.
The party, who have reached
this district this week, are all in fairly good health. They have, of course,
depended for existence upon the parcels sent by the Central Prisoners of war
committee through the Red Cross.
Mr. Harry Moorhouse is a
Wakefield gentleman who married a daughter of
Mr. & Mrs. Geo. Pickering , in Hagenau , Alsace
Three sons of Mr. &
Mrs. Pickering, George, Tom (…..poor copy quality……..)
What happened when the revolution broke out
…………..The same evening
Mr. Clifford Leach was asked to dye a red flag. When war broke out his parents
were living in Geben, and he was serving his apprenticeship with Mr. J. C.
Ferguson, then head dyer and chemist for A. and A. Lehmann at Neider
Schonweide, who returned from Ruhleben to Batley last January. When a Textile Circle Dundee ) and
a Mr. Bamber. The soldiers could not buy a red flag for love or money outside
as material is so scarce, but one of the prisoners provided a white
table-cloth, which was dyed red and dried in three hours. Next morning the flag
was hoisted on the flagstaff in the square by three British sailor prisoners
and two German soldiers.” “News” readers, who have been well informed about
events in Ruhleben during the last four years, may remember that on the
Kaiser’s birthday, January 27th 1915, the flagstaff rope was cut,
and down came the Germans Eagle”. Who had committed the crime? No one would
tell. The German officers threatened all kinds of penalties, cursed the
prisoners, and finally ordered everybody to be confined to barracks for three
days. No man was allowed to leave his box or ‘loft’ without a guard carrying a
fixed bayonet.
“He laughs best who
laughs last”. The British civilian prisoners in their last fortnight at
Ruhleben had a good deal of fun. People from all over Berlin Berlin Copenhagen Berlin
The Huns had got to the end of their tether
In January last, the “News”
published some striking information about the internal conditions of Germany and was the first paper in Britain
The Ruhleben Woollen and
Worsted Society has handed over its funds, about £5, to the Red Cross, as a
small token of appreciation for all this institution has done for prisoners.
The money was partly raised by small subscriptions paid by the members, but
chiefly by the dying section of the Society, of which Mr. Clifford Leach was
latterly in charge. Each man who wanted an article dying paid a small sum and
that went to the funds. About five days before the men left, the committee
decided to dispose of its funds in this manner. The camp cashier (an
Englishman) had possession of the money, and was instructed to hand it to the
Dutch Minister to be forwarded to the Red Cross. Part of the Society’s
machinery will, it is hoped, eventually come to England Germany
Why the Germans revile the French
Many people wonder why
the Germans treated the English so kindly, after the Armistice was signed, and
reviled the French. One of our local prisoners attributes this change of
feeling to the fact that the Germans think the French imposed harder terms in
the Armistice than the British would have done. The shortage of food is so
terrible that all the German people worry about is to get something to eat.
This is true even of the middle-class. The conditions of the poor must be
indescribable.
Comrade Hindenburg
“If the Kaiser went back
to Germany
At the Café Bauer
“The Germans resisted to
the last ditch, but now they are done.” Adds another returned prisoner, who
tells this story- “The Friday before we came away about a dozen of us went out
to the Café Bauer , Berlin Denmark Copenhagen to Leith , where they were given a rousing welcome.
28th December 1918 – Home from Ruhleben
Mr. Charles Priestley visits Batley after four years
internment
A position accepted on the British Consular staff at
Rotterdam
Amusing story of a German Officer’s cockade
Much has been written in
the “News” from time to time concerning life in the great German internment
camp at Ruhleben, near Berlin, and readers have become familiar with the name
of Mr. Charles Frederick Priestley, eldest son of Alderman F. Priestley,
Westbury House, Soothill, Batley, who for three years and five months suffered
the hardships and depression of life in captivity. Nine months ago Mr.
Priestley was permitted to leave Ruhleben in company with some four hundred
other British civilians whom the Dutchmen were willing to entertain under an
internment scheme which included also 1,600 German prisoners from England Holland yesterday to resume the duties
of an appointment he has received on the staff of the British Consulate at Rotterdam Great Britain and Germany Commercial
College , Leeds ,
in preparation for secretarial work, and his son, Charles Eric, is at school in
Shap. A representative of the “News” had an interesting chat with Mr. Priestley
on Tuesday at his father’s residence in Soothill. He can afford now to laugh
heartily at some of his experiences in Ruhleben. His story of an officers lost
cockade is worth repeating. The little symbol of military glory was suspected
to have been stolen, and a roll call of the interned prisoners was ordered. The
men were assembled and told that unless the culprit gave himself up the entire
camp would be punished with twenty four hours confinement to barracks. Of
course nobody stepped forwards and the threat of “C.B.” was carried out. But
there was an unexpected development. Up to this time the prisoner’s afternoon
meal invariably consisted of tasty food from their parcels, but on this
particular day all hands went up in favour of German Government rations for
tea. The authorities were at once on the horns of a dilemma. There was not
sufficient food available, and it cost £150 to provide the afternoon’s tea.
Even when the stuff was forthcoming it was not fit to eat. The bread was of the
usual sawdust variety, more suitable for fuel than food, and the sausage was
full of mystery, while the tea was a concoction of blackberry leaves. The whole
of the “provisions” were promptly “dumped as being unfit for food and found
their way to the swill tubs. The camp authorities were thoroughly paid out for
their severity, and the laugh was on the side of the civilian prisoners. The
story of the fire which broke out in Ruhleben Camp one night in July 1917 has
already been told. Suffice to say that the Britishers rendered splendid
assistance to the camp authorities and saved three horses from the blazing
stables. Three horses and four cows could not be released, and perished in the
flames. There was no attempt to control the movements of the prisoners during
the excitement occasioned by the fire. The wire fencing had been broken down,
and the Britishers mixed with the people of Spandau, the great fortress near Berlin Holland The Hague Belgium , to Alsace Holland The Hague Hook of Holland route.
After his sojourn in Holland
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