Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
1
BECCLES, NEWSPAPERS from 1914

1914
1914

ADVERTISEMENT: WA Dowsing, Hungate, Furnishing Stores 
SCHOOL:  Fauconberge  School,  Headmaster:  Clifford  Smith,  MA,  from  8  years  old  upwards,

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

intended for Public Schools or a Professional career
SCHOOL: Beccles College; C Hall, BA , Principal; Sound Commercial Education

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Gresham School, Shaftesbury Lodge; The oldest established Boarding & Day School in Beccles for
Girls, Kindergarten for Boys & Girls; Principal: Miss Grant Hayes. Private lessons in the Tango as
danced in modern Ballrooms.Dancing Classes held in the Public Hall; Music & Singing a speciality;

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Classes in oil & water-colour painting; Laeesons in Ballroom  & Fancy Dancing.
SCHOOL: Highfield for Girls & Kindergarten, Upper Grange Road;  High class Modern Education.
Preparation for Public Exams. Large newly- built Schoo;rooms. Special facilities for Hockey, Tennis,

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Dancing,   Swimming.  Principals  from  a   distance  can  dine  wth  the  Principal   by  arrangement.;
Principal, Miss Frederica Werne.
ADVERTISEMENT: Cycles: PJ Gibbons, 13 & 15  Blyburgate: Cycles  are Cheap & Good, Never

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Break. 300 in stock to choose from.
ADVERTISEMENT: Ye Olde Shoppe, S White, optician, Jeweller & Silversmith
ADVERTISEMENT  Bretts  for  Furniture:  Largest  Furniture  Manufacturer  in  Eastern  Counties.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

Employ 200 hands; Beccles, Norwich, Yarmouth, Lowestoft, etc.
ADVERTISEMENT: A McQueen for Autumn & Winter Wear, Special Shows Daily. New Market.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: WH Sturgess & Son (late J Clements) Established 26 years. Exchange Square;
Hand-sewn Anatomical Bootmakers. Repairs. Ladies’ Fitting Room.

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1914

ADVERTISEMENT:  William  Steer,  Watchmaker,  Jeweller,  Optician,  37  New  Market.  “Onoto”
Fountain Pens & Jones’ Sewing Machine.

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1914
1914

ADVERTISEMENT: Wright for Boot Repairs, next the Co-Op, Smallgate.
ADVERTISEMENT:  WE Boulter,  Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Tailor,  21 New Market  (over 50 years
occupied by Mr D Soanes)
EMIGRATION: Canadian Government Lecture, ilustrated by Lantern Slides in the Schools, Barnby.

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: MW Sparling, The People’s Clothier, The Red House.
ADVERTISEMENT:  Beccles  Co-Op;  Bargains  for   everybody;  A  superb  Collection  of  China,
Earthenware & CoarseBrown Ware. Rock bottom prices. Smallgate

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1914

ADVERTISEMENT:  The  Beccles  Gas  Co;  Gas  Fires  may  be  obtained  on  hire.  CC  Carpenter,
engineer & Manager. [with photograh of fire]
ADVERTISEMENT: Pearce’s Stores, for Choicest Quality & Best Value in all kinds of Fruits.

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

ADVERTISEMENT: International Stores The biggest Grocers in the World; Sylvan Glen Butter 1/2
Pure & Perfect Regular Quality [fuzzy photograph of assistant]
BECCLES ILLUSTRATED ALMANACK for 1914 issued by AE Mickleburgh

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

NEW YEAR WELCOMED by several hundred people in New Market. The Church Bells sent forth
joyous peals & the crowd joined in snatches of popular songs and a sance round the lamppost.
WORKHOUSE LIFE: Married couples over 60 will be given the right to live together. Children over

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

three must no longer be keptin Institutions.
WEATHER: Heavyfall of snow, followed by severe frost, tbogganing & skating on New Year;s Day,
followed by a thaw.

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1914

ADVERTISEMENT Albert  E Barwood  gives the  utmost value for all kinds  of Drapery, Millinery,
Dressmaking

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 
1914

ADVERTISEMENT: WH Delf, 1 New Market, New Year Bazar & Fancy Fair. remaining Stock of
Christmas Presents at Great Reductions.

East Suff Gaz 6 Jan 

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

SALE of FURNITURE of R Humphrey, Esq, who has left the Town. “Shanrahan”, Northgate.
CIRCULATING LIBRARY of Harmer’s, New Market. 2d per week per volume.

East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 
1914
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

ENTERTAINMENT: Mr Bromley Davenport will present “My Sweetheart” a Play in 3 Acts, with a
cast of nine & the Harleston Orchestra. at 2.30 & 7.30 in the Public Hall.
COUNCIL:  Plan for  a new Cinematographic  building in  Saltgate  by  Eastern Counties Cinema Co

1914
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

diapproved by Committee.
SALVATION ARMY:Ensign & Mrs McBeth taken charge of Beccles Corps.
LONDON TRIP: Special Pantomime trip to Drury Lane to “Sleeping Beauty” includes meal on the

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 20 Jan 
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

train for 16s 6d. Leaves Beccles 12.40 pm.
COUNCIL: EJ Hindes, Mayor [builder, Station Rd]; Aldermen Pells [miller],Mark  Buck, [reporter,
21  St  George’s  Rd,  JP]  Edward  Watson    [chemist,  Blyburgate];  Councillors:  Henry    Copeman

1914
East Suff Gaz 13 Jan 

[butcher 4 New Market] William , Money [corn chandler & baker, 4 Hungate], Herbert King [builder,
Station  Rd],  Robert  Wilkinson  [grocer,  china  &  frruiterer,  33,  Blyburgate],  William  J  Fuller,  [?],
Thomas   Self   [Market   Gadener,   Frederick’s   Road],   William   Robinson   [motor   manufacturer,

Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
2
Newgate],  Crowfoot [], George Johnson [builder, Queen’s Road], Albert Mickleburgh [printer, 18

Northgate].
Dr Fox, Medical Officer of Health.

 
1914

 
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

SALE: 4 Newgate, brick & tiled Dwelling House & Shop, with Yard & Offices in rear, as occupied
by the late owner, Mrs Sarah Turner, Frontage of 46ft on Newgate
ALSO: Office, Warehouse, Stable, Sheds & spacious Yard with separate entrance, in occupation of

 
 

Messrs Wigg & Sons (withdrawn £220).
SALE: LOT 1.29 Station Road, “Pretoria Villa”, semi-detached bay-fronted residence, with offices,
shed & small garden now in occupation of Henry Rose, whose tenancy expires in 1916. (withdrawn

1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

at £425)
ALSO LOT 2: 13 Station Road, semi-detached, bay-fronted residence, with greenhouse, offices and
good  garden, with frontage  of  35ft on  Station Road  now  in the  occupation of Mr Henry Horne  by

 
 

Executors of Henry Hopson. (purchased by Supt JE Newson for £370)
SALE;  50  Grove  Road,  very  conveniently  fitted  up  Villa  Residence,containing  spacoius  entrance
hall, Dining & Drawing Rooms, Kitchen, Five Bedrooms, Dressing Room, Bath Room with hot &

1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

cold water, with Garden in Rear (withdrawn £395)
SALE:  27  & 29 Blyburgate, with small Gardens  in rear, now occupied by  Stephen Adams &  WC
Riches at aggregate rental of £25 (purchased by Mr Artlett for £230)

1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 
1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

DEBATE: at Adult  School: Dr  Wod-Hill will  move “That it  is the Duty of  every man to prepare
himself for the Defence of his Country”. Arthur Hughes will oppose.
Report 3 Feb: Defeated  40 to  10..  Speakers AH Pye, E Byford, J Riches, W Crawfoot, WJ Grieve,

 
 

AE Pye, AE Mickleburgh.
LIBERAL ASSOCIATION; Dr GR Fox, President. 120 subscribers., Garwoo9d Ingate, secretary., W
Read, treasurer

1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 
1914
East Suff Gaz 27 Jan 

CONSERVATIVE  MEETING:,  Capt  Barne,  presiding,  supported  by  EE  Noon  of  Tariff  Reform
League, Mr & Mrs Clowes,  Larkmans, FS Rix, WJ Money, Mr Tracy. Had the Government done

their work for the benefit of the British Empire & of the world? Was Home Rule being fairly dealt
with? It was of the greatest importance to the Peace o the World to keep a strongnavy. The intentions

of the Insurance Scheme were good, but its details were bad and they werte rushing into bankruptcy.
Importance of protecting British  capital  and labour against foreign  competition.. Mr HS Foster the

candidate spoke. - [All about dangers of Free Trade. No sign of futuire troubles]
ENTERTAINMENT: A Comedy adapted from “Our Mutual Friend” by Dickens in the Public Hall
TO LET: 5 Dacre Place. Apply Wm Clowes.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 
1914

BECCLES MUSICAL SOCIETY; Rehearsal in large Hall of Adult School for Chorus & Orchestra.
W Warder Harvey, Conductor.
ATTEMPTED SUICIDE by Mrs Larke of 13 Puddingmoor. Jumped into river, saved from drowning  

East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 
1914
East Suff Gaz 3 Feb 

by young man beside river.
MARRIAGE  of  the  RECTOR  Presentation  by  sidesmen  of  St  Michael’s  on  the  wedding  of  the
Rector,  FG  Millar  in  Norwich  Cathedral.  His  father  was  the  late  FC  Millar,  QC  His  bride  was

1914
East Suff Gaz 17 Feb 

Dorothy Ann, daughter of the late Rev A Aldred, Rector of Worlingham
CINEMA IN SALTGATE: During construction bones found near the Puddingmoor end. The house
pulled  down  to  make  way  for  the  cinema  had  been  occupied  by  the  Stimpson  family  (church

1914
East Suff Gaz 17 Feb 

Bellringers)  for  several  generations,  next  door  was  the  Prince  of  Wales  Inn,  which  long  ago
disappeared, the site forming the garden of premises occupied by SW Rix. 5 Skulls unearthed & other
bones.

1914

SALE:  by  CW   Fowell:  Mill  Bank,  very  substantially  built  and  charmingly  situated   Freehold
Residence,: 3 Reception Rooms, 5 Bedrooms, Dressing Room, 2 Attics. Stable accommodation for 2
horses, 2 Garages & larg Garden in London Road (sold by Mr Stanford to Mr Youngs of Tattingstone

East Suff Gaz 24 Feb 

for £630 on 23 March)
BECCLES MUSICAL SOCIETY: Handel’s Acis & Galatea & Gade’s Spring Message.24 Feb.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 24 Feb 
East Suff Gaz 24 Feb 

BECCLES WOMEN’S CONSERVATIVE ASSOCIATION: AGM Meeting
PIKE FISHING: One caught by Mr SJ Arlett weighing 12lbs, 35 ins in length.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 24 Feb 
East Suff Gaz 24 Feb 

Police Court: Many cases of drunk & disorderly, using filthy language, refusing to quit Lord Nelson
pub when landlord, Henry Aldred asked him+

1914

MILITARY:  3rd  EAST  ANGLIAN  (Howitzer)  Brigade,  Lieut  RW  Brooks  OC  Beccles  section.
Parades: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday
5th BATTALION Suffolk Regiment., Capt HH Johnson, commanding.

East Suff Gaz 10 Mar 

 
1914

 

ULSTER: Those prepared to protest  against Home Rule Bill, sign  at Conservative Club or  Staithe
House.
FLOODS.  Waveney  flooded  owing  to  heavy  rain.  Only  the  well-protcted  Corporation  Marshes

East Suff Gaz 20 Mar 
1914
East Suff Gaz 17 Mar 
escaped.
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
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1914
 

East Suff Gaz 17 Mar 

FAUCONBERGE SCHOOL: C Dunt offered £70 Scholarship at Felsted
WORKS OF Ellioott & Garrood tea & Entertainment of 400 at Public Hall

 
1914
East Suff Gaz 17 Mar 

GRANGE  ESTATE:  Objections  to  making  up  roads  on  the  estate.  Objectors:Mrs  Elliott,  Messrs
Petre,  WE  Downing,  A  Pells,  HC  Hopson,  Cornelius  Elliott,  FWD  Robinson,  Capt  Halpin  &  A

Woods,  exors. Upper Grange Road made  up in 1911-12;  Waveney Road  1912  & were  admirable
roads. Objected to the lavish demands of Surveyor. Should not cost so much. Objection not proved,

court in favour of Council.
Overseers re-elected: Edward Hindes, Wj Money , JQ Wilkinson & PJ Jolly. New asseessment about
to be made.

1914
East Suff Gaz 24 Mar 

1914
1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 24 Mar 

Crisis in Ulster at Home Rule Bill. Local MPs divided.
Death of WE Boulter aged 39, tailor. Built up business. Leaves widow & young children.
PASSION PLAY at OBERAMMERGAU, lecture given on the play of 1910, using many slides.

East Suff Gaz 24 Mar 
East Suff Gaz 24 Mar 
1914
East Suff Gaz 31 Mar 

AEROPLANE  passed   over  Beccles  travelling  south,   descended   near  Benhall   Lodge   owing  to
shortage of petrol, damaged on landing.
GOVERNMENT,  A  NEW  APPROACH  (in  the  light  of  the  Irish  Question)  Suggested  in  leading

1914
East Suff Gaz 14 Apr 

article Third Party, an Imperial Parliament supported by Federal Assemblies. “The events of the past
few years, capped by what has happened during the last few weeks, have made many men convinced
that party government has reached the limit of absurdity & unreality.”

1914
East Suff Gaz 14 Apr 

BRETT & Co; Wanted respectable young man used to upholstering & repairing furnitur. Also Young
Man to see after pony & do odd jobs.
TO LET: Burton Ale Stores (beer house) Hungate. Ind Coope, Burton on Trent.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 21 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 21 Apr 

SALE:  Dwelling  House,  26  Fair  Close  Road  [renumbered  since]  Owner  left  the  town.  William
Johnson?
National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies - the non militant party. Largely attended meeting in

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Apr 

sympathy with the aims, but several interruptions took place at the back of the hall during the early
part  of  the  evening..  Dr  Worthington  of  Lowestoft  in  the  Chair.  Mrs  Worthington  addressed  the

meeting also Mrs Rackham in an eloquent & forceful speech. Women had to pay taxes & obey the
law, they  had  votes  in the  borough  &  county  council  elections, why  not parliamentary  elections?

Questions  of   education,   insurance,   healthy  homes,   infant  mortality,   home  sanitation,   housing
problem, sweated industries, property, divorce etc concerned women as well as men  Dr Fox gave the

vote of thanks.
DEATH of JH Bolton, formerly head of bookbinding department at Caxton Press.
COUNCIL: Public to be allowed to use the Island on the Common for picknicks & walking.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 21 Apr 
East Suff Gaz 28 Apr 
1914
East Suff Gaz 28 Apr 

COUNCIL:  Surveyor  to  plot  the  river  wall  on  Little  Common  in  boathouse  plots  with  entrances
straight into the river. to be let.
MUSIC  LIENCE:  newly  erected  Cinema  Palace  in  Saltgate  given  licence  forpublic  singing  &

1914
East Suff Gaz 5 May 

dancing
Mr RJ Read of Norwich, formerly of Beccles Presidentof Association of British & Irish Millers.
Sir  John  Leman  School.  Mr  Christopher  Lambourne,  MA,  assistant  master  at  Howard  Gardens

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 5 May 
East Suff Gaz 5 May 

Secondary  School,  Cardiff   appointed  Headmaster.  In  1910  the  County  Council  took  over  the
foundation. Purchased a field of 6 acres near the waterworks & a modern secondary school is being
built, which when finished  in  September, will  be  as perfect  in  design  and  construction as modern

science  can suggest. The old  Leman  School was for boys only. The  new building will provide for
both boys & girls, and will, where suitable provide for their education in the same classes.The tuition
fees  are  £2 6s 8d per term  and  include books, stationery,  chemicals, mathematical instruments,  as

well as games and library subscriptions. The school will be open to boys and girls in the preparatory
department from 8 to 12 years of age, and in the senior department from 12 to 16 years of age and
upwards.  County  Council  Scholarships  are  tenable  at  this  school,  and  some  free  places  will  be

awarded  annually on the result of examinations held  in May. Miss Wright and two of her assistant
mistresses at the very successful Pupil Teacher Centre at Beccles have accepted the offer to become

mistresses at the new building. The Governors: Miss SH Barlow, Mrs P Ateman, Colonel Wilson &
Mr MF Buck (Council) Mr Ch Lomax, Capt Miles Barne, Mr WM Crowfoot & Mr CH Jacobs (E

Suffolk CC)
SALE: by Executors of Mrs Harriet Block:

1914
 

East Suff Gaz 12 May 
 

LOT 1: 26 Station Road, Salisbury Terrace, pleasantly situated, white brick & slated residence, now
in the occupation of Mr EE Darby at the annual rent of £20
LOT 2: 28 Station Road adjoining in the occupation of Mrs RN Turner at £20 pa.

 
 

 
 

LOT 3: Ballygate, 10,  12 &  14,  a range  of Three well-built Dwelling houses &  Shops, with  large
Yard, now in the occupation of Mr T Mills, General Post Office (Telephone Exchange) & Mr Trundle
at rents of £43 16s, Landlord paying Rates.

1914
East Suff Gaz 12 May 
Sir John Leman School: Caretaker Wanted, £1 per week with house & coal free. Wife must be able to
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
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cook  children’s  dinners, for which she will  receice  1s  a day, &  free dinner for Caretaker  & wife
during term time. No one will be appointed who has more tha two children living at home.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 12 May 

Wanted strong girl, about 16. Apply 16, Blyburgate.
WANTED Strong Lad, for work in Blacksmith’s Shop. Blowers, Blyburgate.

East Suff Gaz 12 May 

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 12 May 

WANTED Dressmaskwe, good bodice or all-round hand, Mrs Carter, 22 Station Road.
WANTED Apprentices for first-class trade. SA Bloomfield, Gable House.

East Suff Gaz 12 May 

1914
 

East Suff Gaz 19 May 

NEW HOSPITAL PLAN produced by Dr Wood-Hill in letter to the Editor. [a plan included]
No extension or alteration to the present building, or rebuilding on the present site would enable us to
evolve  an  effective  modern  hospital. A  country hospital should  be  built with  all  its wards on the

 

ground floor to avoid carrying critical cases up the stairs, and to enable patients to be wheeled in their
beds to a verandah facing south and with an unobstructed view of the country.
We have no chilrens’ ward, and when it is necessary to admit a child it has to be placed inthe general

 
 

female ward. It  is  not hard to imagine the distress a  crying  infant can  cause  in a ward full  of sick
people. It is most undesirable to have a critical case in a general ward. The effect on the other patients
is most depressing.The nurse on night duty should be in a position to keep constant watch on all the

patients under her care and each patient should be able to cry out without disturbing the  

 
1914

 
others.Need of a new operating room with an ante-room of more bathrooms [Plan provided]
East Suff Gaz 26 May 

SALE OF FURNITURE: 60 NORTHGATE: Will of Mrs Julia Owles, deceased.
WANTED: nice respectable girl, (14) kitchen maid; Mrs T Clifford Smith, Fauconberge School.

1914
1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 26 May 
East Suff Gaz 26 May 

WANTED An Apprentice to Dress Making. Mrs High, 15 Blyburgate.
DEATH Miss Suckling at Barsham.

East Suff Gaz 26 May 
1914
East Suff Gaz 2 Jun 

DEATH: Mr Tom Plowman Angell, Town Clerk. Son of  George Bellamy Angel, solicitor & former
town  clerk  of Beccles.  Educated  at the Fauconberge  School, won  a  number of prizes,  excelled  in
Cricket & Rugby Football. Captain of the Town Cricket Club & a keen golfer and good shot. Great

antiquarian interests, collection of things old and rare.
Studied  Law & articled  under  his father, and at  his  death  20 years  ago was elected Town Clerk  &

 
 

Clerk of  School Board.. Joined the  Volunteers  in  1883,  became Captain of the  local  contingent  &
then Lt-Col & second in command of Norfolk Battalion.. Leaves a widow & twin sons.

 
 

The Mayor spoke  of  his  great  abilities  as town  clerk  and his  genial presence  and  his kindliness of  
heart would long be remembered

1914
 

SALE: GRANGE ESTATE:
LOT 1:Corner site enclosed by iron railings containing 64 rods, with frontage of 200ft to Ashman’s
Road & 260 ft to Priory Road,  (sold to EJ Hindes for £100)

East Suff Gaz 16 June 
 
 
 

LOT 2: On the opposiote side [South side] of Ashman’s Road enclosure of 67 rods with iron railings
in front, having a frontage of 150 ft. (sold for £150 to EJ Hindes.)
DEATH: Miss Lucy Clabburn of Linden House.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 16 June 
East Suff Gaz 16 June 

MAJOR BARRETT fined 10s for refusing to produce his motor-car licence. Police said he had”had
given a lot of trouble previously. He kept Sergeant Norman waiting two hours last year, and he hoped
he would not give any trouble when he next called.

1914
East Suff Gaz 30 June 

SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL:: The  new  School  premises now nearing  completion will  open for
Boys and Girls between the ages of 8 and 18 on or about 14th of September. The school consists of a
large,  well  ventilated  classrooms,  assembly  hall,  dining  hall,  science  laboratory,  wood  and  metal

workshops & housewifery rooms all of which have been modelled to meet the latest requirements, as
regards teaching and sanitation. Parents who may wish to send their children to the School, when it
opens should write at once for a copy of the Prospectus and Form of Application.

1914
East Suff Gaz 30 June 

NEW HOSPITAL Dr  Wood-Hill said would  cost between £5,000 to  £6,000. Problems of present
hospital listed before [see 19 May]. Also only one bathroom for male & female patients, the nurses
and  servants,  but  washing  up  done  there  too.  Needed  to  have  £5000  in  hand  before  they  started

construction. Seconded by Mr Dunt. Decided to go ahead with plan and have a public meetings.
NEW TOWN CLERK: Mr Forward of Lowestoft elected. Salary of £150.

1914
 

East Suff Gaz 30 June 
 

Discussion at the meeting about the irregular method of appointment. A second vote was taken by the
whole Council. Mr Forward again elected by 10 votes to 2 (for Mr Rix)

1914
East Suff Gaz 30 June 

TRAGEDY  AT  SERAJEVO:  From  all  quarters  messages  of  sympathy  have  poured  to  the  aged
Emperor  of  Austria,  who  has  been  terribly  striken  by  the  double  assassination  of  his  heir,  the

Archduke  Franz  Ferdinand  and  the  Duchess  of  Hohenberg,  by  a  High  School  student  Gavrilo
Prinzep.The  Austrian  authorities  believe  that  the  assassinations  were  the  result  of  a  plot....  It  is
understood that severe measures  agauinst Slavs  are  contemplated. Prince Arthur of Connaught will

represent King George at the funeral. His Majesty called onthe Austrian Hungarian Ambassador, to
whom he expressed his profound sorrow at the deaths.
POLICE COURT 1) COLCHESTER BREWING CO  changes to the Butchers’ Arms. A new side

1914
East Suff Gaz 30 June 
entrance & Porch. approved.
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
5

 
 

 
 

2) Burton Ale Stores, Hungate: Mr Athur Barkham to take over from EG Turner.
3) Arthur Fish, maltster summoned for refusing to support his father in the Workhouse by 2s a week..

Said he would do so if his 5 brothers contributed. Told he owed 18s. If he failed to pay he would go
to gaol for 14 days, . Said he would go to gaol. Warned that he would still have to pay when he came

out.  Defendant:  “Then  I  will  go  back  again,  and  you  can  keep  me  altogether”.  ‘Goodbye  all’  he
shouted as he was removed from the Court.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 7 Jul 

Working Men’s Conservative Association open air concert. A big gathering.
CAXTON WORKS OUTING, Early train to Clacton  on  sea,  arriving  at  10.15,  bathing  or visiting
places  of  interest. At 12  dinner  at Ragg’s Restaurant,  at  2pm barded the Clacton Belle, took  5 1/2

East Suff Gaz 7 Jul 

hour journey to trip to Yarmouth, where they met wives & sweethearts. Returned to Beccles by the
last train.
Councillor Robinson held garden party at Beaumont House for the BWTA. Fine weather.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 7 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 7 Jul 

Fauconberge School: Headmaster T Clifford Smith. Prize giving. 28 boys in school, 10 boarders. He
was at the school with Tom Angell, now dead. Bishop of St edmunsbury distributed the prizes 7 gave
a speech.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 14 Jul 

LICENCE: Mr Maurice Woolner to take over the White Horse from Mr W Hall
LABOUR  UNREST:  Labourers  rebuilding  Mr  Crisp’s  Maltings  went  on  Strike  for  a  day.  They
wanted 5d an hour instead of 4d 1/2d. Mr Reade of Aldeburgh, the contractor.

East Suff Gaz 14 Jul 
1914
East Suff Gaz 14 Jul 

COUNCIL: Plans for  house  in Waveney Road for Mrs DA Shields, submitted  by Mr Buckenham,
approved
SAILING CLUB:  Yachts raced by:Lieut Gartside-Tipping (Mischief); Mr AR Meyer (Isis); F & H

1914
East Suff Gaz 14 Jul 

Clatworthy (Imp); FE Banham (Bantling); Capt Lush (Mizpah); FL Farrell (Bunty); Napier Trollope
(Cygnet) AR Scott (Phyllida); AW Darby (Sunbeam) Raed in that order.
SALE: Six Brick & Tile Cottages near Ingate Railway crossing. Small gardens in rear in occupation

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

of Mrs Bradley, Mrs Girling, Mr Crisp (weekly tenants) Andrews, Boon & Girling (quarterly tenants)
Rents £41 12s pa. Landlord paying Rates (purchased by W Brown £325)

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

SALE  in 6  Lots of properties  in Ravensmere, (Douglas  Place) Nos  3,  5,  7, 9, 11,  13.  Each House
contains Entrance Hall, Kitchen with copper, cooking stove & sink with water laid on, Living Room,

Sitting Room, Pantry & 3 bedrooms with small gardens in front & Yard at rear, now in the occuation
of A Butcher, Miss M Simmonds, Charles Borrett, Wm Dunn, Geo Cook & Wm Barber, weekly  

 
 
1914

 
 

tenants. Rents amounting to £89 14s 0d. Landlord paying Rates. Tenure Freehold.
(withdrawn £925)
TOWN BAND gave first of series of Musical evenings in the Avenue on Thursday. Will occur every

East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

Tuesday evening 7.30 to 9pm. Programme will include Dance Music.
GONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: Rev Frank Burnett resigned his ministryfrom 16 August.
CONSERVATIVE OUTING: 100 members to Henham Hall  in brakes & motor  cars. Had tea  on

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

lawns, to Lowestoft at 6pm at Leighton’s Restaurant, the to the Marina  Theatre to see “The Easiest
Way”. Set off home at 11 pm, arrived at 12.30.
Mrs Lorna Burnett, of The Manse, Frederick’s Road holding a studio exhibition of local & English

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

landscapes in water-colours & oils, 80 or 90 paintings on view.
MAIN POLITICAL NEWS: The Irish Crisis: 12th July celebrations at Drumbeg, procession led by
Sir   Edward  Carson   nearly  7  miles   long  &  20,000  Orange  Men,  &   50,000   at   an   open  air

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 

demonstration. “no Surrender”.
Mrs Lorna Burnett, of The Manse, Frederick’s Road holding a studio exhibition of local & English
landscapes in water-colours & oils, 80 or 90 paintings on view.

1914
East Suff Gaz 21 Jul 
1914
East Suff Gaz28 Jul 

LIBERAL DEMONSTRATION AT BECCLES  Sir  E. Beauchamp  and Mr. Pratt, M.P. A rally of
Liberals  was  organised  for  Saturday  25th  when  the  grounds  of  Dr.  Fox  were  thrown  open  for  a
variety of interesting events, consisting of humorous sports (including an egg and spoon race for men

and  women  and  pillow  fighting,)  and  an  excellent  al  fresco  concert  provided  by  friends  from
Lowestoft. Dr. Fox presided  in the  chair when the speeches  arrived. The  chairman was present as

well  as  Sir  Edward Beauchamp, (M.P. who was  also  very cordially received like the  chairman and
Dr.  Fox),  who  was  imbued  with  liberal  principles  who  thought  into  the  future  whereas  their

conservative  friends  lived  into  the  past.  The  liberals  however  had  a  kind  of  prophetic  vision  that
things were going to improve and progress in this country.

1914
East Suff Gaz28 Jul 

CONTINENTAL  WAR  THREATENED.  Grave  international  situation.  Martial  Law  proclaimed
throughout Austria Hungary.
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL: Mr George  Watson,  assistant master at Kettering Grammar  School

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

appointed Headmaster, School will be ready for opening on Tuesday 15th of September. The students
of the PT Centre will be transferred to the new school, which will be opened as a mixed school for
boys and girls.

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 
COUNCIL: Plans approved for 1) Engine House at the back of the Picture Palace in Saltgate.
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
6

 
1914

 

2) Smoke House at the rear of the Royal Oak in Ravensmere for Mr R Balls.
SALE OF TOM ANGELL’S ANTIQUITIES: Manuscripts,  Lowestoft China, Chipendale furniture

East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

etc [prices given]
DEATH Mr JG Kenyon of Gillingham Hall. Born 1843

1914
1914
 

East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

THE WAR: EUROPE ARMED; The Menace of Germany; British Mobilization.
A state of war exists between Austria-Hungary & Servia; Russia is mobilizing; Germany is reported

 

as  having  invaded France,  and  violated the  neutrality  of  Luxemburg; the  neutrality  of Belgium is
threatened, and the British Government have notified their intention to protect the  French coasts in
the event of German aggression. 

 
 
1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

THE  CRISIS:  That  dissension  between  the  races  of  Central  Europe  should  have  ramifications
spreading confusion among the inhabitants of these islands is a proof of that interdependence of the
nations  which  we  have  long  accepted  in  theory  without  realizing  how  keenly  the  fact  would  be

brought home ton us if war came. The man in the street caress little about the trouble between Austria
and Servia, but he is not apathetic when he finds that several of our leading stockbrokers have been
hammered on the Exchange and finally that the Stock Exchange has closed; that his investments are

sinking points per day, and that the Bank rate has doubled, and that the prices of the necessaries of
life is going up alarmingly.
The question of grain supply is as acute in Canada as it is in Great Britain. The Dominion fears for

 
 

the safety of her grain ships in the event of a general war. The risks of war have sent up the rate of
insurance at a time when the greatest number of wheat ships ever known is due to reach Montreal to
bring wheat to Liverpool

 
 

While  the  issues  of  peace  and  war  are  hanging  in  the  balance,  Mr  Asquith  is  able  to  assure  the
country  that  both  Government  and  Opposition  will   stand   shoulder  to   shoulder....  This   happy
unanimity of feeling has been made possible  by the loyalty and good-will of Mr Bonar Law and his

colleagues  
ADVERTISEMENT:  Beccles  W.M.  Co-operative  Society  Ltd,  Supplies  the  Best  of  Everything:

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

Drapery,  Millinery,  Dressmaking,  Clothing,  Furnishing,  Boots  &  Shoes,  Coals  Coals,  Groceries,
Bread & Pastry. All of the Best Quality. Boot Repairs Promptly executed. Smallgate, Beccles.

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

PRAYERS  FOR  PEACE.  Prayers  for  peace  were  general  in  the  churches  of  Beccles  on  Sunday,
without distinction of denomination.

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

WIRELESS INSTALLATIONS: It is understood that all “Experimental” Wireless Installations in the
United Kingdom have been dismantled and taken possession of by the Posmaster General, including
those at Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Beccles.

1914
East Suff Gaz 4 Aug 

BECCLES ADULT  SCHOOL TELEGRAM to Sir  Edward Grey: “Beccles Adult  Schools strongly
support efforts for peace. Convinced England must maintain absolute neutrality.”
ANDREW  LEYNEEK’S  NATIONALITY:  It  seems  to  be  quite  an  understood  thing  in  Beccles,

1914
East Suff Gaz 11 Aug 

where I have resided for the last 14 years, that I am a German subject, but this is quite a mistake. I
was born near Memel in Kurland, which is one of the three counties known as Baltic Provinces. The
people are called Lettish. They speak their own language and have their own books and newspapers.

In  religion  they  are  Protestants  (like  the  Germans),  but  they  are  overruled  by  Russia,  though  the
Baltic Provinces  originally belonged to Sweden. My father and sister are still living near Riga.
[He was the principal photographer in Beccles]

 
1914

 
East Suff Gaz 11 Aug 

MOBILISING THE TERRITORIALS: The  excitement  of the war  and the movements  of the local
Territorials who were  embodied by Royal Proclamation  on  Wednesday,  gave to Beccles somewhat
the  appearance  of a  garrison town for the rest  of the week.  Indded  a  military aspect was  assumed

early  on  Tuesday  evening,  when  the  members  of  B  Company  of  the  5th  Suffolks  assembled  to
arrange about their kits in expectation of immediate mobilisation. At a late hour the same night the
town was even more lively, for the Howitzer section returned from Trawfynydd about 11.30 pm, and

there was a big crowd at the railway station to welcome them and watch the detraining of the heavy
guns etc. It was a merry joyous crowd, albeit the news that the war with Germany had already been

declared by the British Government was not generally known till Wednesday’s newspapers came to
hand. There was a prompt response to the call to arms.

 
 

The  infantry  corps  were  the  first  to  get  away.  They  left  Beccles  for  an  unknown  destination  on
Wednesday afternoon, under the  command  of Captain HH Johnson  and received  a hearty send-off

from  the  crowds  of  people  who  watched  the  departing  train  with  no  doubt  varied  emotions,  for
amongst the  crowd were mothers  and  fathers of many of “the  boys” who were  leaving home  and
friends  at  the  call  of  duty.  They  left  in  the  highest  spirits,  and  one  might  almost  say  apparently

without a thought of the serious nature of their undertaking.
D Troop  of  Suffolk Yeomanry were  next in  order of  departure. The provision  of   suitable horses
presented considerable difficulty, and Major Barne, assisted by Captain Grissel and others spent two

 
 
long  days  in  looking  after  these  matters.  A  parade  of  men  and  inspection  of  horses  on  Thursday
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
7

evening near Alexandra Road, attracted interested crowds of people; but it6 was not until Friday that
the full complement of horses came to hand. The troop -- a fine body of hardy men, looking very fit --

entrained on Friday  afternoon and evening  in two lots,  and the disposal  of the horses in trucks and
boxes  at  the  railway  station  was  watched  with  eager  interest,  and  officers  and  men  took  their

departure amid resounding cheers.
The Howitzers were  up and busy at an early hour on  Sunday morning  and left about 6.30  am for  a

 
 

station it was understood,  near  London. The entrainment of their heavy  guns  and some 70 or more
horses was  effected without mishap under the supervision of Lieut RW Brooks,  Statinmaster Clark
and other railway officials, some of the horses being difficult to handle.

 
 

Commandeering  for  horses  for  both  Yeomanry  and  Howitzers  had  to  be  resorted  to,  but  in  only
instance, so far  as  known, was  any active resistance  displayed when horses were “claimed”  by the
Territorials in the King’s name.  

 
 

Bccles shared with other places in the economic scare which the first news of the war caused among
housewives, who were anxious about the possibility of being left without supplies, and not less so the
prospect of higher prices for the necessaries  of life, with the result that quite a run was made  upon

shopkeepers on Wednesday and Thursday. Some slight abatement was apparent on Friday. There was
a general rise in prices. Flour was raised 3d to 4d a stone, sugar 2d to 3d per lb, coffee and tea 2d per
lb, cheese 1d, butter 2d to 3d, bacon 3d to 4d, biscuits 1d per lb, and all tin provisions 1d to 3d per

tin.
BECCLES  RED  CROSS  HOSPITAL:  Householders  invited  to  assist  the  Red  Cross  Society  by
undertaking to lend articles to equip a temporary hospital in Beccles at the shortest possible notice.

1914
East Suff Gaz 11 Aug 

List of  articles to  be  sent to Miss  Jones,  Saltgate House.  Sort  of things required: Beds mattresses,
pillows, sheets, tables, crockery, clothing, food, etc
As soon as the  knowledge that war had  been declared became  known  excited  crowds  assembled in

1914
East Suff Gaz 11 Aug 

various parts of the West End cheering and singing patriotic songs.
Buckingham Palace from half an hour after midnight till well on into the small hours of the morning

 
 

was the centre of attraction for a huge concourse f people, all extremely enthusiastic, many of them
clamouring  for  the  appearance  of  the  King.  Most  of  those  present  were  on  foot,  but  there  were

hundreds of taxi-cabs and carriages, and people stood  on the roofs of the  vehicles, waving  English
and French flags and singing in French and English.

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 18 Aug 

The Earl of Stradbrooke has fitted Henham Hall with 150 beds.
WAR   RELIEF:   East   Suffolk   Relief   Fund:   money   to   be   used   for   local   relief,   distress   and
unemployment; The Mayor (E Johnson Hindes)  £20; C Napier Trollope  £10; Dr & Mrs Wood-Hill

East Suff Gaz 18 Aug 

£10; JF Tracey 10s 6d; Mrs Barton 10s; Mrs & Miss Mc Arthur 5s;
The Beccles Committee: The Mayor; Mrs Barne; MF Buck; FW Chartres; GHK Clowes; JE Crisp;
WM Crowfoot; AW Darby; Alex Elliott; Rev JA Garner; FF Garrood; TD Grisell; EL Heseltine; A

 
 

McQueen; Rev FG Millar; Hon AJ Mulholland; NW Pells; FWD Robinson; Col Thompson Wilson;
Miss Allen (Ingate House)
CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER leaves. Rev Frank Burdett, Pastor in Beccles two & a half years.

1914
East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 

Joining  the  Church  of  England  as  cleric.  Born  in  Kent.  Has  brother  &  cousin  as  Nonconformist
ministers,   and  a   brother   and   cousin,  Church  of   England   clergy.  Had   business   experience   in
Manchester,  Leeds  &  Leicester  before  training  at  Metropolitan  College.Pastorates  at  Camberley,

Northampton, North London & Beccles. Mrs Burnett student of Vicat Cole & Byam Shaw School of
Art.
TO LET: Large Yard, Stables, Outbuildings including Smoke House, at 33 Blyburgate

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 
East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 

LORD KITCHENER’S ARMY. Mr AE Elvin, steward at Beccles Conservative Club despatched 37  
recruits from Beccles and District.
FAREWELL  PRESENTATION  to Mr  Noel  Robinson  after  being  connected  to  Beccles  Council

1914
East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 

School for 15 years as scholar, pupil teacher and assistant master. Going to Exeter Training College.
RECRUITS  WANTED:  Lord  Kitchener  appeals  for  100,000  recruits.  Local  recruitment  offiicers

1914
East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 

posted by the Mayor. It is not a bad plan to do the work first and then convene a committee to talk
about it. It saves time. RF Lush, Capt.

1914
East Suff Gaz 25 Aug 

CONGREGATIONAL MINISTER leaves. Rev Frank Burdett, Pastor in Beccles two & a half years.
Joining  the  Church  of  England  as  cleric.  Born  in  Kent.  Has  brother  &  cousin  as  Nonconformist

ministers,   and  a   brother   and   cousin,  Church  of   England   clergy.  Had   business   experience   in
Manchester,  Leeds  &  Leicester  before  training  at  Metropolitan  College.  Pastorates  at  Camberley,
North ampton, North London & Beccles. Mrs Burnett student of Vicat Cole & Byam Shaw School of

Art.
British casualties at Mons 5,000 top 6,000
WANTED AT ONCE:  100 Beccles Recruits. A Bounty of  £1 to  each recruit will  be paid to those

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 1 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 1 Sep 
enrolling  from  1 to 15  September  by Henry  L Robins,  [corn,  seed  and  coal merchant,  52  Station
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
8

Road] late Veteran Grand Army of the Potomac, USA.
SIR JOHN LEMAN SCHOOL, BECCLES. Headmaster Mr G Watson, BA, Bsc;  Staff: Miss Edith

1914
East Suff Gaz 1 Sep 

Wright,  LLA,  late  Head  Mistress  of  County  Council’s  Pupil  Teacher  Centre  at  Beccles;  Mr  FP
Glover, BA [became Captain in Royal welsh Fuseliers, wounded. 30 Station Road]; Miss C Deeley,

BSc; Miss I Carter, southport Physical Training College; Miss GM Fowler (Domestic Subjects); Mr P
Cross (wood & Metalwork); Mr WC White (gardening instructor).

 
 

The  new  premises  consisting  of  Chemical  Laboratory,  Domestic  Economy  Kitchen  &  Laundry
Rooms,  Wood  &  Metal  Shop,  Dining  Hall  &  six  classrooms,  fully  equipped  with  all  modern
educational  &  hygenic  appliances,  boys’  and  girls’  retiring  &  dressing  rooms  will  be  opened  on

Tuesday, 15th September, for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18. School fee £7 per annum,
inclusive of books, etc. Over 80 pupils have already been enrolled.
SEVEN BROTHERS  in the  Services. The family of  Spall have an  enviable record. The  father, the

1914
East Suff Gaz 8 Sep 

late Robert  Spall [born 1853, Printer’s Machine Minder] was a Bombadier in the Beccles RGA for
many years. Of his nine sons, seven are now in the services. One with the 2nd Norfolks at the front;
three in the third East Anglian Howitzers - Robert, [RGA Gunner] James [Sergeant, Wessex Brigade]

& William [RFA, Gunner] - who have volunteered for foreign service; Ernest, who has enlisted as a
recruit at Winchester; Reginald [4th Norfolks] who has joined the Norfolk Regiment (Territorials) at
Norwich; and Edward, a Canadian Volunteer [Sergeant, 10th Norfolks].[none of them were kiilled or

wounded]
RECRUITING. From 12 August to 12 September Mr AE Elvin & Mr LM Ingaste, recruiting agents,
enlisted  120 men for  Lord Kitchener’s Army,  an a number of  others presented themselves today at

1914
East Suff Gaz 8 Sep 

the Public Hall (opened  as  a recruiting station  on Friday)  for  enlistment, 25 young  fellows  being
accepted. They had a rousing send off.
SALE of unsold portions of WORLINGHAM ESTATE: 11 farms & 1,448 acres.

1914
 

East Suff Gaz 8 Sep 
 

Castle Farm 176a 2r 20p, farmhouse & 2 Cottages, Mr Holt £3,350; Arable Field, 9a 31 p, Mr Ward
£180;  Hoffman  brick  kiln,  Kiln  Farm,  2  cottages,  farmhouse,  50  acres,  Mr  TJ  Self  £1,150;  The

Common Farm with house & nearly 13 acres of pasture land, Mr Soanes (the tenant) £280;
MINE  SWEEPING:  Charles  Godbold  of  18  Grove  Road  for  3  weeks  had  been  engaged  mine-

1914
East Suff Gaz 8 Sep 

sweeping in a Lowestoft boat, was one of the crew  of the steam drifter Lindsell, which was blown up
just before HMS Speedy met her doom last Thursday morning.

 
 

They were engaged in towing for mines about sixty miles from Lowestoft.The Speedy had a crew of
88  men  and  six  officers;  the  stem  drifter’s  crew  numbered  eleven.  “I  was  standing  near  the
wheelhouse  when  the  explosion  occurred.  We  had  been  at  the  jof  since  about  8  o’clock  in  the

morning, without finding any mines, and had only just started our tird tow, when we ran into a mine
which seemed to explode just beneath the boiler. The funnel was blown sky high, the boilere flew out
of the  boat, the  vessel was smashed to atoms, and I was pitched  below into the open net chamber,

where I fell on some nets. The mast was smashed and part of it fell on top of me as I lay. I gathered
myself  up as well  as I  could, and in a second or two found myself in the water. I caught hold  of  a
piece of wood floating by.

 
 
 
 

I could see the  bow of the trawler standing  up on  end,  about six  feet out of the water,  as I  swam
about. I was picked up after  about ten minutes by one of the  Speedy’s boats; But no sooner had I
been  taken  out  of  the  water  into  the  boat  than  the  Speedy  herself  blown  up.  It  was  then  only  a

hundered yards  from the  boat  I was  in. Her stern was  blown  completely off, but she  kept herself
afloat for  half an hour, till every man  had  been saved except one who was killed by the explosion.
Eight drifters and their boats came very promptly to the rescue, and some got into one boat and some

into another.
The skipper and four of the crew of my boat were drowned. I was severely bruised and shaken, and
am thankful it was no worse; but it was a dreadful experience.

 
 
1914

PATRIOTIC MEETING at BECCLES: Public Hall  crowded  on  Saturday  night. Appeals to young
men  to  join  the  army.  Sir  Edward  Beauchamp,  MP,  Mr  HS  Foster,  and  the  Mayor  the  principal

East Suff Gaz 15 Sep 

speakers  and Colonel Cubitt, the recruiting officer. Also two “Tommies” who had recently been  at
the front, Private Thirtle & Private W Betts [Private in the the Royal Norfolks, who was dischargd in

1916] 
89 Men had already left Clowes on active service & 80 had left Elliott & Garrood.

They were heartily cheered by the meeting.

 
 

 
 

“Oh God our Help in Ages Past” was aung, led by the Salvation Army Band.. “In every corner of the
British Empire a responsive chord was touched, so that within a few hours of the declaration of war
the whole Empire stood to arms. .. The young men of Beccles were not going to be silent spectators

only. They were going to throw their manhood into the struggle. They saw Canada, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa -- Boers and Britond; and they saw our great Indian Empire making our cause
their own and coming forward to help the mother country. They were fighting in a just and righteous

cause -- for freedom and liberty, and to tramlpe down for ever the militarism of Germany, which had
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
9

been the cause of this terrible war.
They were fighting  against  a would-be despot and  dictator, the military head of the German  State;

 
 

they must  go forward  at once. Beccles had done well for it had  already sent  187 recruits, but they
must put forth all their strength and energy, and then they could in all humility ask thr Father of our

God to protect us. (Cheers)
CHURCH CHOIR ON STRIKE: Thirteen  of the Choirboys  of the Parish Church, resenting  a fine

1914
East Suff Gaz 15 Sep 

imposed  for  being  late  to  practice  on  Thursday  night,  absented  themselves  from  the  service  on
Sunday morning. They were not allowed back in the evening.
A  BECCLES  MAN  AT  THE  FRONT  Private  Tony  Thirtle,  [He  was  a  Staff-Sergeant  in  2nd

1914
East Suff Gaz 15 Sep 

Norfolks, was wounded, but survived the war] Gymnasium instructor to the Fauconberge school, and
reservist 1st Norfolks, returned to Beccles on Monday night after the battle of Mons.
He arrived at  Le Havre on 16th August  and moved to Belgium. First came under fire on 23rd near

 
 

Mons.  They  dug  trenches.  The  German  infantry  advanced  in  overpowering  numbers  from  all
directions, and the British troops were obliged to fall back. The Norfolks next took up a position on
the railway, but the Germans  came  on  quickly with their  big  guns  and  rifle  fire,  inflicting heavy

losses on the regiment. It was at this stage the 9th Lancers, who were alongside the Norfolks made
their memorable charge, and in returning were mercilssly shot down by the enemy’s guns in full view
of the Norfolks. The carnage was awful. They marched about twenty miles before they came to the

next  halt  and  had  just started  digging trenches when the  enemy were  on them  again, forcing them
further  backwards.  Thirtle  was  injured  by  falling  into  a  pit,  damaging  his  ankle  and  concussing
himself. He managed to get to an ambulance waggon and was moved from one hospital to another as

the Germans advanced. He was then sent by ambulance train to Southampton.
BELGIAN REFUGEES Mrs. Garett, of the Beccles toilet sallons, begs to inform the public that she
has  in her  employ two of the Belgian  refugees from Malines;  and  hopes to  have  a  good share  of

1914
East Suff Gaz 22 Sep 

Public  Patronage.  They  are  both  excellent  workmen.  Good  accommodation.  Moderate  charges.
Razors ground and set. Wholesale and retail Tobacconist.[Advt.]

 
 

 
 

EAST SUFFOLK WAR RELIEF FUND Subscriptions received by the Mayor of Beccles
Amount previously acknowledged £465.16.3d. on 29.9.14.

 
 

 
 

£451.15.3d   on 15.9.14. 
£207.10.2d   on 01.9.14. 

 
 

 
 

£343.01.9d   on 08.9.14.
£41.05.6d.   on 25.8.14.

 
1914
1914

 

Donations by Mayor, church collections and general public.
SALE OF FURNITURE: 18 London Road. Mrs J Whitmore Searle leaving England
ADVERTISEMENT: Railway Coal Depot. Henry G Rose, successor to HL Robins. Summer prices

East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 
1914
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 

CHURCH SERVICES: Whilst the troops are stationed in Beccles, the time of morning service will
be 11 am instead of 10.45. FG Millar , Rector; AR Clatworthy & Womac Broks, Churchwardens.
BELGIAN REFUGEES: Mrs Garrett of the Beccles Toilet  Saloons [6 Hungate] has employed two

1914
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 

refugees from Malines. They are both excellent workmen. Wholesale & Retail Tobacconist.
LICENSED PREMISES:  JPs decided that local licensed premises were to close at 9.30 pm.
WAR  LECTURES:  1)  Dr  Wood-Hill  will  give  lectures  in  Ambulance  for  women  on  Saturday

1914
1914

East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 

afternoons from 3 to 5 in the large room at Blyburgate House. 2) Study of French by Mdlle Maury.
SAILING CLUB: Last match of the Season, in following order: Bounty (FJ Farrell); Sunbeam (AW
Darby); Peggy (MM Marshall); Phyllida (AR Scott);  Cygnet (CN Trollope); Bantling (FE Banham)

1914
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 
1914
East Suff Gaz 29 Sep 

SPECIAL CONSTABLES: ex-Policemen, ex soldiers, & others accustomed to discipline: In cases of
emergency: 1) Raids or invasion, to maintain order and guard communications. 2) Consequences of
war:  internal  disorder  due  to  unemployment,  reduced  food  supplies,  etc.  3)  Industrial  disputes.

numbers  at present:  3,616.  Will be provided with appointment  card,  a badge,  a whistle  and  a staff.
Divisional Officer: JP Larkman; Sub Division: Major SL Barrett (Telport, Puddingmoor)
DETAILS of Captain John Ashley’s account of the RETREAT FROM ANTWERP are to be found in

1914
Later report from the Front

a separate file entitled Beccles, Newspapers, 1915, full text  
Dr WILLIAM ALDIS  WRIGHT, Vice Master  of Trinity, Cambridge, the  distinguished Biblical  &

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 

Shakespearean scholar, secretary of the Old Testament Revision Company, who died 19 May,  left
estate of £75,000. He left £500 to Beccles Hospital.

1914

TERRITORIAL FORCE RESERVE: To be Major: Major Sidney Barrett (late 3rd Battalion Norfolk
Regiment)

East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 

1914
1914
1914

LICENCE TRANSFER: White Horse from W Hall to Maurice Woolnough.
POLICE COURT: Robert Copeman, labourer, drunk in the Crown. Landlord: HE Jackson.
BECCLES SOLDIER'S LETTER German Treachery

East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 
 
 

Private Robinson, of the Coldstream Guards, of Beccles, is now in hospital at Cardiff, having being
wounded in the left knee at Sopia.The Guards were advancing across the fields towards the enemy,
when about 70 Germans hoisted the white flag and surrendered. An officer said" Come on boys they

have  surrendered;" but "as soon  as we went to surround them their  artillery,  hidden in the woods
Beccles, Newspapers from 1914 
David Lindley, January 2002 
 
10

behind, opened a heavy shell fire on us, and our fellows began to drop like wheat. Six men on my left
were  killed  outright  ,and  another  on  my  right  had  his  left  arm  shattered  by  a  piece  of  shrapnel.

Another fragment struck my knee, and I could not move after that......This was not the first time we
had had tricks played upon us like this. Only three days before about 100 men, including 6 officers,

held up the white flag to surrender, and when we advanced to surround them we were shelled by their
artillery. On that occasion however, we got the better of them, charged their position, and captured 7

of their guns."
WAR RELIEF: Miss Allen of Soldiers & Sailors’ Families Association: 78 wives & 206 children &
38 dependents relieved. £178 spent.

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 
1914

Mrs Leigh Heseltine entertained 30 NCOs & men of the Shropshire Royal Horse Artillery to tea at
Asman’s Hall on Sunday afternoon.
NORTH SEA DISASTER: JW Keable, 1st Class Stoker on the Aboukir, one of 3 cruisers torpedoed  

East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 
1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 

in the North Sea lost his life. Formerly employed at Caxton Works.  Son of A Keable, 57 Northgate.
DEATH  of  Mr  ET  DOWSON  of  Geldeston.  Son  of  late  Edward  Utting  Dowson,  born  1846.
Educated  Fauconberge  School,  then  Brighton  &  Rugby  &  University  College,  London.  JP  for

1914
East Suff Gaz 6 Oct 

Suffolk. Docesan Secretary of C of E Society for Providing Homes foe Waifs and Strays, Committee