The
Newcastle Daily News 30/08/1919 reports on the reception of the first batch of returning soldiers by the Blaydon Reception Committee. 250 men sat down to tea during the afternoon. This was followed by a concert. Each man was given a gold medal. The men were to be welcomed back in batches of 250 at a time.
From Blaydon, 1,397 men had enlisted, of whom 225 had fallen.
A gold watch, the gift of the honours’ committee, plus the D.C.M., was handed to Mrs. Settle, mother of the late J.J. Bellamby, A.B., R.N.V.R.
His name is wrongly spelled, it should be 'Bellamy'.
The Blaydon Courier 06/09/1919 also reports the same event, and that a similar event was planned for Saturday 13th September.
