LOCAL HEROES HONOURED - Heworth Colliery Workmen-Soldiers recognised at the Corona

There was a large gathering at the Corona Hall on Friday night, July 27th, when a special entertainment had been arranged. The programme including presentations to the soldiers who had previous to enlisting worked at Heworth Colliery, and who had won distinctions. The presents consisted of gold watches and a medal, and were the gifts of the officials and workmen of Heworth Colliery.

The recipients were:-
Sergt. George Hunter, 9th D.L.I. Military Medallist
Sergt. Jacob Parkin, 18th N.F. Card of Honour
Pte. Thos. Greenwell, 18th N.F. Card of Honour
Lance-Corpl. Joseph Bolam 26th N.F. Military Medallist
Sergt. Joseph Askew, 13th D.L.I. Military Medallist
Capt. Carter on behalf of his son Sergt. John Carter (deceased) Military Medallist

Major English, agent of Heworth Colliery supported by Major Marshall, presided at the presentation ceremony and introduced the recipients one by one to Mrs S. Southern who gracefully handed over the gifts, amid the applause of the large audience.

A party of wounded soldiers, the guests of the proprietors of the hall, were also given a place of honour on the platform.

Major English said they were there to honour these local heroes. He was particularly pleased to have the honour of being present, and expressed regret that his wife, who took a deep interest in the welfare of the soldiers, was unable to attend. He felt there was nothing good enough for these men, and the amount of love they had in their hearts for them was unlimited. Nothing they had seen in the newspapers could describe what these men had gone through.

He had personally witnessed the splendid courage and heroism of some of these men. Lance-Corpl. Jos. Bolam, whom they had honoured received the Military Medal for bringing a machine gun, after all his section, 25 in number, including his lieutenant and himself, had been killed or wounded. He was left entirely on his own, but, nothing daunted, he kept firing the gun until the enemy section ceased firing. Lance.-Corpl. Bolam, had “done his bit” and for that he had been awarded the Military Medal.

Sergt. Jacob Parkin had been recommended for hard and gallant work in the front line, preparing trench mortar batteries to shoot on La Boiselle, 1916.

Sergt. Joseph Askew had been recommended for holding a bombing post until he was completely exhausted. After coming around and being relieved he was preparing for the usual rest when he came across his lieutenant, (Lieutenant O'Callaghan) lying with both his legs shot off. By his promptitude he was the means of saving the life of the Lieutenant. This happened on July 27th, 1916, and for this he had been awarded the Military Medal, and he (Major English) had been told that Sergt. Askew had been recommended for the Russian Order of St. George. He had also been awarded a Card of honour for bravery and continued devotion to duty on the battalion front line on May 14th, 1917.

Sergt. George Hunter had been recommended for carrying wounded of the Gordon highlanders and the 1st Northumberland Fusiliers during a terrific bombardment by the enemy (his battalion not being in action at the moment). He was one of 20 of the 9th D.L.I. who volunteered for this work and out of the 20 only three returned alive. He had been wounded himself. This was on February 12th, 1916, at the battle of the Bluff in the Ypres salient.

Pte. Thos Greenwell had been recommended for gallantry as a stretcher bearer and continued devotion to duty, especially on July 1st and 2nd, 1916, when our northern battalions were in continued action.

There was a touch of sadness in the presentation of a medal, which was received by Mr. T.H. Pickles, on behalf of Capt. Carter whose son Sergt. John Carter had been awarded the Military Medal but unfortunately had made the supreme sacrifice.

There were many whom they had the privilege of honouring, said Major English, but some of those who had won distinction had gone under, and one of them was Sergt. Carter. They had received no particulars of the gallant deeds he did, but he knew many gallant deeds had been done that day and many lives had been lost. Sergt. Carter’s father was serving his country on the seas and was unable to be present. Instead of receiving the grant that was allowed from the fund, Capt. Carter had preferred a medal in remembrance of his son. Major English asked the audience to stand, in honour of this brave soldier who had died for his country.

The Chairman’s request was complied with in silence.

Mr. Pickles, on receiving the medal promised that it would be forwarded at once to Capt. Carter, who was under orders to sail to a foreign land.

Mrs. Southern, at the close of the presentations, expressed the hope that the men who had to return to the front would be spared to come back again. “We are very proud of them” she said, “for what they had done for our country and for us”.

Mr. T. H. Pickles presented a statement of the accounts of the fund. The income was:-
Contributions of officials and workmen £445 9s. 4d.
Loan from Owners of Heworth Colliery (free of interest) £300
Total: £745 9s. 4d.

The expenditure to date was :- By death payments to relatives of 33 married soldiers (£8 each), £264, and 31 single soldiers (£8 each), £248; 70 children of left dependents (10s.each), £35; presentations, £35; incidental expenses, 9s. 8d.
Total: £582 9s. 8d
Leaving balance of: £162 19s 8d.

Mr. Curtis, on behalf of the committee, moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, Mrs Southern, Mr Mann, the hall attendants, and the proprietors of the hall. Mr S Southern seconded, and the motion was carried with acclamation. The proceedings terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.

The evening’s programme included songs and dances by the Sisters Gaye, comediennes and speciality dancers, and selections by the Record Duo, South Africa’s versatile banjoists, whose rendering of popular tunes was a feature of the programme. These two turns were from Black’s Palace, Gateshead, by the kind permission of Mr Robertson. Madame Dorothy Forster, Newcastle, and Mr. Gibson, Birtley, also contributed to the programme. The pictures shown included an excellent dramatic subject entitled “Honour’s Altar”.

Transcribed: Brenda Mcmahon