East Howdon Medal H. Hudspeth
17/1383 H. Hudspith
Five Streets’ Record – Presentation to Returned Heroes
Five streets with a population of 450 in East Howden sent 111 men and two ladies into active service. Of these Sergt. Roberts, Private Lawrence and Nurse McGrath were awarded the Military Medal and ten made the supreme sacrifice.
A committee representing the five streets which are in the borough of Tynemouth – welcomed home the returned men and the representatives of those who fell among the guests being Mrs McGrath whose daughter is still on active service. Tea was provided after which a concert and peace pageant was given under the chairmanship of Mr J.F. McNair.
Gold medals were presented to those who had served or their representatives, this ceremony being performed by Commander Craig, who congratulated the men of Tyneside on the response they made to the call of the country before conscription, was considered necessary.
If he said the rest of the country had responded as had Tyneside, conscription would not have been necessary. They were nevertheless not prepared to accept militarism and they would not have conscription as a permanent institution in the country.
The Newcastle Daily Chronicle 07/08/1919 reads:-
Last night, at the Co-operative Hall, Willington Quay a welcome home was given by the East Howdon Heroes Fund Committee to the 113 heroes or their representatives who were drawn from the five streets in the district of East Howdon, where the total population is 450. Included in the number were three Military Medalists – Nurse McGarth (sic), Sergt. Roberts and Pte. D. Lawrence. Ten men made the supreme sacrifice. The fund commenced a year ago and was so generously supported that the committee were able last night to provide the men or their representatives with a substantial meal and also with a gold medal each. The proceedings afterwards took the form of a concert and peace pageant. Mr J.F. McNair presided and was supported by Commander H.J. Craig R.N.V.R., the Rev. J.C. McCuddin, Mr Wilson M.B.E. manager of the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company’s yard, Mr J. Christopher secretary and Mr J.M. Bowey treasurer of the Fund.
An address of welcome was read by the secretary, after which Commander Craig presented the medals. He said that on Tyneside they had reason to be proud of the way in which their lads had offered for service long before conscription was found to be necessary. The men they were honouring had spared the country from being overcome by a terrible enemy. If the rest of the country had responded as had Tyneside, he did not think conscription would have been necessary. Still they would not accept militarism and they would accept conscription as a permanent institution in the country. (Applause). It was to save the country from conscription and the horrors of militarism that they had volunteered and saved the Empire in the last few years. It would be found, if ever the necessity arose again, that Britons would respond to the call of the country.
The musical programme concluded with a peace pageant in which Peace was represented by Miss S. Milton and Britannia by Miss M. McIlvenny.
One of the recipients of the gold medal – turned into a watch fob, was 17/1383 Lance Corporal Henry Hudspith serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers. Henry enlisted and went to France 20th November 1915. He survived the war. His grandson Richard Huspith has provided these photographs.