Angela Conroy has submitted the following:

Whitley Seaside Chronicle and Visitors’ Gazette – Saturday, 25/09/1915:
LETTER FROM A WHITLEY BOY WITH THE FLEET.
The following well-written and cheery letter from the British Fleet, just recently received by Mr Wm McQuillen, the popular master of Whitley Park Schools, to whom we are indebted for the privilege of printing it, came, we understand, quite as a “surprise packet” to that gentleman.

The writer, John Bennion., who is the second son of Mrs Bennion, of Whitley Road (near St. Paul’s Church) in common with very many Whitley boys, owes his education to Mr McQuillen, and, as will be seen, has not forgotten his old schoolmaster, to whom he is also in all probability indebted no little for the patriotic sentiments he so well expresses, and which have borne such good fruit as is shown by the lengthy Park School Roll of Honour.

Doubtless Mr McQuillen will lose but little time in adding John Bennion’s old-school fellow Richard Wetherill, mentioned in his letter, to that wonderful list.

No 7 Mess, H.M.S. “Hardy”
c/o GPO
Dear Sir,- I have noticed in the “Seaside Chronicle” the Park School’s Roll of Honour, in which my brother’s and my own name was mentioned, so thought you would like to hear from an old pupil of the school.

I have met an old school chum at our base whose name was not mentioned, the person in question is Richard Wetherill, now serving on H.M.S. Blake.

I am pleased to say I am enjoying the best of health and am anxiously awaiting to help to strike another blow for honour of the dear old Motherland.

I have now been serving on board this ship (which, by the way, is a Destroyer) for the period of eleven months. Previous to the war breaking out I was in the employ of the Prince Line, Ltd., of Newcastle. I was in India when war was declared, and I arrived home in September, 1914. I remained at home for one week, and seeing my duty was to serve my King and Country, I joined H.M. Navy for the period of the War. It may interest you to know, sir, that our ship was in action on the 16th of December, 1914, and I was proud to see the spirit in which our men fought and died on that memorable day. If only the enemy would come out of their retreat and fight us face to face I have no fear as to the ultimate victory of our gallant Fleet.

I am certain that right will triumph in the end and once more England will emerge from her hour of dark trouble covered with honour and glory, thus adding to the glorious traditions of the past, of which every Englishman has reason to be proud.

I am also very proud of the splendid record the old school has, also of the great total reached in the “Silver Bullets” and I am sure the old school will always do its best under the guidance of so able a Master as yourself. I will now close, trusting this will find you, and all, in the best of health.

I have the honour to remain
An Old Park School Boy
JOHN BENNION
Officers’ Steward.’

John Bennion is remembered at Whitley Bay in W84.30, on page 5 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.