Berwick-upon-Tweed - A World War I Military Service Tribunal

In this video, Maltings Youth Theatre present a World War I military service tribunal in the setting of Berwick-upon-Tweed jail hearing 2 applications for exemption from conscription into the British Army, based on research by the Berwick 900 Our Families project.

Dr Philip MacLagan is presiding.

Salmon fishing on the Tweed – now coming to Spittal !

From Helen Jarvis:
A recent public event celebrating local impressions of salmon fishing and the river Tweed caused quite a stir in the function room of The Pilot Inn, Low Greens. 

The event attracted a dozen or so local residents, many bringing with them faded news cuttings and documents recording historic family connections to the netting industry.  Several former Berwick residents travelled in from as far away as South Tyneside to share childhood memories of growing up in a fishing family.  Adding to the lively mix were contributions from those who were enjoying a quiet pint at the bar who came in to browse the displays out of curiosity.  Each came with their own motivation to view rare film clips, photographs and quoted anecdotes and to share their passion for the river, the fish and the fishing. 

This was the first in a series of ‘pop-up’ citizen-led story-telling events organised by a team from Newcastle University (funded by the Institute of Social Renewal) accompanied by local history experts representing Our Families (a Berwick Record Office, Heritage Lottery funded project for Berwick 900).  

Advertised attractions included several rare film-clips (credited to the North East Film Archive, Berwick Record Office and local film-makers). These were playing on a continuous loop on computers with head-phones available for anyone who wanted to listen in to the likes of Richard Dimbleby, 1950, and Fyfe Robertson, 1959, talking to people in Berwick and Seahouses about Salmon Fishing. 

A rich variety of narrative and visual media and a large-scale map of the Tweed prompted enthusiastic conversations and reminiscing. We heard about the hard working conditions of the netsmen “standing in the middle of the river in February- four hours twice a day and always shifting according to the tides” and the great flood of 1948.  One contributor brought along a pewter tankard presented by the Berwick Salmon Fisheries Company to commemorate the presentation of a Tweed Salmon to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 7th July 1956. 

We also heard touching personal reflections of a childhood in which the salmon fishing “was part of our play-time- legs dangling over the side of the pier and always the oohs and ahhs when the fish were brought in”.  Some of the stories would benefit from additional local knowledge: does anyone recall, for instance, bringing salmon home for feast week in a purpose-made bag of women palm leaves? We have scope over this series of events to gather a more detailed picture of salmon fishing in the past together with opinions about how to sustain this local knowledge and expertise for the future.

The next event is at the Spittal Residents’ Association Jubilee Social and Community Centre in Highcliffe on Wednesday 17th June.  The session will be open between 6pm and 8pm. It will again feature the films and display materials.  Anyone who feels connected to fishing community traditions and the river is invited to come along to browse- or to bring along stories, anecdotes, images, opinions and artefacts. 

Please come along to this event: everyone is welcome!
For more information on this and other events associated with the Salmon Fishing on the Tweed project, please contact Helen Jarvis, Newcastle University, email helen.jarvis@ncl.ac.uk or telephone 0191 208 6959.

Thomas Emond Tait, World War I Soldier

Robina Burgon writes:
My grandfather, Thomas Emond Tait, originally from Selkirk, was in World War I, serving in Gallipoli, Egypt, Palestine and the Western Front.

He re-enlisted with the 4th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) stationed at Berwick Barracks on 24 June 1919 aged 21. On his enlistment registration his next of kin was stated as Catherine Story, 16 Allars Crescent, Hawick.

His daughter's birth is listed in the Borders Chronicles, a newspaper that was specifically published for the barracks. These are held in the library at the barracks.

He was discharged on 1 October 1936 under section 383 Kings Regulations and became a constable for the War Department based in Irvine, Ayrshire.

He is buried in Berwick Cemetery.

Alexander Burgon, Lighthouse Keeper, Berwick-Upon-Tweed and his Courageous Daughter, Robina

Alexander Burgon with his grandson, also Alexander

From Robina Burgon about her grandmother, Robina Burgon:
She manned the lighthouse at  in the 1920s while her father, the lighthouse keeper, was dying of cancer. She was the only woman to man the lighthouse and the last person to man it before it went automatic.

From the Berwick Advertiser:
Death of former Berwick lighthouse keeper
The death has taken place at his home in Woolmarket, Berwick, of Mr Alexander
Burgon who for a number of years acted as lighthouse keeper.
Mr Burgon's death followed an illness of several weeks duration and took place early on Wednesday morning (14th May 1930).
At an early age, Mr Burgon answered the call of the sea and as a young man,
along with his brothers followed the herring fishing at Ireland and the West
Coast of Scotland. It was following a long career at sea that Mr Burgon took
over the duties of the lighthouse keeper  about nine years ago. During that
period he had often to battle with nature's elements to gain the lighthouse
and there put into operation the light that has warned others to give wide
berth. Not only in this capacity did he render yeoman service to his fellow
seamen, as for a long period of years he was a member of Berwick Lifeboat
crew and here as in everything with which he was connected he was always
ready to answer duty's call.

Mr. Burgon had rather a serious breakdown in health in 1927 during which
period his daughter, Miss R Burgon (Robina Graham Law Burgon), took
over the duties of lighthouse keeper. Miss Burgon possessed the
characteristic courageousness of the family, and throughout long dreary
winter nights she kept lonely vigil. Neither the pounding of the huge
breakers against the lighthouse nor the eerie sound which often 'whistles'
around such places, disturbed her. So interesting did Miss Burgon find the
duties that when her father had a further breakdown in health last year, she
again took charge of the lighthouse. In recognition of her services Miss
Burgon received a letter of congratulation, together with a slight
acknowledgement, from Berwick Harbour Commissioners.

Of a cheery disposition, Mr Burgon was a kenspeckle figure in the town and
was always ready to narrate any of his experiences of which he had vivid
recollection. One of is brothers, Mr Robert Burgon who was coxswain of
Berwick Lifeboat was drowned in March 1927 on Berwick bar when the yawl
'Lerwick' was swamped.

Mr Burgon is survived by his wife, Isabella (maiden surname Buglas), two sons, and four daughters. The funeral takes place on Sunday.

Isabella Burgon, daughter, Robina and Thomas Emond Tait

Another Tidal Short at Spittal

Following on from the Tidal Taster on Spittal Beach,

here's another short Tidal performance with Chloe Smith.

More on the Brigham Family of Tweedmouth

There's more information on The Brigham Family of Tweedmouth.

Gail Petrov writes:
I thought we would share our Tweedmouth family photos. 

William Brigham and Mary Hudson Brigham about mid 1890s, who died in 1904 and 1911, respectively.  

It was shortly after his mother (Mary Hudson Brigham)’s death that James emigrated.

James and Mary Brigham with children, James and Mary

The Brigham brothers, Charles and William standing, Hudson and Ernest sitting

Prior to leaving England for a new life in Canada, James and wife Mary, with children James and Mary sat for one portrait, the other four sons Charles, William, Hudson and Ernest sat for another.   These photos were to help them adjust to not being together for a year.

The Brigham Family of Tweedmouth

Gail Petrov and Beverly Brigham from Canada write:
Our Brigham roots stem from East Yorkshire, to Holy Island, on to Fenwick
(Kyloe Parish) then to Tweedmouth.
In 1911, our great grandfather, James Brigham, emigrated to Canada.

William Brigham, born 1833 in Fenwick (Kyloe Parish), married to Mary
Hudson, was part of a family joinery business.  The joinery was started in
1782 by his grandfather, John Brigham, in Fenwick.
William eventually took over the Joinery with his sons, John and James.
By 1889, they were in Tweedmouth residing and operating the joinery workshop
on Main Road, Tweedmouth. 

William Brigham & sons, Joiners and Contractors

After William's death in 1904,

the sons took over the business but in April 1911, dissolved the partnership.   John continued to reside in Tweedmouth and operate the business until it closed in the mid-1940s.  James emigrated with his family in May 1911 to Canada.

On 11 May 1911, James with wife, Mary Lightly Brigham, daughter Mary and youngest son James left Glasgow, Scotland, on the ship Saturnia.  They arrived in Quebec, Canada on 14 May 1911.

James is listed 19 May 1911 in the Britain, Trade Union membership registers, union branch Winnipeg, which shows he continued his joinery trade.

Their other 4 sons remained in Tweedmouth with their grandmother, Agnes
Rutherford.   On 27 April 1912, the boys and their grandmother left Glasgow, Scotland on the ship Hesperian, arriving in Quebec, Canada, on 6 May 1912.

It was a short family reunion as James died on 2 December 1912 in Winnipeg.

During World War I, James' eldest son, William, enlisted 11 January 1916 and was sent overseas.  He was seriously wounded on 16 September 1916 at the Battle of The Somme, at Courcelette, losing his right eye and later having his right foot
amputated.

Berwickshire News, 17 Oct 1916

Another son, Charles, enlisted 17 April 1918 and also served overseas in
World War I.

Two more sons, Hudson and James, enlisted to do their service for Canada in
World War II.  Both were sent overseas and had contact with family members in
England.The Canadian Brighams still have contact with family members in the UK.