Mexborough and Swinton Times July 19, 1919
Thurnscoe’s Part in the War
Fine Record of Patriotic Achievement.
Service at Home and Abroad.
The township of Thurnscoe, with its population of less than 5,000, can congratulate itself on the part it has played during the Great War.
At, the first call the men from the Hickleton Main Colliery, rushed to the colours. There was no need for Recruiting meetings. There was more fear of too many men going and seriously decreasing the coal output.
The workers at the colliery live in Thurnscoe and Goldthorpe, and there were about 3,500 employees at the outbreak of the war. Of this number 107 surface-workers, and 1,012 underground workers went into the Army or Navy; a total of 1,119. Thurnscoe’s contribution in men must have been between 500 and 600.
When Lord Derby’s scheme came into operation, a ready response was made, and cheerful one too, and also the call for women for Army, Aircraft or Farm Service met with a generous response.
The Rector of Thurnscoe, the Rev. A. W. Douglas, joined the Royal Navy as a Chaplain early in 1917, and served on “Lucia,” a parent ship to submarines. The medical Officer of Health, Dr. R. Malcolm, in 1918, took up a commission in the Royal Air Force.
The main having joined the colours, those at home set to work in the first place to provide for the dependents.
The Hickleton Main Colliery Relief Fund was formed.
It consisted of the following gentlemen representing both the management and the men:
Mr: John Minnikin, chairman, Mr. Mark Nokes, J.P., secretary, Mr. Walter Hazard, treasurer; Committee: -Messrs. J. Smith, G. Proberts, J. Parkin, J. Bennett, T. Parker, J. Yardley, and W. Mabin.
This fund made allowances to the wives and children or other dependents of soldiers who, at the time of their joining the colours, worked at the colliery, irrespective of whether they lived in Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe or elsewhere, to supplement the Government separation allowance. Generally the scale of allowances was 5s. per week to the wife and a 1s. for each child. – To this fund the owners and workmen contributed in equal proportions. Up to December 31st. 1918, the amount paid to dependents had reached the total of £28,843 1s
The Colliery Company allowed house coal to all soldiers’ wives.
The maximum number of dependents at one time has reached 457 wives, and 1,012 children.
The Thurnscoe Relief Fund was promoted by the Thurnscoe Urban District Council, in order to give allowances to dependents of soldiers who lived in Thurnscoe before joining but did not work at the Colliery. The committee was formed, and consisted of the whole of the members of the District Council. Funds have been raised by collections from tradesmen and colliery officials, and from various gentlemen who had interests Thurnscoe. The proceeds of several concerts etc., were also handed over to the fund.
The amount paid out to soldiers’ dependents has been £504 17s. 6d.
When the power to deal with Civil Liabilities was given to the Local War Pensions Committee, the Relief Fund was abandoned, and the cases dealt with by that committee.
The increasing shortage of shipping made it necessary for an appeal for home Production of food. The Council put into operation the cultivation of Waste Land Act, which resulted in a considerable increase in the number of allotments. Spare time was gladly given, and large numbers learnt to take pleasure in the production of their own vegetable food.
Increases in wages were granted to meet the additional cost of food, but there were thrifty folk who were able to add to their savings and to whom the appeal .of the Government to invest in War Loan was not made in vain. The main issue of War Loan was managed by the local bank — the London Joint Stock Bank Limited. A War Savings Committee was appointed, with Mr. T. Bull, as secretary, and local war savings associations were opened at the Boys’ School, Girls’ School, Thurnscoe Institute, Hickleton Main Institute and ilickleton Main Colliery. Large sums of money were invested through these-associations, associations, the schools especially doing very well.
Mention has been made to the funds for assisting the dependents of the soldiers, but the men themselves were not forgotten.
In the early days of the war, when voluntary help in providing comforts for the troops was so much needed, a small committee was formed, with Mrs. William Wilde, Thurnscoe Hall, as secretary, for providing woollen comforts for Thurnscoe soldiers. Work was taken home and collected weekly, the material being supplied to the workers free, owing to a donation of £35, from the Hickleton Main Colliery Fund, and private subscriptions.
The Colliery Fund spent £255 in tobacco for the soldiers at the various fronts, through the “Weekly Despatch” Tobacco Fund.
The Institute and Clubs also sent gifts to their members on active service at Christmas or at other times.
A very able and efficient force of the Special Constabulary was enlisted to assist the regular police in the exercise of their duties. Especially useful were they after air-raid warnings had been received, when it was essential for the safety of the community, that all lights should be extinguished. This body of men especially deserve acknowledgment for their services, given often at great personal inconvenience, and with so little recognition.
When Belgium was over-run, by the Germans, in 1914, a great stream of refugees crossed to England for shelter and safety homes were found for them all over England, and Thurnscoe undertook to assist in this matter.
Two families of Belgians were received in March, 1915, and housed in cottages near the Parish Church, belonging to the Rev. T. T. Taylor, Lord of the Manor, this gentleman allowing them to live rent free, and at this date they are still there. The Colliery allowed free coal till work was obtained. A committee of ladies was formed to arrange in furnishing the cottages and in collecting promised gifts. Assistance to the amount of M48 was also given by the Thurnscoe Relief Fund.
Another, family of Belgians was taken in September, 1915, and housed in Queen Street, Thurnscoe East, until they left in 1916.
Every appeal made on behalf of charitable objects received its share of support from Thurnscoe Concerts and Flag days—the latter mostly organized by the Rev C. F. Twitchett, Charge — collected over £110, and the proceeds were given to Saint Dunstan’s Homes, British Farmers, Red Cross, the YMCA, Doncaster Military Hospital etc. The Colliery Relief Fund also gave donations amounting to £100 to the Y.M.C.A., Church Army, etc.
The Churches also contributed, their collections to the Red Cross Society and St John of Jerusalem; the Belgian Relief Fund, R.A.C.B., Motor Ambulance Fund, the Missions to Seamen, Waifs and Strays, Soldiers’ Orphans, St. Dunstan’s Home, etc. Over £70 was contributed through the Church offertories, and in addition the children of the Church, sent ‘ a total of 650 eggs, besides fruit and vegetables to the Hooton Pagnell War Hospital and Middlewood Hall, Darfield.
The war work of Public Authority has been very valuable. Every effort has been made to economise, and to work smoothly all war administration, and on the whole, these efforts have been most satisfactory.
The War Pensions Committee—consisting of the members of the Urban District: Council and three co-opted members—has done well, and given sympathetic treatment to every case brought before it.
The Local Tribunal to deal with applications for exemption from military service was formed consisting of Mr. M. Nokes, J.P., (chairman) and Messrs. J. Bennett, G. P. Chapman. W. Hazard and J. Smith. There were 30 sittings, and over 70 cases were dealt with; such cases being those which were not Colliery workmen, these being dealt with by a Special Colliery Recruiting Court.
The food question was also dealt with in most efficient manner. When the situation became acute through the shortage of food, there was much trouble owing to the queues. With the advent of the National system of rationing, and the establishment of Food Control, matters improved considerably. The Thurnscoe Food Control Committee consisted of the following: — Mr. Mark Nokes, J.P., chairman, Mr. Thomas Bull (surveyor) Execuive Officers, Messrs. W. Wilde, W. Hazard, G. P. Chapman, J. Bennett, H. Brookes, G.Lee, Rev T.T. Taylor, and Mrs. J. Hirst: and Mrs. W. Spencer; Mr. J. Parker was appointed local inspector.
After the committee had settled to its duties, there was very trouble and a time of great anxiety was passed over, to the satisfaction of all who realise a great difficulties which often beset the Committee.