June 1920

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1920.

In this issue of the Magazine we begin the publication

of a most interesting and important series of Letters,

very kindly placed at our disposal by

Lieut.-Colonel B. W. Blacker, D. S.O. The letters

constitute a continuous record of the doings of our

famous "Ninth Battalion," from the day they landed

in France up to March 1917, when Colonel Blacker

relinquished his command. The letters are published

as they were written home, and therefore present us

a succession of vivid pictures of the War

Experiences of our men. As there is likely to be an

increased demand for copies of the Magazine during

the publication of the Letters, will those who wish to

obtain such copies please leave their orders at Kyle's

Grocery Stores, 16 Bridge Street, Portadown, or with

the Magazine distributor of their district. We fear

it may not be possible to supply extra copies of the

complete Magazine, but it will be possible to get extra

copies of the Local Matter, including the Letters, at

a charge of 2d for each copy.

Sunday School Excursion.

The excursion will take place (D V.) to

Warrenpoint on Thursday, June 17th. The prices for

Tickets will be - Sunday School Children under 15, 2/6

(including 2 Refreshments); Sunday School Scholars

over 15, Members of Bible Classes and Teachers, 4/6

(including 2 Refreshments). Adults and outsiders,

5/-. The Sunday School Children with their teachers

will assemble at the Parish Church at 9 a.m., when a

short service will be held, and then forming into pro-

cession they will march to the station. The train

will leave Portadown at 9-30 a.m., and will leave

Warrenpoint on the return journey at 7-30 p.m. The

Tickets for the Children will be on sale at the various

Sunday Schools on the Monday evening preceding

the Excursion at 8 p m. Tickets for Adults are now

on Sale from the Superintendents of the Sunday

Schools, Adults should secure their Tickets in good

time, as they are Strictly limited in number.

Seagoe Day School.

The Annual Examination in Religious Knowledge

was held in Seagoe School on Monday, Moy 10th,

the Diocesan Inspector, Rev. J. Gordon, M.A., has

reported as follows -

On the whole the Examination in this School was

very satisfactory, giving evidence of careful teaching.

Junior Division - Full Marks and Certificates were won

by Lily Hutchinson, Jack Hill, Fred Crossan, Wm.

Livingstone and Thos. Hall. Certificates were also

awarded to Elsie McNally, Nellie White, Eva Dickson,

Caroline Guy, Jack Best, David Rowland, Maggie

Coulter, Maud Coulter, Wm. McMurray.

Senior Division - Full Marks and Certificates -

Amy Holmes (Monitress), Isabella Best, Norman

Walker and Willie White. Certificates were awarded

to Lily Sweeney, Hilda Walker, Hugh Costello,

Sarah Coulter, Edna Watson, Edna Best.

PARISH REGISTER for MAY.

Baptisms.

Rainey—May 1st, 1920, Robert George, son of

Samuel and Elizabeth Rainey, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Sorah Rainey, Elizabeth Rainey.

Anderson—May 1st, 1920, Abraham, son of Francis

and Susan Anderson, of Drumgor.

Sponsors—Martha Jane Bickett, Susan Anderson.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

McNeill—May 22nd, 1920, Edith, twin daughter of

Samuel George and H an nah Elizabeth

McNeill, of Ballymacrandle,

Marriages.

Craig and Guy—May 1st, 1920, Andrew Craig, of

Portadown, to Elizabeth Anna Guy, of

Ballyhannon.

Porter and Watson—May 12th, 1920, David

Porter, of Kernan, to Anne Elizabeth

Watson, of Muckery, Parish of Drumcreey.

Burials.

Ross— April 29th, Emily Elizabeth Ross, of Upper

Seagoe, aged 6 months.

Forsythe—May 23rd, Emily Jane Forsythe,of Upper

Seagoe, aged 53 years.

ITEMS.

Seagoe Church Grounds are looking very neat, and

the grave plots are being carefully tended.

* *

Seagoe Choir drove in a Char-a-Banc to Dromore

for the Choral Festival.

* *

Seagoe has had its share of the dull weather, and

farming operations are behind-hand.

* *

Seagoe won a good share of Prizes at

Portadown Show, on June 3^rd.

Seagoe Magazine for May was sold out in

Days.

* *

Seagoe Choir sang a pretty Whitsuntide Carol on

Whitsunday. It was taken from the May number of

Seagoe Magazine.

* *

Seagoe Schoolboys have got their school garden

into fine order.

* *

Seagoe Puzzles in last Magazine have created much

Interest. One competitor has made 105 words out of

the word "Portadown."

* *

Seagoe War Memorial is being prepared for erection

by Messrs. Purdy & Millard, of Belfast.

* *

Seagoe heartily congratulates its neighbour, the

Rev. F. J. Halahan, M.A., M.C, Rector of Drumcree,

on the distinguished compliment paid him by the

Clergy and Laity of the Arch-Diocese of Armagh, in

placing him first in the voting list for the vacant

Bishopric of Armagh.

* *

Seagoe Mission Week Collection was made on

Saturday, May 22nd. The following sums have already

been received - Levaghery, S. & J. Jennett and S.

McDowell, 10/9. Tarsan - Miss M. Coulter, 5/9.

Foundry Street - Miss C. Kirby, 2/5. Railway Street,

- Miss B. Cartmill, 10/9. Drumgor - Miss L.

McClelland, 16/3. Knockmena and Clanrolla - Miss

E. Webb, 9/6. Lylo - Miss E. Webb. 8/6. Balteagh

and Glasson - Miss C. Anderson, 14/-. Killicomaine

- Misses N. Hamill and I. Best, 13/10. Seagoe -

Miss G. Porter, 8/6. Ballyhannon - Miss E. Elliott,

9/-. Drumlisnagrilly and Drumnacanvey - Miss G.

Best, 1/6. Knock and Hacknahay - Miss Lily

England, 18/-. Total, £6 8s 9d.

* *

Seagoe, as a Parish, has not as yet done anything

for the Diocesan Clerical Income Augmentation

Scheme. Lt.-Colonel Blacker has subscribed £50.

We hope the Parish generally will follow the good

example he has set, and help forward this useful and

necessary scheme.

* *

Seagoe heard the Cuckoo first on April 19th. It

wag first heard by Mr. Robert Price, at Ballinacor.

Hibernian Bible Society.

We have received the following sums collected for

the Bible Society (a book prize is given by the

Society to each collector of 5s.) Hilda Mayes, 6s;

Annie Currie, 5s 4d. Mabel Dickson, Thomas

Ryans, Cissy Currie, Thomas Forsythe, John

Johnston. Sadie Maginnis, Lily England, Georgina

Porter, Robert Richardson, Charles Twinem, Annie

Freeburn, 5s each.

Bobbie Hughes, 2s 9d; Hugh Costello, 1s 6d.

Nine Books have not yet been returned. Collectors

will please return them at once.

July Anniversary Service.

An Anniversary Service will (D.V.) be held in

Seagoe Parish Church, on Sunday Evening, July

11th, at 7 p.m. The preacher will be the Rev. R.

Bullick Cooke, M.A., Rector of All Saint's Church,

Belfast.

Seagoe Annual Report.

The Report will be circulated in a few days. It is

the Report, for the year 1919, under the new arrangement,

whereby all accounts close on December 31st,

instead of at Easter. There is an increase in the

Sustentation Fund, but the subscriptions still stand

in many cases at a very low level. A few doubled

their subscriptions this year. General Ricardo in

speech at the recent General Synod stated that in his

Parish in the Diocese of Derry, they had agreed to

assess themselves for Sustentation at the following

rate - Landholders, 2s per acre, per annum, and

Industrial workers and wage earners at 3d per £

weekly. A former owning 30 acres would at this

rate pay towards the upkeep of his Church £3 per

year; and a wage earner earning £3 per week would

pay 9d per week, or about £2 per annum. This is

regarded as the normal minimum by the Churchmen

of the County Derry.

If the subscriptions to Seagoe Sustentation Fund

were at the same rate as in General Ricardo's Parish

our Sustentation Fund would reach £650 each

year.

Seagoe Puzzles.

HIDDEN TOWNS AND RIVERS.

1 The better the Reaper, the better the harvest.

2 Thou shalt not slay or kill thy neighbour.

3 An afternoon nap lessens fatigue.

4 That ship caught gust of wind, and heeled

right over.

WORD DIAMONDS.

1 A personal pronoun; a termination; a country;

a noise; a letter of the alphabet.

2 A letter denoting a part of the world; a jar;

to hide; a number; a letter.

Answers to Puzzles in May Number.

FAMOUS PEOPLE.

Gladstone, Garibaldi, Asquith,Wolsey, Melchizedek

Chamberlain.

DOUBLE ACROSTIC.

1 C B

2 A liwah L

3 R afi A

4 R omantic C

5 I l K

6 C arab E

7 K eepe R

c

We got 103 words of more than one letter out of

Portadown.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE

WITH THE "NINTH" IN FRANCE,

By Lieut.-Col. S. W. BLACKER, D.S.O.

FOREWORD.

I have been asked by the Rector to write something for the Seagoe Magazine on the doings

of the 9th in France. I have come to the conclusion that Extracts from letters written home

from day to day would be perhaps the best record of the doings of the Battalion.

These letters cover the period from October 1915, till March, 1917, and are just a daily

record of our life out there. They were written under various circumstances and conditions, and

of course, without any idea of publication.

Naturally there are many abbreviations and allusions which will puzzle the ordinary

reader, but I think any of my old comrades in the 9th will be able to understand them, and I

hope they may serve to call to their minds memories and recollections of our life in France and

Flanders.

I would ask the indulgence of all in publishing these somewhat egotistical records, but

would ask you to bear in mind the conditions under which they were written. S.W.B.

October 3rd, 1915.

Battalion moved out with no prisoners, no absentees, and no one drunk.

October 4th and 5^th - [Havre.]

Believe we have about 20 hours in train to-morrow.

All fit and well. We disembarked at 7 a.m., having

spent Sunday in Southampton Dock. Came to rest

camp, about two miles from dock - Havre, I believe,

left Southampton at 8-30 p.m.; small boat;

such a pack; barely standing room, 37 officers and

1,340 men. Some of the R.A. came over in our ship.

No Regulars, except a Brigade-Major. We were lucky

in the weather, sea like glass, no one ill. Fine to-day,

men seem perky. We passed through miles of dock,

packed with stores of all sorts. Slept from 9-0 to

5-0 a.m. on the sofa, One of the Saunderson's was

Embarking Officer at Southampton. 31 officers slept

in saloon on lower deck, with all ports closed. About

2000 in this camp, and 100 officers.

October 6^th - [Raineville.]

We are in the region we desired; 20 miles in rear;

a wearisome night journey, detraining at 3 a.m., in

dark; 8-mile march and into billets. Not very

wonderful for the men. Somewhat dirty barns. We

are in Curé's house, quite all right; men a bit tired

after three disturbed nights. ''Downs" here, others

about 3 miles away, Robin FitzRoy came to see me

where we disembarked at Rest Camp. In charge of

an anti-aircraft gun. Everything very tumbled down

and dilapidated here owing to men all away for the

last 13 months. Germans once came within a mile

of the place.

The Curé has a Panhard Car, iron tyres, going

well, which he has had since 1891! He's rather a

nice old thing, most obliging and kind. Weather

warm and nice. I went with Fergie to settle about

billets, etc. No interpreter at present, and no one

else who could speak the language. Fergie hard as

work. At port of disembarkation he picked up

machine gun, and heaps of odds and ends. All well

and fit, including myself. A Mrs. and Miss Sydney

Pitt provided tea at the station for men and officers,

at 2d a head; both rather amusing and pleasant. All

came in one long train of 46 coaches.

October 7th.

Men quite recovered to-day. Took them for 5 mile

march to stretch their legs. General Nugent came

round this a.m. - programme to stay here for a week,

then go for instruction into Trenches, and then after

a week of that do Divisional Training. Met Clive -

liason officer between Joffre and French. Most interesting.

German losses in Champagne alone, 40,000 killed.

We all slept very well and are quite comfortable.

Clive quite sanguine as to how things are going - in

a sane way. Our Army Commander, "Munro,”

inspects us tomorrow. (111 Army.)

Sanitary arrangements chez M.le Curé, hopeless.

October 8th.

Our ship was a small paddle boat. Route marched

this morning. Went round all billets in a.m. Very

bad - dirty outhouses, overcrowded, and roofs full of

holes; but the best procurable. Men take it as a joke.

Was able to get three very bad ones improved by

being stern with the inhabitants.

Interpreter came this evening. An N.C.O.; no pretensions

to being a Sahib. Officers and men clamouring for money,

and no means of getting it so far.

We've had nothing but bully beef rations so far.

Good thing we had F. & M's box. Carbolic soap a

failure. Sticky and greasy. We get the "Times”

the next day generally. It took me half-an-hour

to stamp men's letters with Press Censor stamp, The

Company Commanders read and signed the envelopes.

Weather still fine, but foggy and raw to-day. We get

a ration of condensed milk daily; I tin to 16 men,

which is ample. Bread is the urgent need. None,

or very little can be got. Germans attacked all along

the line yesterday, but were repulsed everywhere

except at one place. They all seem pleased with

progress of events, am feeling very fit, Inspection

quite a success. Munro said we were a fine and

steady body of men. Nugent (Div. Gen.) said 'the

steadiest Brigade' Fergie got great Kudos for

capturing a machine gun at H……..

Got 6,000 francs for pay, and tobacco and cigs for men, and

Fergie brought fresh mutton for us.

October 10th.

Adjutant had heavy cold, but rather better now.

“Downs" and we had Church Parade, under Halahan

(was Rector of Drumcree, and a delightful man, etc.)

We paid men 5 francs each, and issued cigs and

tobacco. Great fun about alleged shortness of supplies.

The Gen. very excited about it, and the Staff

generally disturbed. We have not suffered in any

way, but some units did. To-day we got our first

fresh meat ration, and bread.

Route marches daily, and one hour's Battalion

Drill, and Musketry daily, besides bombing, sniping,

shooting and M.G. firing. Dr. Berry operated on a

girl by request of the Curé, and the grateful mother

sent ug a chicken as a thank-offering. Such a

heavenly day.

Heavy firing all this p.m., but it is very faint here.

Aeroplanes come over every evening, some very

high.

October 11th.

The men write 1,000 letters a day! Brigade

Field Day today. Gas demonstration to-morrow.

October 12th.

This p.m. we had gas demonstration. A school-

house was filled with gas, and the whole Battalion

put on gas helmets, and walked through it, to prove

the efficiency of the helmet. No casualty, but the

buttons of the jackets were all discoloured. The

“Downs" have moved to another village, which has

relieved the congestion here.

October 13th.

A Conference at the Div. Hd. Qrs. about the

recruiting problem. The General is sure that Ireland

will be left out of any National Service Scheme.

General Hickman came over today, and said we were

only just in time, K. ___ told Sir C. Hunter at the

King's Review we should probably not move after all.

We have escaped the Balkans and the Dardanelles by

the skin of our teeth, I believe.

They send us a general statement of communiques

from each Front, every evening, with Orders. Berry

doctors the whole village. 8 miles is their nearest

doctor.

October 14th.

There's a Squadron of N.I. Horse about 4 miles

from here. We move on Sunday, two days march

into the Trenches, for a week's instruction, then back

here for a bit. Caught spy last night signalling.

We have to leave 5 officers behind here, learning

bombing; a nuisance. We need every one of them.

October 15th.

Constant calls for Returns and Reports. The

people here are very friendly and easy to get on with,

Men very energetic; good thing, Had bath this

evening, second since arrival, Water very scarce.

Field Day to-morrow: rather a nuisance the day

before we move

.

October 16th.

Met Elkington to-day. (He now commands our

Artillery.) He came to tea. Only arrived from

Ypres 4 days ago, where he had been for 4 months,

shelled day and night. Has been out 14 months

home twice for 5 days. Never touched and never a

day sick. Right through the Retreat from Mons,

Marne, Aisne, etc. Looking very well, but tired.

Very cheery, and just the same as ever. Says W.O.

and G.H.Q., and the French very optimistic. They

all think we have the Huns, and at last they are at

the end of their men.

October 17th.

Get into Trench area Tuesday, and return here

about 28th. Start at 12-30. Short march.

October 18^th - [Puchevillers.]

Am writing about 7 a.m., just before starting.

In billet. 12 miles to-day and 10 to-morrow.

October 19th— [Couin.]

We came here yesterday, 11 miles, and go into the

Trenches this evening, half Company for 24 hours,

then the other half. The half Company takes over a

half Coy. front for 24 hours, and then each Company

takes over a Company front, and then we return to

our old billets for three weeks, I believe. Weather

glorious, lucky, as we are not, in billets here. Men

came well yesterday. We are all very fit and well.

The men get on very well with the inhabitants, The

interpreter says the people like them. We don't

actually move from here until 4 p.m. I believe. Batt.

H.Q. in a house in the village. German Trenches

700 yards away at this part of the line. This is a

Territorial Division here; very good. I believe out

since March. I think we come out of Trenches

Monday.

October 20th— [Hebuterne.]

Here we are, in the firing line, billeted in a very

dilapidated village, about 500 yards from the Huns.

We got in a good bit after dark, and it was difficult

to find the way about, and settle down into the

various tumbledown houses allotted to us. Every

Company split up, half in Trenches, and half in

Reserve, in a village. Adjutant and I in kitchen on

ground floor. No food procurable last night, so I had

a F. & M. consommé - delicious. Walked round one

Coys. Trench. It took 2 hours. Back at midnight

to sleep fitfully. This a.m. went round with

Brigadier Nicholson. Was in Hampshires. A three

hours' walk at top speed through a maze of Trenches.

(To be Continued.)