June 1923

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

JUNE, 1923

Death of Mr, Charles Johnston,

Portadown has sustained a serious loss in the death

of Mr. Charles Johnston, D.L., of Beechcote. For

very many years he took a leading part in every

movement for the welfare of the community. He

gave unstintedly of his time and energy and talents

to further every good cause. Much of the prosperity

of Portadown and the neighbourhood is attributable

to his unceasing interest and effort. His sound

Common sense, his dislike of self advertisement, and

his delightful kindliness of manner won for him a

great place in the affection of the people. He has

left a fine example to Portadown of disinterested

public service.

The Choir Festival,

This annual event. took place at Knocknamuckley

Parish Church on Saturday, May 26th, at 4.30. Seagoe

Choir was present full strength. The Lord Primate

was the preacher. After the service the 14

had tea together in the Parochial Hall—about 380

persons in all. The Rev. John Bentley, Rector of

Jonesboro', conducted and trained the choirs. Mr.

Bentley visited Seagoe Church for a Choir Practice

before the Festival. As a Choir trainer he seems

almost perfect. He knows everything, and although

-ne criticises severely he is not slow to congratulate

when it is deserved, His advice to the Choir on

Time, Tune, the need of Practice, and the Joy of

Singing will not, we believe, be soon forgotten by

those who heard it.

Sunday School Excursion.

It has been decided to have the Sunday School

Excursion to Warrenpoint this year. We will 011 be

glad to get away to the, sea-shore once again. The

day fixed is Thursday, June 21st. This is Mid Summer

day, and also the longest day in the year, so

that the. children will have a glorious time-paddling

and digging and building sand castles, and eating

lovely buns and drinking the best of Gold Medal Tea.

Sympathy.

We regret to record this month the death Of Joseph

Allen, 'a member of a family well known and much

respected in the Parish. After a long and trying ill,

licks ire has been called to his Rest. His. last words

were “Home. Home." our sincere sympathy goes

out to his devoted Parents and the members of the

family in their affliction. The Funeral, which was

very large, took Place to Seagoe Graveyard on Sunday. May 20th.

Congratulations.

We offer our hearty congratulations to the Rev

G. W. Millington, M.A., Curate of St. Mark's, on his,

appointment as Curate in charge or the Parish or

Annaghmore. Mr. Millington was well liked not

only in St. Mark's Parish but also in this Parish.

He has helped us in many ways, and was always

ready to assist by giving addresses at our Temperance

gatherings and also by occasionally ministering

to our sick ones in Lurgan Infirmary We sympathise

with Mr. Miliington in the recent death of

his brother. In the days to come we hope often to:

see Mr. Millington in. this neighbourhood, where he

will always find a welcome.

The Rev. W. T. Wilson,

The Rev. W. T. Wilson, M.A., our new Curate, will

be with us from June 1st. Mr. Wilson has not been

able to find lodgings in Seagoe Parish, and his:

address will be 13 Harford St., Portadown.

Parish Register for May.

Baptisms,

Heyburn—May 5th, 1923, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of William James

and Mary Jane Heyburn, of Edenderry.

Sponsors—Sarah Fleming, Mary Jane Heyburn.

Redpath—May 23rd, 1923, Reuben, son of William and Elizabeth Redpath, of Killicomain.

Sponsors—William Redpath, Elizabeth Redpath.

Marriage.

Walker and Pilsworth—April, 1923, 'at St. Mary's Church, Liverpool, by the Rev. Canon Jones,

Vicar of Banbury,' William B. Walker, M.D., of Cahford, London, formerly Of Upper Seagoe

to Gates Mary L. Pilsworth, of Liverpool.

Burials.

Allen—May goth, Joseph Allen, of Edenderry, aged 27 years,

Porter—-May, Anne Porter, or Lower Seagoe, formerly Of Bleary, aged 19 years.

Forde—May 24th, Frank: Forde, Edenderry, aged 72 years.

Pollock—May 30th; Anne of Lower Seagoe„ aged 14 years.

SEAGOE PARISH MAGAZINE.

Seagoe in New Zealand,

The Rector has received the following very interesting

letter from Mr. Samuel W. Coulter, who left

Seagoe for New Zealand fifty years ago. He writes

from Te Awamutu :—

Dear Sir,—l received your letter with Baptism Certificate

in it. I also received a Seagoe Parish Magazine,

which I was very pleased to get, with many

thanks for your prompt reply. I did not think that

there was such a paper printed me being about 50

years away. There have been many changes in that

time. Now, this is a hurried scribble; it is now close

on 7 0'clock p.m., and the mail closes for this mail

at 8 0'clock at Te Awamutu P.O. I would have sent

you a Money Order for the Magazine, but after 4

p.m. it could not be got. I received your letter on

the 21st of this month. I will send you the money

next mail. Don't send me the paper until you receive

the money. I think this is about the third letter that

I have written home all this time. I don't know, but

you seem a nice sort of a man. You know we are

all supposed to be men. I have got a lot to ask you

about, and a little to do for me yet when I have got

in touch with you. Send me a Portadown paper or

a Belfast paper ; I have not seen one for years. Can

you send me a paper called " The Craftsman"? I

am sending you some papers. Are there any Orange.

Lodges about Seagoe now? No. 26 Seagoe Orange

Lodge sat in my father's house for 49 years. My

grandfather had the largest Orange funeral ever the

Rev. Archdeacon Saurin attended.

Now, Mr. Archer, I will draw this to a close. The

next one will be a longer letter. Now you must excuse

mistakes—I am not up to the pen business very

well. I was so pleased to see some news from old

Portadown ; I know it very well. I used to go to

Seagoe Sunday School; good old times then. And

the drums out nearly every night in the week. In

conclusion I will say good night.

I remain, yours fraternally,

April 23rd, 1923.

SAMUEL W. COULTER.

A Message from Toronto.

The Right Rev. Dr. Sweeny, Bishop of Toronto, has

written the following letter to the Rev. Canon Archer:

My dear Canon,—l am in receipt of yours of the

28th of April, and have passed it on to the General

Secretary of our Council for Social Service, who will

take it up with the Chairman of the Welfare

Department of our Council.

You may rest assured we will do all we possibly

can to welcome any who may come seeking to carve

out for themselves a future in this new country.

With kindest regards, believe me,

Faithfully yours,

May 11th, 1923.

JAMES TORONTO.

Important to Emigrants.

The Rector has also received the following letter

from the Rev. Canon Vernon of The Church House.

604 Jarvis Street, Toronto. Those who are intending

to go to Canada should read it with care :—

My dear Canon,—The Bishop of Toronto passed

over to me your letter of April 28th. Our Chaplains

at the Atlantic ports of Quebec, Halifax and St. John

secure the names and Canadian addresses of all

Anglican immigrants from the ship's manifest, and

then commend them to our parochial clergy

throughout Canada. Of course personal letters of

introduction from you or other clergy of the Irish Church

will always be helpful. It might be well to point

out to members of the Church of Ireland that the

Church in this country is known as the Church of

England in Canada, and sometimes as the Anglican

Church. We should be glad to meet any young Irish

Church people who may be coming to Toronto at this

office if you will give them a letter of introduction

to me. My secretary, Mrs. Payne, is herself an

Irish woman, and we should' be very glad to advise

to the best of our ability any young Irish Church

people. I am sending a short notice to the "Canadian

Churchman" asking our clergy to be on the lookout

for such newcomers. In Canada we have the greatest

love and sympathy with the Church of Ireland,

and are only too anxious to aid Irish Church people

to fit into the Church life in this country and their

new surroundings generally. I am also sending you

a copy of our last annual report, and some other

literature dealing with our work for the Welcome

and Welfare of newcomers.

May 14th, 1923.

Faithfully yours,

C. W. VERNON,

General Secretary.

THE "NINTH" FRANCE.

By Lieut.-Col. S. W. BLACKER, d.s.o.

(Continued from May Magazine.)

WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 23rd.

Bosche very active last night from 5.00 p.m. till 4.00 a.m. this morning. Trench mortars, 4.2 Hows, Field Guns and M.G. very vicious. They caught a wiring party of ours and wounded two officers and one man; one such a dear boy, Wingfield, only 18, so keen and capable. They got him badly through the stomach. He was one of those who did the patrol. I purposely saved him from the Push, he was so young, though he implored me to let him go, and now he is gone. I fear he can hardly recover—anyway we shan’t see him again. He came from 4th Battalion. The flies have suddenly got very bad, they pervade everything, crawl into all food and generally harry one—notwithstanding fly-papers, creosote, spraying and every device we can think of. The Padre will tell you all about this part of the line and the country. I miss him sadly. We are a very dull party without him. Fine, and pleasantly warm. Whenever the wind in E. they order a gas ‘Alert’, when gas helmets have to be worn in a certain way, and other precautions taken. Of course, the wind is S.W., but the gas ‘Alert’ is still on.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th.

Godson joined in March from 4th Battalion. Was in the 4th Hussars. He is capital, and so bright and full of views, and always quite unperturbed. Clements came from Armagh. He has got the Military Medal. Corps, Div. and Bde. Commanders congratulate him. The first man in the Battalion to be decorated. The order has gone out from G.H.Q that men are to be returned to their units. A quiet night and morning, very little M.G. fire, and only occasional shelling. Drizzle during night and this a.m., but all for heat. A pleasant breeze now got up.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th.

The Coy. Commanders’ conference at 2.00 p.m., daily, and we have a talk over things, which generally lasts an hour. Then post comes and I write. Tea at 5.00 p.m., and a walk round various working parties. It always takes me a day to settle into trench routine, and then I am quite happy and hate nothing but the first day. I am feeling unhappy at the amount of work there is to do. Then once we begin to tackle it, one is absorbed in the work. Now I’ve got the hang of these trenches and got the work organised I don’t get up early except for some special reason. The afternoon Hate just begun. We sprayed inside of Mess with creosote and the flies are much better. I hadn’t been to ‘Wipers’ [ Ypres] before. A sad spectacle! Not a wall more than eight feet in height left. The Cloth Hall practically disappeared. A quiet night; they put a whole lot of ‘oil cans’, [ mortars] about 50, into Bde. on our left yesterday p.m., and were very noisy with guns and Hows. for some time, but they let us alone. Holt was down last evening looking round. He now commands a Coy. and rather likes it. So hot and muggy today, and the flies are very trying. The new lot are doing capitally, two of them out on patrol every night, quite on their own, and full of enterprise. Altogether I am very lucky. Kentish’s letter will interest you. Of course, he’s always flowery, but it’s quite a nice letter to get. Was called away to talk to some gunners, and gave them tea. Humphreys is B. Gen. R.A. of the Corps. I haven’t seen him yet. Someone says Horne has got 1st Army and that ‘ Putty’ has gone home, also Keir.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 26th.

A wet night and heavy showers in the a.m. Now cleared off. Various Staff visited us, all very affable. There is a certain amount of what is called trench fever going; it’s a sort of ‘flu’ temp. Muggy weather, I think, has brought it on. Godson returned from sniping course last night, very keen, and bright bird. Quiet night, but very hot. The Bosche put in a couple of shrapnel whenever he sees a small party showing themselves, and men are careless. He buzzed in three about 30 yards from here a quarter of an hour ago. They are very harmless unless you are just under them. Holt was down this morning, also the gunner Lt. Col. and the How. [ Howitzer] Major, so we are full of visitors. We don’t go out till Wednesday owing to a night working show. Somerset Saunderson was rather impressed with the discomfort of our surroundings. It’s curious how you get accustomed to anything. I hardly notice it now, and am quite happy here, with an occasional growl. We get our ‘Times’ regularly now the next day. They seem gradually creeping up to Thiepval. I expect next spring or summer we shall have enough big guns and ammunition to make a simultaneous Push from the sea to the Somme.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27th.

Rain last night has made everything muddy, but it’s fine and drying now. Things fairly quiet. We are only six days in and out, seven days in this time owing to a working party arrangement. Work out here is like at home, if you plan out the tocks to be done and organise parties for each, making some one responsible, and the work is done, but if you don’t do this, and simply let things slide, nothing is done—they neither wire nor work. We go out tomorrow night. Sergts. Barbour and Vennard are both doing splendid work.

MONDAY, AUGUST 28th.

We have got some good work done this time. I have only two Coys. actually in the line, and two back in support. By this means each Coy. only gets six days in 24 in front line.

Heard from R.P.M. [ Regimental Pay Master ] in answer to my letter. He’ll do all he can to prevent stoppage of separation allowances, but wants me to send him a roll of Battalion with addresses of dependants, and if any allotment has been made. Rather a grind, but we are going to do it. Do go and see young Dickson in Tandragee. He was wounded in May, wiring, still has a bullet in him. He feels being out of it, and not getting any better. Very warm again last night. I hear young Wingfield is doing ‘fairly well’ only. During our six days ‘rest’ we have to find 70 men every night for work here. Every man has to be bathed; baths three miles away. Every man has to attend one day for instruction at anti-gas school, five miles away, besides finding ordinary guards and posts. It takes a bit of fitting in and is called a rest. It’s almost more restful in the line. When at Tandragee you might go and see the Jacksons— Sergt. Jackson ’s people. He is missing, I fear killed. Was in U.V.F., and in Estate Office at Tandragee; very brave and gallant.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 29th.

Got a cheery letter from Wingfield. I am in hopes he will do all right. He had a bullet right through his body. He was stooping tending a wounded man, and he got it in the back, but it seems to have missed his stomach. I really believe he’ll pull through all right. Quick relief was finished at 10.00 p.m., was up here at 10.45 p.m. Today heavy rain and thunder, everything in a fearful state as every roof is full of holes, and I’m going over ankles in mud, and no way to dry. Such a noisy p.m. with guns and thunder. Shill. takes up duties of 2nd in Command con amore and is being most helpful. I was glad to get out of the line—the extra day told. We only had three casualties, two officers and one man wounded. Considering T.M.’s [ Trench Mortars ] and M.G.’s was fortunate. The Div. have wired about our 22 so hope they come soon. Have written in reams on the subject frequently! Feel so relieved about Wingfield, but is such a gallant boy, only 17, with a splendid spirit.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 30th.

Don’t think there will be any Push till the Spring, when as Repington says, we may push from the sea to the Somme. It hasn’t ceased raining since last night. You may imagine the state everything is in. My sandbag residence is streaming; it has no door and the rain drives in. Lutton gone back to his Coy. Soon we shall want socks in large numbers. Will find out about roll call on 1st July, but they are busy at present getting out the list for R.P.M. [ Regimental Pay Master ]—a big job. Just seen Pratt, he seems very chirpy. Have been trying to mend holes in all roofs, but it’s a big job. We have to find 65 men every night. Luckily they cancelled some of them last night, and today, owing to the weather. The only good thing about the rain is it stops the deafening guns! I see Germany is raging at Roumania coming in; it ought to turn the scale well and help Russia. Bulgaria will find she has backed the wrong horse. It’s great, 400,000 men, and freedom for Russia to move means a lot, and of course, as Roumania didn’t join in Balkan wars four years ago, she will have plenty of reserves. Everything is damnably wet. Just found I’ve been sitting in a pool of water collected in my chair.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 31st.

1. p.m. Padre returned today looking all the better, and so cheery; he is such a dear. We bombarded and generally stirred up the Bosche last night, and he has been stuffy all day, plugging in shell just over this at short intervals from about 3.00 a.m. up to now. I don’t think he’s done much damage. Such an uncomfortable day yesterday, but today sunny, and drying wind. Everything was wet in huts and dug-outs; they all leaked, and such a wind, and the rain drove in. Looks as if leave might open soon, but I couldn’t leave yet. Have to find 66 men every night to wire on our front! It’s too bad. Of course it’s urgent, but they should knock off the other parties. Be sure and impress on all who come out to insist on coming back to 9th. If they are firm they will get back. I can do nothing here.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1st.

Another show of sorts last night, a tumult of guns 1:30 a.m. to 2.00 a.m. Bosche didn’t reply on us here, but gave the front line some, but didn’t do much damage. A boy called Lyness was hit by a stray bullet returning from wiring, and is in a critical condition. Keen, always did his job well, and capable. I grieve for his loss. Am going to How. [ Howitzer] observation post after tea to have look at Bosche trenches. Had a slight chill yesterday, but am all right today. We are busy trying to repair huts here today, and the accommodation here is disgraceful, and I’m strafing all round. They’ll talk and plan and do nothing, and then the winter will be upon us. A Grave Committee bloke, ranking as a Lieut., came round today and was fearfully excited because some R.E. sapper was buried yesterday in the wrong cemetery. I handed him over to the Padre. A consequential Rev._____, who you might think was running the war, laying down the law about burials, etc. Clouding over, expect more rain.

SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER 2nd.

Poor young Lyness died this a.m. early. I’m very sorry at his loss. Went over to see transport this morning, and lunched with the Bde. The 109th are on the move going from one flank of the Div to the other; so silly, these little moves. They knock the heart out of people. You’ve just got your little bit improved and lots of plans and projects under way, when you move on and have to begin again. The 13th [ Royal Irish Rifles ] wanted a working party, but I really would not be good natured at the expense of the men. Usual afternoon gun fire going on.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 3rd.

Service this morning at 10.00 a.m., but our guns were so noisy it was distracting. Second Service afterwards in our mess hut. There was a gas alarm last night, about 11:30 p.m. Everyone stood to and put on gas helmets, but no sign of gas, so after a bit we ‘stood down’. False alarm, I believe, from people on our left. The higher command are very nervy about gas here, and one has to be careful as the Bosche frequently looses it off. One never moves without gas helmets, and when the wind is easterly everyone wears it, opened and pinned to the shirt in front, ready to pull on. Wasps a bother here, but no flies. In the line flies and no wasps. Ricardo came over yesterday p.m. and had a long bukh! He is commanding 109th Bde. temporarily. Yes, Padre is one of the best this world produces. We are busy, with help of R.E., making huts, etc., here more rainproof and generally better. Am leaving two carpenters out of the line for this purpose. Am going to stroll out with Shill. to have a look at an outpost. Walked back and dined with Ricardo at Bde. H.Q. Very pleasant dinner.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4th.

Pratt should get on very well with his new lot. He has knowledge and keenness and energy. Jos. Johnston commands ‘C’ Coy., Given ‘D’, and Ensor ‘B’, Allen ‘A’. Colder today, and trying to rain. My harrying did good. Comyn came over today and promised us two officers’ huts and one men’s at once. Should be up before we come out again. This will make a difference to our comfort. We go in tonight; relief getting earlier each time owing to light, which is a blessing, as it means earlier settling in.

(To be continued.)