November 1920

Seagoe Parish Magazine.

NOVEMBER, 1920.

The Harvest Services.

During the month our annual services of Harvest

Thanksgiving took place, both in the Parish Church,

and in the outlying district centres. The Services

in the Parish Church were attended by large

congregations, especially on Sunday evening, when

many were unable to get into the Church. The Rev. J.

Taylor was a very welcome visitor to his old Parish.

The musical portion of the Services was well rendered

by a full choir, and the Anthem was very nice. The solo

was sung by Mr David Murray with fine expression,

and a Quartet followed, in which Messrs. D. Murray,

D. Livingstone, and Misses C. Kirby and N. Montgomery

took part.

The offerings were larger than usual. The Church was

prettily decorated with a profusion of beautiful flowers.

The Country Services were as largely attended as ever.

Much care was displayed in the decoration of the buildings.

At Hacknahay, the Rev. Orr, Rector of Gilford, preached at

the Sunday Afternoon Service.

Edenderry Harvest Festival.

The Harvest Services will be held in Edenderry Parochial

Hall on Sunday, November 7th, at 3-30, and on Monday,

November 8th, at 8 p.m. The Hall will be decorated. This

will be the last of the Harvest Services to be held in the

Parish this year.

Harvest Service Collections.

Parish Church—£6 6 6

October 10th— £9 11 8 10 3 9

Hacknahay— £3 0 6 1 10 1

Carne - 1 6 1 0 15 0

Levaghery 1 10 1 0 16 0

Drumgor 2 7 1 1 9 5

The Sustentation Fund.

The collection for this important fund is about to

be made throughout the Parish. A special meeting

of the General Synod is to be held in Dublin next

week, and Bills are likely to be passed for increasing

Clerical Incomes to a minimum of £400 and a free

Rectory for Rectors, and £200 increasing by annual

increment of £5 up to £250, for Curates. If these

Bills are adopted by the Synod a much larger sum

will have to be raised in each parish, otherwise it will

be amalgamated with a neighbouring parish. The

time has therefore come when contributions to the

Sustentation Fund must be made on a much more

liberal scale than formerly, if the separate existence

of the parish is to be maintained. It would be a pity

if a Parish with so long a record as Seagoe were to

become merely a part of some neighbouring Parish.

Much will depend on the way in which our people

respond in the collection for the Sustentation Fund

this year.

Mr. David Murray.

Mr. Murray's many friends in the Parish have felt

great sympathy for him in the recent outrageous

charge which was brought against him. He has

passed through a time of much worry, and has been

put to considerable expense in defending himself

against what everyone felt was an absolutely

unfounded accusation. Judge Green tried the case at

the Quarter Sessions, and completely exonerated Mr.

Murray. The Judge spoke in very severe terms of

the unscrupulous conduct of those who brought the

charge against him. We all congratulate Mr. Murray

and assure him that he stands higher and deeper in the

esteem and affection of the people of Seagoe than ever

before. Few Parishes are blessed with a more faithful

Christian worker than Mr. Murray, and we are proud

to number him among our helpers. In fighting his

case, as he did, he deserves the heartfelt thanks of

every member of the community.

Concert in Edenderry.

The Concert held in the Parochial Hall, on

Thursday, October 28th, was a notable success, both

in the excellence of the Programme, and in the

numbers who were present. The Rector presided.

Every item was good, and the whole performance

was much above the average. A novel feature in the

programme were the Readings from Shakespeare,

by the Rev. B. Blackwell Smyth, Curate of St. Mark's.

The proceeds were on behalf of the Parochial Hall

and Seagoe Day School. Much credit is due to Mr.

J. H. Stevenson, and Mr. S. Rennix who made all

the arrangements.

ITEMS.

Colonel and Mrs. Blacker and family have gone to

reside at Marlfield, Winchester.

***

A special meeting of the General Synod will be

held in Dublin on November 9th, and following

days.

***

The work of widening Portadown Bridge is proceeding

rapidly, under the supervision of Mr. Cooper, clerk of the works.

The Lurgan Road, where it passes through Edenderry,

is at present very much in need of repair. Small but deep

holes cover its surface, and are very unpleasant, if not

dangerous, to cyclists. In the Rural District the road has

been carefully patched with tar macadam.

***

The Rector has received from Colonel Blacker a large

number of interesting papers relating to the Seagoe

Infantry in the early part of the 19th Century also the Roll

Book of the Regiment.

PARISH REGISTER for OCT.

Baptisms.

The following were Baptized in Seagoe Parish

Church on October 2nd, 1920

Donaldson—Samuel David, son of David and Margaret

Agnes Donaldson, of Edenderry.

Sponsors —Sarah Maria Telford. Margaret Agnes Donaldson.

Webb—Thomas Henry, son of William John and

Jane Webb, of Kilmoriarty.

Sponsors—Lizzie Tinman, Helen Griffiths.

PRIVATE BAPTISM.

Lappin—October 7th, 1920, Samuel James, son of

Samuel and Mary Lappin, of Edenderry.

Marriage.

Hall and Best—October 6th, 1920, William Henry

Hall, of Portadown, to Mary Jane Best of

Edenderry.

Burials.

Chambers—September 6th, James Chambers, of

Killicomaine, aged 80 years.

McKerr—October 6th, Ellen McKerr, of Drumgor,

aged 86 years.

Coburn—October 12th, Isabella Coburn, of Seagoe,

aged 82 years. Interred in the City Cemetery, Belfast.

Hughes—October 12th, David Hughes, of Lurgan,

aged 58 years.

Ewing—October 20th, Samuel Joseph Ewing, of Newry,

aged 35 years.

Martin—October 27th, Anne Martin, of Ballyhannon

aged 72 years.

Lavery—October 31st, John Lavery, of Balteagh,

aged 82 years.

Lavery—November 1st, Mary Lavery, of Balteagh,

aged 84 years.

We record this month the deaths of many aged

Parishioners. Especially touching were the deaths

of an aged brother and sister, John and Mary Lavery,

of Balteagh, who passed away within a few hours of

each other. Samuel Joseph Ewing, of Newry, son

of Sergeant Ewing, R.I.C., formerly of Edenderry

Barracks, died from illness contracted during four

years of active service in the late war. He was

greatly beloved by all who knew him.

Seagoe Scouts.

The Scouts meet in Seagoe School (Seagoe School

Troop) on Tuesdays at 6, and in Edenderry Parochial

Hall on the same Evening at 8. Boys 11 to 18

eligible for membership. Join up now.

A Seagoe Calendar.

A Seagoe Calendar for 1921, in two colours, will

be on sale on December 1st—price 6d. It will contain

special photos, and interesting local notes. Secure a

copy early.

Mr. T. H. England.

Mr. T. H. England, Rector's Churchwarden, and

Mrs. England are leaving this month for Canada.

Mr. and Mrs, England will be much missed by their

many friends in Seagoe and Portadown. Mr England

has been a most useful helper in the Parish. He has

acted as Superintendent of Seagoe Morning Sunday

School for several years, and also as Sustentation

Fund Collector, and has been for many years a most

useful and regular member of the Choir. To his

other duties he has added this year those of Rector's

Churchwarden. A Farewell Social will be given to

Mr. and Mrs. England in Seagoe School on Thursday

evening, November 11th, at 7-30, Mr. and Mrs.

England will carry with them to Canada the best

wishes of all the Parishioners of Seagoe, and we

believe that the good work they have done in the

Church of Ireland will be continued by them in the

Church across the Atlantic.

Congratulations.

Mr. Charles Montgomery has won the Gold Medal

in the Open Competition for Tea Blending at the

Grocers' Exhibition in London last month. This is a

great distinction, and proves that the old Firm keeps

up its reputation for the Finest Teas in Ulster. We

heartily congratulate Mr. Montgomery.

WITH THE "NINTH" IN FRANCE,

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

[Continued front October Magazine.]

Monday, Dec. 20th.

Don't believe yarn of our leaving France, but,

of course, everything is possible. I hear H.P. has got

Res. Bde. 12th tell me their tinned milk Fund has

been converted into getting vegetables for the men.

They are most needed. Am keeping and feeling very

fit, and sleeping splendidly. Five messages came in

last night from 9 p.m. to 2-30 a.m., saying Zep. had

been sighted near Ypres. then Armentieres. Annoying,

as we could do nothing here anyway. Had to meet

Brigadier at 12 this morning. New scheme of building

a hut to hold 1,500 men for the cinema, and a Central

Recreation Rooms for the 12th and ourselves. Old

Craig, R E., has to build it and we have to supply the

men. Tommy rot! The Maire has struck as to letting

us have any more barns, and reported to H.Q., who

sent down a French Officer. I shall do nothing except

with a written order. They are capable of making you

get them, and then turning on you for improperly

taking barns! I'm delighted the Maire has struck.

More long rigmaroles in about at once preparing a

mobilisation scheme in case of a sudden move being

ordered. I don't think any move is in contemplation,

but of course, it may come any day. At present,

notwithstanding worries from above, we are very

comfortable here. The beds here have all Sommier

mattresses, great luxury! and then the men are more

comfortable than they have been yet.

Tuesday, Dec. 21st

The 'Xmas preparations, viz. — trying to get places

for the men to dine together, tables and forms, and

dishes and the arrangements generally, in addition

to usual strafe, is burdensome, tho' I must say Fergie

is doing most of it.

The laundry is working well, but takes a lot of fuel

to dry the clothes. The baths are excellent. Each man

gets a bath once a week, and a clean set of underclothes.

Why we shall have to leave things behind, is that only

absolutely necessary things are to be taken, and only

the weights allowed by Regulations, to prevent waggons

being over loaded. Men not to take any blankets, and

only their kit as laid down.

Wednesday, Dec. 22nd

The Plum Puddings have come, also 5,000 cigarettes

from someone. Tomorrow we have a Brig. Route March,

about 12 miles. All our animals are being tested for glanders.

We are in danger of repletion, with all the food we have got

to eat. Fergie has two turkeys, one goose and one ham for

each platoon! The housing and seating is progressing.

Adjutant found a friendly Sapper in Ab_______ who is

sending us planks, etc., for forms and tables, and is sending

them out in a motor lorry. The Cinema Show is to start on

Xmas day at H.Q., and I hear each Battalion is to have a

couple of days. Wonder when it will reach us. Fergie and

Padre have drawn up a Platoon Football League, which I

hope will make playing more general thro' the Batt. Not

merely 11 men playing and the rest looking on. They've

now ordered no afternoon parade to prevent men getting

stale.

Thursday, Dec. 23rd.

Just in from Brigade march. We had only one heavy

shower, but otherwise fine, but the roads ankle deep

in parts. We had the band out today. The Padre has

worked wonders with it already. His experience with

choirs has stood him in good stead in managing them.

Xmas Eve

Quite a decent morning has turned into fierce squalls

of wind and rain. All busy, preparing for tomorrow's

feast. Tables, etc. being put up, and decorations of holly

for the walls. The 'Xmas Dinners come to about £60;

last year £97, I find. The Turkeys are, many of them

small, and average 20 Francs. Fuel is very scarce, no

coal issued yesterday or to-day, and only 36 cwt.

altogether, this week. Luckily the weather is

wonderfully mild.

I am not happy about the treatment of the sick

here. Not the wounded, they are all right. When

they leave the Unit; they are passed on from Field

Ambulance to casualty clearing stations, and so on

till they have gone many miles, and then perhaps to

the Base, with little or no treatment, simply rushed

about in motor ambulances. They are discharged

from hospital before they are well, and one meets

many poor creatures wandering about asking the way

to their Units, having been dumped down by the

roadside, perhaps many miles from their Battalions.

They sent out one of my men the other day, only half

treated, having cut his arm open. They all implore

not to be sent to hospital, but what can Berry do?

There is no place here you can possibly keep a sick

man. Another trick they have with Officers. If he

is sent sick to the Base, they hang on to him and the

odds are you don't see him again. Two C.O.'S have

told me they lost their Transport Officers in this

way.

Xmas Day

A wet morning early has turned into a sunny

day. Service at 10-15 a.m., and Communion Service

afterwards. Sixteen cases of Xmas cakes and cigarettes

came from I. W. A. last night, just in right time for

Am just going to sally forth round dinners—2-30 p.m.

Well, the round of dinners completed. Fergie did wonders,

and the Company Commanders worked hard, and had

the barns looking very bright. They had beef, besides

their two turkeys, one goose and one ham, for each

platoon. What delights the men is that no other Battalion

had anything! Don't send any more comforts yet. Every

man is well provided. When we move and have to leave

stocks behind, we shall want everything you've got when

we settle into a new area.

Boxing Day, Dec. 26th

Xmas dinner last night very good. Turkey and Plum

Pudding, and Fergie produced & bottle of Port, and

proposed the C.O.'s health. I think a Vegetable Fund

would be of great value, if you can start it without too

much trouble. The men do not get enough vegetable,

and are always clamouring for potatoes, more than the

meagre ration. Sir L Murray will be a loss at home. He

will do well wherever he is. I don't think Robertson is

so well liked out here, but of course very capable. Madame

the Notary arrived for her Sunday Inspection; rather

thin-lipped and complaining, but we soothe her and she

has gone away smiling. What infernal rot, putting things

about me in "News-Letter." I hate that sort of thing.

Another 15 cases of comforts arriving to-day. We're just

in to send for them. Owing to scarcity of fuel we don't

have a fire till dinner time, and the weather is so mild,

it isn’t a bit cold. Fergie thinks of everything. He sent both

the Maire and the Curé a Plum Pudding, and Cake from

the Officers, with best wishes for Xmas and New Year!

Monday, Dee. 27th.

Yesterday we did not have a fire at all, even in the evening.

I hear the going on leave is a fearful scramble, and the return

even worse. They say we shall not get our leave now for a

long time, as there are 10,000 in the Trenches ahead of us,

Tuesday, Dec, 28th.

Well, the General (Div.) came and everything was couleur de

rose. He praised us for the condition and turn out of the

Transport, which was very good, condition of the billets and

sanitary arrangements, and was staggered at Fergie's laundry

and bath house. At the end he said to me "Everything is most

satisfactory and very little eye-wash, I think. I was not so

formidable, was I?" showing my words at R—— had gone

home and borne fruit. Of course, we are all greatly bucked up,

and Fergie and Stronge and the Company Commanders

deserve the greatest credit for the show. Luckily it was a

lovely day, and everything looked well in consequence. We

have a New Recreation Room now, a large empty barn, plenty

of tables and forms, 4 acetylene lamps, and warmed with

braziers; filled with games and newspapers. The roads even

were scraped clean and every place labelled. We have now

been ordered to start a canteen. The Lurgan people have

sent to each Lurgan man in the Battalion a parcel, labelled with

his name, and containing 1 shirt, 2 pairs socks, 1 pair drawers,

1 vest, matches, cigarettes, candles, 15 large cases! The men

don't know what to do with the things. Don't send any more

things, except handkerchiefs till I write you. I'm sure it would

be wise to get up a fund for any contingency that might arise,

viz: - Veg. As time goes on we are bound to find we want

something urgently. The men have now ample warm clothing

of all sorts. The General is anxious to pool all our funds, and

invest them, with the idea of starting a fund for Widows and

Orphans. Absolutely wrong: not what the money was given

for, and totally inadequate for any such purpose. I shall

strenuously oppose it tooth and nail. All it would do would

be to provide a salary for the Secretary.

Wednesday, Dec. 29th.

Not a word said about barns for dining halls. Went over

to the 12th with Pratt. O—— had gone on there from us,

and could talk of nothing but our Laundry! They are going

to come over and see it by his directions. Leave doesn't

sound hopeful. 10,000 in trenches have been out over a year

had none yet. O______ also thought the prospect of a Push

very remote; the French against it. Very costly last time, etc.

Don't suppose be knows anything really. They've sent out a

man, Findlater, Adjutant of 4th Battalion to Command 1st

R.I.F. Rode over this a.m. to see Hessey and Ricardo, about

7 miles away. They are going up to the Trench Line for their

2nd go next week. Both very chirpy. Padre delighted about

footballs. When you go on leave you can take no luggage

whatever.

Thursday, Dec. 30th.

No word about my leave yet. I shall come by Boulogne.

All 111 Army, except Cols, and Staff, go by Havre. Another

move on next week. E. to our last area I believe.

[LEAVE January 1st to 9th.]

Monday, Jan. 10th, “Prouville”

Went all round billets this a m. Long straggling village.

Men's Billets quite good, Officers' poor. Our mess only

one room and small right at end of village. My room and

Cather's, the only other rooms available, both entered

through the kitchen and scullery but quite nice rooms,

and comfy beds. Today drizzly, Muddy Streets. Douglas

Haig was to have come to have seen us to-morrow, but

isn't. Got in here last night at 8-15 after a very good run

from Boulogne, about 110 kilos good road, but dark.

They have cut down the hay ration from 12lbs to 6lbs,

which is of course starvation. I suppose it an iron

necessity, but it will mean loss in horse flesh. Great

dearth of coal and wood, don't know what we shall do

for fuel for cookers. A wonderful hutment scheme has

come in by which existing accommodation is to be

doubled by repairing and building to be done by troops.

January, 9^th.

We are now some 15 kil. of our way. Mending a puncture.

Far better than train in (Gregg's Car) which would have

taken 12 hours. A lovely crossing. Sunny, bright, and not too

cold. Folkestone 11-15, left there at 12-40. B—— 2-10. Tea

at hotel. G. says we join XIV Corps, which is to be formed of

ourselves, Guard Division, and a Welsh Territorial. Either

Cavan or Harry Wilson to command. Such crowds on the boat.

Sat next a nice man in Oxfordshires – Hussars - "Winny" will

get a Regt.

January 10th.

Quite a fair village, and decent billets, they say.

January 11th.

Lunched with Brigadier, and got talking to him till

4 p.m. G.H.Q. was bombed last night! Haig is away.

Hutment scheme is to take precedence of everything.

100 men under Ensor go out about 7 p.m. from here to

build huts, and the men here improve and repair existing

billets, to accommodate 500 more men, under R.E.

supervision. "G" says no push till Russkys are ready at

end of year. French won't move, also says in his opinion

neither we nor the Huns could possibly get through. The

French will begin to decline in numbers about June.

Germans have begun (just). We and Russkys will increase

for certainly a year. The Downs are close to us, villages

almost touching, but I have not seen any of them yet.

Wednesday, Jan. 12^th.

Coffee Shop apparently doing quite well; about 100

francs a day. A good deal less volume of matter is coming

out of Division office now.

(To be Continued.)