1936-12-18 — Page 29

THE

HONGKONG

TELEGRAPH.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18,

1936.

To-day in the Past The Story Of The BOMBARDMENT

of

the

HARTLEPOOLS

By

Mrs. Ellen Whitecross

0

NLY a week Christmas.

meet a fate mare terrible even than along the pavement; the next, with

swift' death.

Scarcely had

a hideous scream, they would roll

they disappeared over into the gutter. from sight than there was the deep boom of distant heavy aring. At

In a few minutes usually quiet

first I attached little importance to and peaceful thoroughfares had been this, as firing practice off that part made to resemble a Flanders battle- to of the coast was frequent, and the field.

residents of the Hartlepools had be

Helpers already filled the streets, oblivious of their own danger, it The come accustomed to and unalarmed

by it. shops of the Hartle-

But, as the minutes passed and the seemed. The dead were placed re- noise grew closer, a fearful suspicion verently by the roadside, the helpers then hurrying on to aid the injured pools were taking on a fes- gripped me. There had been many where there was still hope. Shrap- rumours of possible bombardment tive appearance.

and invasion of the east coast by the nel rained everywhere.

It was at a spot where four streels enemy,, but no one had taken them

Peter, rously. Yet now it seemed that converge that I found my perhaps after all something of the flung arms outspread into the gutter,

The children of the towns, uncomprehending the gra- vity of the four-month-old European war, were looking. eagerly twenty-fifth.

sort was imminent.

A Soldier's forward to the Warning

+

face upwards. I could see that he was dend. But what of the others? At that moment two soldiers came up to me.

"This is no place for you, Mrs. Whitecross," they said,'.

Almost at the same moment there burst on my cars a louder and nearer

And, because I felt as though all of me, I let the life had gone out In the houses there was much detonation which shook the house to

its very foundations.

were An Instant later followed a terrific them lend me away to a cellar into preparation. There were pud-

women and children ding-stirring and cake-making, shattering that seemed to beat into which

being herded by the military and and parcel-packing, for large by brain.

I rushed to my door. At that mo- the injured were being carried by consignments of Christmas fare

with were being sent to husbands and ment there raced down the street n St. John Ambulance workers.

face streaming soldier, his

We seemed to be imprisoned down sons at the front.

blood, his tunic torn, yelling warn- The Hartlepools were flourishing, ings to the Inhabitants of the houses there hours. It was like being in was a period of unprecedented who by now had hurried to their some medieval dungeon. The in- there was none excepting in an old prosperity-how different from these doors and windows to see what the jured were moaning for water, but claya of industrial stagnation and nolac was about,

distress-for

**The the

Germans are here on top rainwater butt in the corner. They

drank from this. Unemployment shipbuilding yards had in hand or of us," he gasped. "Get pul with Children of yours, for God's ders that would, working day, and those night, take two years and more to sake, Mrs. Whitecross." exucute.

It

A Son's Dying

"If you don't believe me, all I can Message The Itartlepools dinned with the say is my mate down there at the cinng of the riveters' hammers, the battery hasn't a head," he burst out dockyards were hives of industry, grimly, "They're firing on, us es the brilliant glare of blasting fur- hard as they can." naces never dulled.

I

Again, and agaln

came

Then the noise ceased as suddenly as it had started.

TWENTY-TWO years ago Britain began the four

tremendous years of her history.

Strange and perilous things happened in those four years things of which the full facts were never really known.

This is the second of a series of articles in which actual survivors will tell their stories of the dramas in which they were suddenly called to play a part, and of the events that will remain the outstanding memories of their lives.

To-day a Hartlepool mother describes what hap- pened on that morning in 1914 when, a few moments after her children had left home to go to school, three German warships rained shells upon the town.

..

FATHERLESS

All that was left of the home in which these two children lived with their parents.

All this time we could hear fring going on above. At every moment house to come that we expected the roar of close-by crashing down on us. was then living in Hartlepool, dreadful bursting which is separated from West Hor- gunfire, to the accompanying rattle

and ship of chattering masonry. tlepool by the docks

Now the noise of splitting, houses Shortly afterwards a policeman building yards, near the sea shore.

away, the arrived and took us to the police Here is a maze of densely popu- seemed a good distance lated streets with amull seml-de- next a deafening crash would indi- station, which was being used as a tached houses, chiefly inhabited by cate that it was only a few yarda temporary hospital. working people, fronted by the two off, and within a few seconds a cloud

known batterles

BB Heugh and of dust and particles of debris

would descend on the roadway. pool's main war-time defence.

It is hard to give a clear account lying on the floor waiting to be con→ of one's thoughts and actions during veyed to Hartlepool Hospital. There a crisis of this kind. But I do re- were pitiful scenes-wamen calling badly injured, gave a won smile of The Scandinavian Church, too, was

With diiculty he raised himself the soldier's for their children, others begging to recognition when he saw me. member that after warning I ran through the streets in be taken away.

One small boy-named Christo- from the floor on his elbow.

"You know me, Mrs. Whitecross, Shortly before 8 a.m. on Deceni- the direction taken by my children

pher Measor-who seemed to

don't you?" he said weakly. ber 10, 1014, I stood at the door of a few minutes before,

"Of course I do, Christopher," I sold..

A Merry

Laughing Trio

my house to see my three children,

Peter, aged nine, Matthew, who was Sheltered

six and a half, and little-Elizabeth,-

a. merg toddler of three and a half, In The Sea

on their way to school.

My husband had joined the Army

Everywhere Was

Never shall I forget the sight there. Rows and rows of wounded were

be

The P.&O. Banking

chaos People Corporation, Ltd.

a week before, and was stationed at rushed hither and thither, not know- Jarrow. We expected him home on ing

(Incorporated in England, 1920).

£3,000,000 2.524.100 180,000

HEAD OFFICE. 117-122, Leadenhail Street, London, E.C.3. WEST END BRANCH.

hit.

West Hartlepool suffered no less damage, although there the deaths not so heavy. and casualties were Two of the German battle cruisers had momentarily relaxed their, bom- bardment of Hartlepool and turned

I want you to tell my mother their attention to the docks and ship..

when you see her that I love her,

he said.

He managed to kneel, and, put

ting his hands together, began the Lord's Prayer Onished it.

But he never

By noon the work of attending to the wounded was well in hand, Hartlepool Hospital was soon filled to overflowing. Two, and, even three, of the less serious cases were put into one bed. Some lay on tresses in the corridora.

building yards separating the two towns.

But although' a tturmber of hits shells were made many of the "cleared" the docks and exploded in the alreets of West Hartlepool.

The enemy seemed to direct their haphazard, without definite alm. Many fell into the water of the docks.

shots

The Raiders' €18 8000 from land

town were no less painful. People who first conveyed to me the news stood despairingly in groups before of the Impending attack on the town. their ruined homes. Many of thein. Despite the shock which these swift had lost a parent, son, or a daughter. casualties must have

In several cases a whole family had' garrison gunners, had on the

Immediately

been wiped out.

opened fire: So began the first battle on British The second shell fired by one of between a British battery.on the three German ships the first soll and an enemy feet at sea.

To every enciny shell sent over was aimed at the Heugh Battery,

an answer. The officer and killed the frat soldier to meet there was his death on British soil at the hand commanding the gunners, Colonel them to alm of the enemy in the great war L. Robson, ordered struck the upper floor of a near-by higher-at the decks of the enemy

craft.

Onlookers wird watched the battle

house.

there. Onc

Two spinsters lived of them was in the passage on her from points on the coast have sald way to her sister's bedroom, disturb that the bridge of one of the German ed from her slumbers, no doubt, by vessels--the Blucher, later sunk by us was carried away by one of our the sudden noise outside.

A piece of the shell struck one shells. aleter, inflicting terrible wounds and killing her instantly

Many

of the crews on board the When, after Gormon vessels were seen to fall.

The Germans, in fact, later ad-

the bombardment, neighbours went

to search for the second sister, they mitted in official reports that their could not at first find her. She had casualties in this battle amounted to been blown to ploces,

ninety killed and 210 wounded. The German warships-two battle But, despite the gallant fight put our batteries, the German cruisers and one armoured cruiser up by took part in the attack--were met as ships

for fifty minutes, during British destroyers, which opened which time 1,500 shells were fired

Into the town, causing 113 deaths fire on them.

This accounted for the distant many died later from their injuries-- firing which the Hartlepools had and wounding 427.

The German ships returned humo heard before the ships emerged from

in

direction, northerly

scattering mines ns they went, in consequence of which three ships were destroyed off the coast a few hours later.

they came into the bay by four of Holsted in their bombardment

the mist that hung over the sea.

Our Gunners'

Reply

It was a sad Christmas for Hartie-

There was

vas little of the festive

poolt

But the four-inch guna of the spirit of the season behind the shat- British ships were entirely inade- tered windows and cracking walls of qunto against those of the Germans, those dwellings.

and they were forced to retire after

three of their

Brickwork was pitted with shell

crew had been killed splinters, doors hung limply on thes and sveral injured. All excepting hinges, alates and tiles lay in heaps one of the ships were badly damaged. by the roadalde.

Suddenly the

+

the leading German ship To a street which in less than an had turned round and opened fire on hour had become as desolated as any Heugh Battery, A shell exploded of those of the cities of Belgium 1 against the corner of the low wall returned the day after the bombard- Heugh ment forming the boundary bet

between

It My children had gone, my home Battery and the pathway dividing from the other battery, killing the was badly damaged, and in a few sentry and three men of the Durham hours another life was coming into Light Infantry Regiment, which had the world behind a roughly boarded in a room where the provided the ballery guard, and window wounding several others.

crumbled debris of dislodged ceilings

It was one of the wounded men still lay thickly on the furniture.

OUR

BRITISH CROSSWORDS

wero

10

whether to stay Indoors or to leave for Christmas. for a fourth leave their homes for safely. Mothers were grabbing their children and little one was expected shortly.

The children were looking for running with them towards the back Authorised Capital ward to Christmas with thel of the town, Instinctively drawn to Subscribed and Paid-up

At one shipyard two men "soldier daddy. Their little gifts the open country, Many raced Into Reserve Fund

killed and the electrical and riggers for him lind already been bought the sea and stood waist deep in the

shelter of the pier. and carefully stored away.

shops were set alight. A partly built Sumo fell as they ran, hit by

was hit by a shell which They were a merry, laughing trlo.

14-LG, Cockspur Street, London, S.W.1. at pieces of flying shell and falling de- and as they turned the corner

FRANCUES:-Bombay,

Ordinary patients were transter- steamer the bottom of Willlam-street they bris ns shot after shot was hurled

Coimbatore, Colombo,

Ilongkong, Madras, red to the outpatients department, pierced her hold and killed a work- among the houses.

Shanghai, Bingapore, waved their hands to me.

Agencies-in all principal. towns of the A number of buildings besides the man.

police station were turned into tem Fled Into world.

General Exchange and Banking business porary hospitals. The transacted. Loans and overdraft granted on took fifty cases. approved security. Current and Flied Depot socants opened.

some evil power Little did I think then that it was It was though. to be the last farewell of two of was striking them down. At one them and that the youngest would moment they would be running

HONGKONG 'AND SHANGHAI

BANKING CORPORATION.

Authorleed Capital

Issued and Faily Paid-up*******

Reserva Funda

SterflogDIR

[29,000,030 ********** £ *,500,000

THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA.

Calcutta, Callout

Poison

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN LOCAL CUL BENCT--interest allowed at 2% per annum.In Shells

ACCOUNTS:

which may be

OP

workhouse

The Country

All day the rallway stations were besleged by panic-stricken people: determined at all costs to get away from the district, even. though it Every doctor and nurse in Hurtle meant leaving their homes as they set out to walk to CREDIT pool and the surrounding towns and stood. Some and TRAVELLERS CHEQUES med also villages gave willing aid to the in- Stockton and Darlington. PRAsengers' Letter of Credit for use only on board 1, 0, and B.I, Steamers and at jured, many of whose wounds were part of Call.

Urillah ineense Tax Escovered.

.............. $50,000,000!

Incorporated by Royal Charter 1855. | Pakloup Capital:

43.000,038 Reserve Jability of Proprietors... £5.009,90

$8.000,030 Reserve Fund

STERLING SAVINGS

Interest allowed a Fatos

obtained us application.

TRAVELLERS' LETTERS

$20,000,000

RHAD OFFICE-KONGKONG. BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

ALOR STAN

Hongkong Currency Reserve $10,000,000

Reserve Liahliity of Proprietors

Hon, Hr. J. 3. Paterson,

Chatraan.

a. Miskin, Esq., Deputy Chairman.

A. II. Compion, Esq.. K. B. Morrion, Es Hon. Mr. H, Dodwell, T. EL. Pearce, Es.. Hon. Mr. M. T. Johnson, A. Im Shields, Ha

J. R. Mason, Ed.

BANGKOK

V.M GRAYBURN EL.

DATAVIA DOMDAY CALCUTTA CANTON

COLA DAUREN FOOCHOW HAIPHONG HAMBURG JANKOW ZIARDIN HONGKET ILOILO

IPOTI

JOHOND

KOBE

KOWLOON

CHEF MANAGER.

BRANCHES pare

KUALA LUMPUR

LANDON

LYONS MALACCA MANILA MUAR (JOHORE) MUKDEN NEW YORK

PELPING PENANO RANGOON SAIGON SAN FRANCISCO SILANGILAT BINGAPORE SOURADAYA SUNDEI PATANI TIENTSIN TOKYO

TSINGTAD

YOKOHAMA

AGENCIES AND DRANCIES:-

AMRITSAR

BANGKOK DATAVIA ROMBAY CALCUTTA. CANTON

CAWNPORE CEBU

XLANO HOBE KUALA

Iloilo

POH

BAIGON BEMARANG

KARACHI

SEREMDAN

SHANGHAL

BITIAWAN

·

SINGAPORE

LUMPUR

KUCHING MADRAS

BOURABAYA TAIPING

Executorships and Trusteeships, undertaken,

W. J. WADDINGTON,

Hongkong, 17th April, 1936.

Maningar,

MANILA

. TIENTSIN

TONGKAIL

MEDAN

TSINGTAO

PEIDING

(Toking)

УОКОПАНА. ZAMBOANGA

PENANG

BAITHONG NEW YORK

COLOMBO

DELJI

HAMBURG

ILANKOW

HARDIN

HONGKONG BANGGON

(Phuket)

Foreign Exchange and General Banking: business transacted.

Durront Accounts opened and Fixod". De posta recolved for one year or shorter perioda at raton which will be quoted on application. The Bank's Head One in Loudou under- takes Executor & Trustose businoes and cizima recovery of British Insorse Tax overpaid, on Larms which may be sacertained at any of: Its Agencies & Branches.

THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE

BANK LIMITED..

THE BANK OF EAST ASIA. LIMITED.

Authorised Ospital

Pide Capital

Reserve and Undivided

Profits

$10,000,000.00 0,293,600,00 2,686,195.52

HEAD OFFICE-HONGKONG, 10, De Vorut Road Central

It was a pathetic procession that its way into the country on Arudged indescribably terrible.

More than twenty people died that dreary December morning,

wheeled Some before they could be operated on.

perambulators.

The medical staff at the hospitol Some carried dogs under their arms, in cages. There were found themselves faced with a grave or canaries dimeulty for the chemical consti- others with bundles containing a few

treasures snatched tuents of the German shells carried cherished

the

up

They were given food and drink

20

17

行

31

ACROSS

1 There must be a tank in this green-house, though it need not take up much room.

9 Ahl there's money about for an

Irishman, I see.

10 London suburb,

11 The heart of 2.

a polson which discoloured the flesh before leaving. Many were clad only many in their night clothes and were even and prevented healing. In instances this made it impossible to barefooted. save wounded Umbs.

While the work of looking after on the way by sympathetic farmers 12 Takes money for swindles. the injured was going on inside the and others. Christmas fare ready 13 indicates a rise in leather down

under just now. for the following week was distribut- hospitals the task of clearing

14 It is pleasant made from Ilmes. ed among the refugees, wreckage was being carried on.

were bewildered children 10 No dole for this chump. There This unexpected rald by the

had caused tremendous who had lost their parents or who 18 Aslatic tribesman. Germans had havoc. In nearly every street at had been hustled out of the danger 20 A good deal of her balance has dreadful stampede that been taken by this old-fashion- least one house was turecked; in some zone in the g of the first shots.

ed book. followed the a whole row was demolished.

walls,

My own little girl, I afterwards 42 Elin. Birba Great holes gaped in the Wong Chu Ban. Eid. P. K. Kwok, E., Wong Yun Tong, Ran Ying Fe, Leq.,

masses of Inths and sintes lay across learned, was taken in by a kindly 24 An offensive point about a cer- the roadways, for whole roots had neighbour. Her brothers had been tain vegetable.

27 Command neatness. lifted

off by the high velocity struck down with the shells. been shells,

Later this neighbour fled with her 20 Not quite so fast-built more. for comfort than for speed, as One shell had hit the Carnegie family to the country, and it was not

stone until late that night, when many a matter of fact. sending a great

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:-ew

Hon. Bir Shouson Chów, Chairman.

Li Koon Chan, Erdu

Chan Chang Shok, Exc..

Li Lan Bang, E44,

Kan Tong Po, Esq., Chief Maniget.

- Li The Fong, Esq., Manager, BRANCHES AND AGENCIES —

Melbourne Bingapore Magureki New York

Opaka

Karachi

Kobe

London

· ·Mynii

Los Angeles

Majl

Capital... (fully-palid=ip) Heserve Fund kangas”.

HEAD OFFICE:—YOKOHAMA. Branches and Agencies at

Rio de

Janeiro Kan Francleco Beattie Berarang Shangbal· Singapore Bourabaya

Sydney

T.100,000,000 Y.189,990,900) Amoy

Batavia Bombay Calculia Canton Halpbong Tinakow Honolula Kobe Kowloon Tondoa Manti

PARE Piping Penang Rangoon

Tien talo

Thingto

Tokyo

Yingkow

Currant heedunia opened in Local Currency Alexandria Elminklor and Fixed Deposit received for one voer or Bangkok

and Slatavia "Currency In Local shorter Delo Sterling ou terme which will be quoted on Uerdin

1 Bombay application.

ALSO up to date sapH DEPOBIT BOXER Cleulta

Canton In various rises TO LEA

Dairen (Dalny) Nagasaki - Fungtion

.Nagoya (Mukan) New York

Hongkong at November, 1919.:

11ONGKONG SAVINGS, BANK,

·Belzon ·

Bhanghal

Foursheys

Swntow Rydney

Talboku Tintain "Tokyo

Vancouver

* Ban Franeker Yokoham

Sentite

Bemarkac

Litbrasivio and chunks of ornamen were forced to return to the 'stricken 30 Ita possession is a doubtful":"

for

· gift.

DOWN:

that little Elizabeth shelter, tal masonry hurtling into the street town below, where they fell on a group was brought back and carried to the 31 The volcano did. of people who were seeking shelter. hospital to be laid, at the request of 32 Went In, blushing finally.

Matthew who died shortly after 33 Concurred also (three words, killing several of them.

churches were hit, includ- wards from terrible wounds-in the 7, 2, 8). Several ing St. Hilda's thirteenth-century same bed as he occupied.

Poor Elizabeth lived for five years edifice, and one of the finest ex-

were years

of agonising suffering. Every decription of Banking and Examples DE, ceclesiastical architecture after the bombardment, but they 2 Turn to, and give him hell, the change bus{DORS transacted. Loans arantod in the north.

Stonework on St. Mary's Church It was found that numberless amalis They're all round the coast of on approved 'nécurillen, qoAD

Current: Ancounia opened In Local Car was also badly damaged, and a shell particies of shrapnel had lodged in rency, and Fixed Deposits received for ane

rebuilt causing impregnated with the polton from Deporita received. For fized periods at ratos ar or shorter periode in Local Foreign Passed right through the Baptist her body, and her whole system was

Currenclas on orm which will be quoted Church-recently

those dreadful shells. N tremendous havoc.

Hamburg

Hankow

Ovaka

Olaru Park

·Petping" Rangoon Interest allowed on Current Accounta

-The-Business of the above Bank een-Harbin ducted by the Hongkong and Shangbs) Bank Fionolulu me Ing Corporation. Nules may be obtained on Flongkeer Spplication.

FOR THE HONGKONG - AND SHANGHÁI.

SANT BANKING CORPORATION

NARV. M,' GRAYBURN.”.......

Chlet Manager, Hongkong), 14th: February, 1970.

to be obtained on application

Y. KANO.

4

Bafe: Deposit Boxes To Let

Managit,

Hongkong, 18th November, 1986,

KAN TONG PO.

Chief" Manager,

It finally penetrated the bedroom The scenes among those who were of a house, which was also damaged, brave enough to remain on in the

Jealous fellow.

England, and in this. 4"A sound measure, B. Here you see Anne in a temper.

Balvo (anag.).)

7 Somewhat mixed language.

8 Set free an imprisoned Danish

fencer.

Stone a shrimp (anag).

14 Sticks down.

18 Keen enough, but I must admit

It takes a long time.

17. Don't turn this fish for obvious

reasons.

19 Fancy having to fag up here! 21 Fort? Note the question-then

Ignore it.

23 One would imagino that the cryptogam would not flourish In this forrid situation:

25 Domestic animale;

26 The guard, that does not watch, 20 Rate.

20 Begin (two words, 3, 2),

Yesterday's Bolution. SUBSTITUTE ZUL PED BET UNAWAKENED HOO

K

TOWER ME RE TFB LAM INVOICE PIN OWN IGA MANAGES GILLIES

GENEN I JOR INAQA IN OTIAN NIG

I ELANDE DRAMA

P.B

[BUG KE COLLARBONE

ARD DETERMINED: