大象传媒

Introduction

While researching two previous articles I have written about World War Two in West Cumbria one name I had noted down for both of them was a Mr J. R. Williams. It turned out that was the same person and that Mr John Roger Williams was the Manager and Secretary of a local newspaper entitled 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥� between 1918 and 1952. The previous articles submitted to the 大象传媒 鈥淧eople鈥檚 War鈥� website were about the World War Two Memorial in St Nicholas鈥� Church on Lowther Street (Article ID A4188657) and a plane crash in 1943 (Article ID A4411388). Both of these are about the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven.

During my research about the plane crash incident mentioned above, I contacted a local historian and author by the name of Mr Jeff Wilson, from Distington, Cumbria. Mr Wilson published a book entitled 鈥榃est Cumberland at War鈥� in 1999 (ISBN 0 9534645 0 4). He kindly gave me some advice and leads to the best sources of information in the Cumbria Archives Offices. Additionally, Mr Wilson told me other facts he had come across about the role of Mr J.R. Williams and the local West Cumberland newspapers during the war. This assistance has greatly helped me find some of the documents referred so that I could write this article.

Inevitably, as I have obtained virtually all of the information for this article from written documents in the Archives, it can only be a brief outline of a few contributions to the war effort by Mr Williams and the 鈥楴ews鈥�. In fact, because of publishing restrictions during the war, some of the information obtainable is incomplete which made establishing certain facts difficult if not impossible. I have tried to cross check what is written in this article is correct. It would have been interesting to read more of Mr Williams鈥� own memoirs about wartime events than the documents I was able to consult. Perhaps these will come to light at a future date.

John Roger Williams, wartime newspaper Manager and Secretary

In July 1952, Mr J.R. Williams wrote and published a book entitled 鈥楾he Whitehaven News Centenary 1852 鈥� 1952鈥�, which I was able to consult at the Cumbria Archives Office (Reference: 79 / WIL 134729). At that time Mr Williams was Director, Manager and Secretary of the 鈥楴ews鈥�, a company he had been asked to join in 1918.

In a publication covering 100 years of history, there are only a few facts about the period of the Second World War, which at that time had ended a mere 7 years previously. However, Mr Williams does explain a little about the plane crash site he visited on 14 October 1943 he visited with a Battle of Britain pilot called Flight Lieutenant D.M. Crook DFC. I have already written about this incident in one of the previously submitted articles (A4411388), so I will not cover this again in this article.

One wartime initiative Mr Williams writes about in this memoir was the 鈥楴ews鈥� 鈥淐omforts Fund鈥� (see the next section below). However, J.R. Williams omits to mention a role he would have undertaken had the Germans invaded Britain. Mr Jeff Wilson told me about this special duty that Mr Williams had been trained to do had there been an invasion.

At the site of the Whitehaven Brick and Tile Co Ltd on Low Road in the town, there was a secret low-powered radio transmitter receiving the 大象传媒 Home Service via Post Office telephone lines. This was part of a network of low-power stations designed to avoid German aircraft locking on to high-powered radio signals from the large population centres.

In addition, this low-powered radio station would have had another role if the Germans had landed and knocked out or taken over the main 大象传媒 broadcasts. Alderman Jack Adams (later Lord Adams of Ennerdale) and Mr J.R. Williams of the 鈥楴ews鈥� had well-known distinctive voices and they would have given newscasts and instructions to the Local Defence Volunteers, Auxiliary Troops and the general population locally.

Jack Adams would have been the Chief Liaison Officer in an invasion scenario and John Roger Williams would have been his Deputy. Both Jack Adams and J.R. Williams also had access to another secret transmitter, should this have been necessary. There are a few more details about these aspects of the war in Jeff Wilson鈥檚 book about wartime West Cumberland (pages 57 and 58).

The 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥�

During the war, one way local newspapers supported the war effort was by assisting fund raising efforts to send parcels or news from home to those serving far from home in the Armed Forces. This was not just true of the 鈥榃hitehaven News鈥�. Another West Cumbrian Newspaper, the Workington-based 鈥榃est Cumberland News and Star鈥� had what they called a 鈥淭ommy鈥檚 Smokes Fund鈥�, sending tobacco, pipes, cigarettes, playing cards and parcels to the fighting troops and POWs.

The similar wartime fund organised by 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥� was known as the 鈥淐omforts Fund鈥�. In his 1952 memoir, Mr J.R. Williams explained that this 鈥淐omforts Fund鈥� was used to send items to those serving overseas, especially what he calls 鈥溾�� brands of English cigarettes.鈥� Of course, this was before publication of research suggesting a causal link between smoking and lung cancer. It is unlikely cigarettes or tobacco would be high on the list of items sent to servicemen overseas in the contemporary world.

The 鈥淐omforts Fund鈥� also helped pay for the distribution of the 鈥楴ews鈥� to the Forces. That meant troops serving far from home could keep in touch with what was going on in their own area, and even receive goodwill messages from family and friends. In particular, Mr Williams referred to two locally trained military units, for which the 鈥楴ews鈥� had a special affinity throughout World War Two: the 4th Battalion of the Border Regiment and the 203rd Battery, RFA. Both these units had been mainly raised from among Cumberland men before the war and had been locally trained. Copies of the 鈥楴ews鈥� were dropped into the jungle for these troops serving in the Far East, and played an important part in keeping up morale among the troops.

Recognising this special 鈥榗onnection鈥� between these troops and 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥�, at the end of the war Mr Williams wrote that the 鈥楴ews鈥� had invited all the 鈥楥umberland Men鈥� in these units, plus their wives and 鈥榮weethearts鈥�, to two buffet / dances at the Empress Ballroom on Duke Street in the town centre. Transport was, of course, provided for those from out of town. After all the years of suffering in the Far East, the separation from home and family, these two buffet / dances must have been marvellous occasions for those who attended.

The money was raised by local people sending in money to the 鈥淐omforts Fund鈥�, often in memory of a loved one or friend who had been killed during the war, someone who had died on the Home Front or even when it was someone鈥檚 birthday. These sums and the dedication were mentioned each week in the 鈥楴ews鈥�.

For example, in the edition published on Thursday 27 July 1944, it mentions a sum of 拢2 was donated by the employees of Ladysmith Chemical Works who were the former workmates of 18 year old Private Joseph Casson, Durham Light Infantry, who it had just been discovered had died of wounds in Normandy. The same edition also mentions donations made in memory of Sergeant John Richardson and Lance Corporal Gilbert E. Pearson, accidentally killed in Burma on 5 June 1944.

Sometimes the 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥� sent small sums of money, gratefully received by those in the Forces. For example, in the 鈥楴ews鈥� of 15 April 1943, Leading Aircraftwoman E. Crichton W.A.A.F, is quoted how grateful she was upon receiving something from the 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥� after returning from 10 days leave:

鈥溾�� The money, generously sent by the people of West Cumberland, certainly helped to keep me 鈥榦ff the rocks鈥� until pay day. The people of Cumberland certainly know how to look after the lads and lasses in the Forces, and believe me, we are very grateful to them.鈥�

Donations for the 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥� came not only from Cumbrians, or even from elsewhere in Britain. In the 15 April 1943 edition of the 鈥楴ews鈥� an outstanding, unexpected but very welcome donation of 拢10 from the people of Mufulira, in what was the African country then officially known as Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). The newspaper article states that the North of England Association in Mufulira had raised a total of 拢50 over Christmas 1942. It was donated equally to five funds in the North of England. It was believed that the 鈥楴ews鈥� 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥� had been one of the five selected because there were a large number of Cumbrian ex-patriots working in the copper mines at Mufulira at the time.

Perhaps this donation demonstrates in a very small way the way World War Two extended around the world. Money raised by miners and townsfolk in a small town in a southern African country was sent to West Cumberland (Cumbria) in the North of England to pay for items that would be sent to troops serving in places like Burma and India in the Far East.

Honouring those who made the Ultimate Sacrifice

Some of the ways the local newspaper contributed to the war effort was by providing a means of honouring the family and friends of those who died in the course of the war. This includes those who died during their service in the Merchant Navy, Armed Forces or on the Home Front, such as in the mining industry.

Firstly, 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥� helped honour people who died in the war by providing an 鈥楢nnouncements鈥� column (ie the 鈥楤irths, Marriages and Deaths鈥�). Secondly, the 鈥楴ews鈥� had a separate 鈥楻oll of Honour鈥� section so that relatives could commemorate the memory of a loved one. Usually, the family inserted a short commemoration on the anniversary of the death. Thirdly, the 鈥楴ews鈥� often gave a short report about the life and achievements of a person whose death had recently been announced.

Having recently researched and written a number of articles about West Cumbrians who were casualties during World War Two I have consulted wartime editions of the 'News' and been able to find out a little more about them. The original information, and sometimes a photograph, for these wartime tributes was provided by the family and friends of the casualty. It was while researching information about those World War Two casualties remembered on a Memorial Plaque at St Nicholas' Church, Lowther Street, Whitehaven (Article Reference ID A4188657) that I came across the name of 'John Roger Williams' via the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records. Mr J.R. Williams was listed as the father of Lieutenant Clifford Roger Williams who was killed in action in Tunisia in 1943.

When I consulted the back copies of the 'News' at the Cumbria Archives Office I was able to read the tribute and a see a photograph of Lieutenant C.R. Williams, which was probably written by, and published in, his father's newspaper. It must have been difficult for Mr J.R. Williams, even as a professional newspaper manager, to publish all the tributes to local casualties, many of whom he must have known personally. Therefore, it must have been even more difficult for Mr Williams to write and publish the article about his only son, Clifford. Nevertheless, there is a fine tribute to Lieutenant Williams in 'The Whitehaven News' edition published on Thursday 15 April 1943.

Most of the following section is based on this information, supplemented by details I have obtained from the CWGC records and by talking to a few townsfolk from Whitehaven. Unfortunately I am not acquainted with any of the Williams who might be living in West Cumbria at the time of writing this article (July 2005) to cross check the details, but so far as I am aware the information is correct.

Lieutenant Clifford Roger Williams

Clifford Williams was 26 years old when he died, the son of John Roger Williams and Sarah Helen Williams of 'Shrubland', Back Corkickle, Whitehaven in what was then the county of Cumberland (opposite the present-day 'Chase Hotel'). Lieutenant Williams was married to Mary Williams (n茅e Peel) who was "... a loving wife" and they had one daughter who was 14 months old in March 1943 when Lieutenant Williams died. At that time, Mary Williams was living with her parents Mr and Mrs J. Peel in the Hensingham district of town.

According to the newspaper article I consulted, after leaving school Clifford Williams joined the newspaper in the Mechanical and Commercial Departments under his father, and was very popular among the staff. In 1936, Clifford Williams obtained a commission in the local Territorial Army Battalion, the 5th Battalion of the Border Regiment. Probably because Lieutenant Williams was a 'crack shot' he had been posted to the Infantry Training Cadre at Carlisle and then 'Small Arms Officer' for Battalion Headquarters of the Border Regiment. The photograph of Lieutenant Williams printed in the 1943 newspaper article probably dates from this period as it shows him wearing the distinctive Border Regiment badge on the lapel of his uniform.

At the time of his death, Lieutenant Williams was with the Notts Yeomanry (Sherwood Rangers), Royal Armoured Corps, part of the British Eighth Army, and had undertaken training in both the UK and in the Middle East. In the battle for Tunisia, where Lieutenant Williams was killed, he was in command of three tanks. According to the newspaper article, the Nottinghamshire Yeomanry were supporting the New Zealand Division and under the command of General Bernard C. Freyberg. Coincidentally, General Freyberg gave a broadcast on 大象传媒 radio on Tuesday 13 April 1943 describing the attack on El Hamma in which Lieutenant Williams lost his life. According to General Freyberg's broadcast, over 40 enemy tanks had been outflanked and the Germans had retreated from the 'Mareth Line'.

There are many articles in this West Cumbrian newspaper honouring other locals who died during the course of the war. Obviously, the news of Lieutenant Williams' death must have been a terrible blow to his parents, wife, in-laws and close friends. It must also have been the one wartime story that Mr J.R. Williams hoped he would never have to publish. This wartime tribute to Lieutenant C.R. Williams was just one of many that I have read in the Cumbria County Archives in the weeks before writing this article.

Other local Cumbrian newspapers from World War Two I have consulted in the Cumbria Archives ('West Cumberland Times and Star', 'Cumberland News') have similar stories about casualties. No doubt this role was undertaken by all local newspapers in wartime Britain. Looking at the accounts many years after they were first written, I have found they can be an invaluable and contemporary source of information about casualties of war.

As I was intending to write about the 'Comforts Fund' in this article, I made a quick check to see what had been donated in memory of Lieutenant Williams in the edition that his tribute was published. Although it two days after news had been received about Lieutenant Williams' death, there had been four contributions to the fund in his memory. This totalled 拢5 and 6shillings and there were probably further donations the following week.

Although I have not found out exactly where or how Lieutenant Williams lost his life, I know that unfortunately he does not have a known grave. According to the CWGC records, Lieutenant C.R. Williams is commemorated on the Medjez-El-Bab Memorial in Tunisia. This is about 60 Km west of Tunis. It commemorates 1954 from the First and Eighth Armies with no known grave who died in operations in Algeria and Tunisia between November 1942 and May 1943.

Conclusion

Until a few weeks ago I had never heard of John Roger Williams or given a great deal of thought about the role of a local newspaper during World War Two. There is inevitably much more to what Mr Williams and his newspaper contributed to the war effort than I have been able to cover here.

I would like to dedicate what I have written to the part played by local newspapers during the war, and in particular that of 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥�. The local 鈥楴ews鈥� played its part in the war effort and through the 鈥楥omforts Fund鈥� provided an important link between those serving away from home in the Armed Forces and West Cumberland. Hopefully, it is also of interest to readers outside of West Cumbria.

Fortunately, Mr J.R. Williams never had to fulfil the most important role he had been prepared to undertake during the war: namely giving out instructions over the radio if the Germans had invaded and taken over the 大象传媒 transmissions. It would be interesting to learn more about the training those like Mr Williams undertook to prepare themselves for this role. Perhaps a more thorough account of this relatively unknown part of the history of World War Two may be written sometime in the future.

I wish to record my thanks to Mr Jeff Wilson, 鈥楾he Whitehaven News鈥� , the Cumbria Archives Service and others who have helped in obtaining the information enabling this article to be written.

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