COURTMACSHERRY NOTES – SOUTHERN STAR
MARCH 1916.
The following are some extracts from the Courtmacsherry and District Notes in the Southern Star during World War One.
4th March 1916.
RECRUITING MEETING AT COURTMACSHERRY
A meeting was held at Courtmacsherry on Sunday, the 27th February, at 10.30 o’clock under the auspices of the Clonakilty Recruiting Committee. The Pipers played some nice selections previous to the meeting and headed the congregation coming from Church.
The following members travelled from Clonakilty, Messrs T. J. Canty J.P., C.U.D.C., M.C.C.; H. Hoskins, M.P.S. (Hon. Sec.); J. Helen, U.D.C.; John Rowan, D.I.,R.I.C.; S.H. Levis, Manager, M. & L. Bank; J. T. Wheeler, Agent, Bank of Ireland; T. O’Regan, Egg Dealer. Also present were County Inspector Tweedy; Capt. O’Driscoll; R. J. Ruddock R.D.C.; Capt. Hawkes; Johnson Travers; Lance Corporal Vaughan;, R.A.M.C.; Ml. O’Hea, J.P.; Sergt. Leo Wylie, recruiting sergeant; William Murphy, R.D.C.; John White, R.D.C.; J. D. O’Driscoll, R.D.C.; M. G. Hegarty, Thos. Brophy and J. Whelton, Currihy.
On the proposition of Mr. T. J. Canty, seconded by Mr. R. J. Ruddock, Captain O’Driscoll took the chair.
Mr. J. T. Wheeler (Agent, Bank of Ireland) said they had travelled from Clonakilty and they all knew for what purpose this meeting was held. (Hear, hear). He was not there that day to speak to them on any religious or political subject, but he was there to tender a word of advice and reason; he was connected with the people of their village for the last 25 years, he was acquainted with nearly every person around there. He need not tell them that England and her Allies are at war with Germany and other nations; they all knew that, and perhaps better than he did. They had seen and read it in the papers and had debated it in conversation, he need not dwell on the magnitude of the war, he said Courtmacsherry had done a fair share, but there may be a few more to come yet and assist. Don’t think, said he, that you are not wanted. He was often asked ‘is the war going on always?’ That shows a sign of slackness. He often heard people say when asked to enlist, ‘Sure there is enough of us there, England is beating them all the time’. (Cheers). But that is not so. They have not fought a battle yet on German soil. He pointed out the deadly contest that was going on at present and he would ask the men around him to go and volunteer and leave the men who are trained to go out, and help these poor fellows who are in the conflict. The speaker then pointed out that any man enlisting now was not asked to go to the front immediately, but would have to be thoroughly trained before he went out, but he would be a means of allowing those men that are trained to go forward; he asked them not to allow themselves to be put down as slackers. There is conscription in England at the present time, and the Irish leader asked at a public meeting that this conscription would not be for Ireland as there was no necessity for it and that he would get sufficient recruits. The speaker then impressed on the men around him to do their duty, and let their leader see what were the fruits of his undertaking. There were many young men who could play ‘pitch and toss’ and throw a ‘score’ of bowls who could be spared. He pointed out that the Germans were most anxious to get possession of their beautiful country. It was a case of a party going out and the bay and shooting wild widgeon, and taken away the good ones, and leaving the flappers behind. That is the way the Germans will treat their land too, they will take the best of it, and leave the waste there. They would not like to see a gunboat in the morning running along the little bay, so he asked them to buck up now and join – they could select any regiment they wished. He said he may be asked why he himself did not go or any other questions, but he was there to answer them all. Every male relative of his or his wife that was of military age had gone; and are now serving their country (Cheers).
He introduced Lance Corporal Vaughan.
Lance Corporal Vaughan R.A.M.C. said he did not come to ask them to raise a new army, but he only wanted ‘voluntary men’, so as to form a reserve for the regiments that are fighting and to uphold the honour of Ireland (Cheers). He asked them to go forward and to do the same as their friends and old Allies, Belgium and France, had done. He had heard quite a number of men saying they were going to uphold Ireland’s honour. If you say you are going to fight for Ireland, it is as much to say you will allow the German’s to run in – to say I will defend Ireland in Ireland is absurd, and the man that will say it, is making the greatest mistake of his life. In order to uphold Ireland’s honour we must go and keep the Kaiser at bay. What would they be if the Germans ran in? Where would their land and property be? They all knew that Germans consider that there is no better land than Ireland, and Ireland’s land they want. The Kaiser wants a greater coast line, he would then achieve the great need he has in view. Some of the people around have a bit of land and they should defend it and keep it. He (the speaker) was in Cork lately and saw a chart which was found on a dead German which showed every principal house and piece of land in Ireland was mapped out. Every fine holding will be given to a friend of the Kaisers.............................
18 March 1916
COURTMACSHERRY AND DISTRICT NOTES
During the past week some officers of the war departments are busily engaged in the district purchasing hay and straw for Government purposes. Hay is being purchased at from £5 to £6 per ton according to the quality and oaten straw is realising 60s to 65s. Over twenty wagons laden with hay and straw have been consigned from Courtmacsherry and Timoleague stations to Cork for consignment to English ports. They commodities are being compressed by steam apparatus, the property of Mr. W. Frost, Kilpatrick, who, we are informed, had contracted for same. As we are going to Press, this trade continues and prices have a hardening tendency. This should be a stimulus to farmers and it is to be hoped that during the season approaching farmers and labourers will strain every nerve and muscle to produce the maximum amount of supplies and food for man and beast which will certainly fetch lucrative prices during the current year.
_______________________________________
Sincere sympathy is extended to Mrs. E. Jermyn of Courtmacsherry on hearing of the sad news of the death of her nephew, Percival Jeffers, 2nd Lieutenant, who has lost his life in the Destroyer No. 11 which struck a mine in the North Sea during the past week. Mr. Jeffers was in the prime of life, and a promising Irishman. He was here on leave last month and looked in the pink. Such is fate.
______________________________________
We wish our readers and the local public to note the changes that have just taken place as regards the hours of business at the local Post Office. Formerly the business hours were 8am to 8pm. Now these have been curtailed considerably to the inconvenience and disadvantage of a large proportion of the immediate inhabitants but we must remember it is war time and we must assure an air of contentment. Until further notice the hours for all business (telegrams excepted) will be from 9am to 12 noon and from 2pm to 7pm. No business will be transacted between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm except telegrams which may be handed in anytime between 9am and 7pm. A person who cannot get what he wants must learn to like what he gets.
__________________________________
During the past week, the wife of a labourer, on having gone to the fowl house on morning to inspect her poultry was overcome with sorrow and surprise to find that her selected flock of about twenty hens lay for and aft, lifeless on the floor. She did not anticipate it to be the act of the ‘Kaiser’ or his murderous horde, but on close examination, she discovered the sniper with his nose peeping from under the wing of one of his victims, in a corner of the house. She immediately apprised her husband, who summoned the assistance of his neighbours too after a clever piece of manoeuvre succeeded in placing the culprit (a large brown ferret) in a barrel. It is alleged that the owner has been discovered and that law proceedings are being instituted. What the result will be we must wait and see.
MARCH 1916.
The following are some extracts from the Courtmacsherry and District Notes in the Southern Star during World War One.
4th March 1916.
RECRUITING MEETING AT COURTMACSHERRY
A meeting was held at Courtmacsherry on Sunday, the 27th February, at 10.30 o’clock under the auspices of the Clonakilty Recruiting Committee. The Pipers played some nice selections previous to the meeting and headed the congregation coming from Church.
The following members travelled from Clonakilty, Messrs T. J. Canty J.P., C.U.D.C., M.C.C.; H. Hoskins, M.P.S. (Hon. Sec.); J. Helen, U.D.C.; John Rowan, D.I.,R.I.C.; S.H. Levis, Manager, M. & L. Bank; J. T. Wheeler, Agent, Bank of Ireland; T. O’Regan, Egg Dealer. Also present were County Inspector Tweedy; Capt. O’Driscoll; R. J. Ruddock R.D.C.; Capt. Hawkes; Johnson Travers; Lance Corporal Vaughan;, R.A.M.C.; Ml. O’Hea, J.P.; Sergt. Leo Wylie, recruiting sergeant; William Murphy, R.D.C.; John White, R.D.C.; J. D. O’Driscoll, R.D.C.; M. G. Hegarty, Thos. Brophy and J. Whelton, Currihy.
On the proposition of Mr. T. J. Canty, seconded by Mr. R. J. Ruddock, Captain O’Driscoll took the chair.
Mr. J. T. Wheeler (Agent, Bank of Ireland) said they had travelled from Clonakilty and they all knew for what purpose this meeting was held. (Hear, hear). He was not there that day to speak to them on any religious or political subject, but he was there to tender a word of advice and reason; he was connected with the people of their village for the last 25 years, he was acquainted with nearly every person around there. He need not tell them that England and her Allies are at war with Germany and other nations; they all knew that, and perhaps better than he did. They had seen and read it in the papers and had debated it in conversation, he need not dwell on the magnitude of the war, he said Courtmacsherry had done a fair share, but there may be a few more to come yet and assist. Don’t think, said he, that you are not wanted. He was often asked ‘is the war going on always?’ That shows a sign of slackness. He often heard people say when asked to enlist, ‘Sure there is enough of us there, England is beating them all the time’. (Cheers). But that is not so. They have not fought a battle yet on German soil. He pointed out the deadly contest that was going on at present and he would ask the men around him to go and volunteer and leave the men who are trained to go out, and help these poor fellows who are in the conflict. The speaker then pointed out that any man enlisting now was not asked to go to the front immediately, but would have to be thoroughly trained before he went out, but he would be a means of allowing those men that are trained to go forward; he asked them not to allow themselves to be put down as slackers. There is conscription in England at the present time, and the Irish leader asked at a public meeting that this conscription would not be for Ireland as there was no necessity for it and that he would get sufficient recruits. The speaker then impressed on the men around him to do their duty, and let their leader see what were the fruits of his undertaking. There were many young men who could play ‘pitch and toss’ and throw a ‘score’ of bowls who could be spared. He pointed out that the Germans were most anxious to get possession of their beautiful country. It was a case of a party going out and the bay and shooting wild widgeon, and taken away the good ones, and leaving the flappers behind. That is the way the Germans will treat their land too, they will take the best of it, and leave the waste there. They would not like to see a gunboat in the morning running along the little bay, so he asked them to buck up now and join – they could select any regiment they wished. He said he may be asked why he himself did not go or any other questions, but he was there to answer them all. Every male relative of his or his wife that was of military age had gone; and are now serving their country (Cheers).
He introduced Lance Corporal Vaughan.
Lance Corporal Vaughan R.A.M.C. said he did not come to ask them to raise a new army, but he only wanted ‘voluntary men’, so as to form a reserve for the regiments that are fighting and to uphold the honour of Ireland (Cheers). He asked them to go forward and to do the same as their friends and old Allies, Belgium and France, had done. He had heard quite a number of men saying they were going to uphold Ireland’s honour. If you say you are going to fight for Ireland, it is as much to say you will allow the German’s to run in – to say I will defend Ireland in Ireland is absurd, and the man that will say it, is making the greatest mistake of his life. In order to uphold Ireland’s honour we must go and keep the Kaiser at bay. What would they be if the Germans ran in? Where would their land and property be? They all knew that Germans consider that there is no better land than Ireland, and Ireland’s land they want. The Kaiser wants a greater coast line, he would then achieve the great need he has in view. Some of the people around have a bit of land and they should defend it and keep it. He (the speaker) was in Cork lately and saw a chart which was found on a dead German which showed every principal house and piece of land in Ireland was mapped out. Every fine holding will be given to a friend of the Kaisers.............................
18 March 1916
COURTMACSHERRY AND DISTRICT NOTES
During the past week some officers of the war departments are busily engaged in the district purchasing hay and straw for Government purposes. Hay is being purchased at from £5 to £6 per ton according to the quality and oaten straw is realising 60s to 65s. Over twenty wagons laden with hay and straw have been consigned from Courtmacsherry and Timoleague stations to Cork for consignment to English ports. They commodities are being compressed by steam apparatus, the property of Mr. W. Frost, Kilpatrick, who, we are informed, had contracted for same. As we are going to Press, this trade continues and prices have a hardening tendency. This should be a stimulus to farmers and it is to be hoped that during the season approaching farmers and labourers will strain every nerve and muscle to produce the maximum amount of supplies and food for man and beast which will certainly fetch lucrative prices during the current year.
_______________________________________
Sincere sympathy is extended to Mrs. E. Jermyn of Courtmacsherry on hearing of the sad news of the death of her nephew, Percival Jeffers, 2nd Lieutenant, who has lost his life in the Destroyer No. 11 which struck a mine in the North Sea during the past week. Mr. Jeffers was in the prime of life, and a promising Irishman. He was here on leave last month and looked in the pink. Such is fate.
______________________________________
We wish our readers and the local public to note the changes that have just taken place as regards the hours of business at the local Post Office. Formerly the business hours were 8am to 8pm. Now these have been curtailed considerably to the inconvenience and disadvantage of a large proportion of the immediate inhabitants but we must remember it is war time and we must assure an air of contentment. Until further notice the hours for all business (telegrams excepted) will be from 9am to 12 noon and from 2pm to 7pm. No business will be transacted between the hours of 12 noon and 2pm except telegrams which may be handed in anytime between 9am and 7pm. A person who cannot get what he wants must learn to like what he gets.
__________________________________
During the past week, the wife of a labourer, on having gone to the fowl house on morning to inspect her poultry was overcome with sorrow and surprise to find that her selected flock of about twenty hens lay for and aft, lifeless on the floor. She did not anticipate it to be the act of the ‘Kaiser’ or his murderous horde, but on close examination, she discovered the sniper with his nose peeping from under the wing of one of his victims, in a corner of the house. She immediately apprised her husband, who summoned the assistance of his neighbours too after a clever piece of manoeuvre succeeded in placing the culprit (a large brown ferret) in a barrel. It is alleged that the owner has been discovered and that law proceedings are being instituted. What the result will be we must wait and see.
