This is the last chapter, and the end of my writing about the Worcester relatives. Before you say it, I did take out at least 2/3 of the obits. But I get so excited about having real hard information about my characters that I get carried away. I feel bad that I had to gloss over the death of JCR Day - but I have been told that he commited suicide and the family hushed it up, so I felt I had to do the same thing. The beginning bit is Jessie but the rest is me.

1919

Lansdowne Crescent stories

War! How little that really conveyed to us a few short years ago. We who have lived for so long in peace in our island home, what did we know and understand of the inner meaning of that word, which now has so pregnant and ominous a sound in our ears? We read, maybe, of bygone wars, and we perhaps give a passing thought to the sorrow and misery of the weeping wives and mothers, to the fatherless babes, to the sufferings of the wounded. We looked, as it were, on a pitiful picture, and straightway going our way, forgot.

But now-look and see! Christian countries desolated, Christian homes blackened and ruined, Europe one vast welter of blood, children fatherless by tens of thousands, widows left to mourn their dead. And the mothers, what of them? Ah! well may we be proud of the mothers of our boys. They, many of them, stand as the mother of the Eternal Word stood long ago at the foot of the Cross, erect, though pierced with a sword of sorrow; erect, for have not their sons followed in the footsteps of that other Son who gave His life for many? And as the first Good Friday was the necessary precursor of Easter Day, so too shall our day of desolation assuredly be followed by a resurrection to a new life.

And the boys, those who, far more than we, have had to drink the very dregs of the cup of bitterness! What effect has this vast upheaval had upon them? Assuredly no one of us has passed through this furnace of suffering unscathed, and most of all must those who have had to face untold horrors bear the marks of the fray.

Perhaps now that the war is over, my record of events will be more even handed to the rest of Lansdowne Crescent.

Tom Stinton and Mary and their children Betty and Margot have left us now. Tom has resumed his post as Headmaster of Loughborough Grammar School. We shall miss them all, but particularly the little girls who are now 5 and 3. Mrs. Eliza Stinton is still living in our road.

There have been losses from nearly everybody in this road – not necessarily sons, but cousins or nephews or friends. The Lewis, the Knights, the Rowes, the Williams, the Curtises. Only the Ogilveys seemed to be without loss.

I saw in the paper the other day that Mrs. Bradley from Lansdowne Lodge, not strictly part of the road that I am writing about, had a thanksgiving service at King’s School for her two sons who were not killed in the war. There were 80 from King’s who died in action, including our poor Peter. Mrs. Bradley donated a handsome banner – designed by Miss Nichols, which has the names of the 80 who died for their country. It will be used at school services at the Cathedral.

And of course the poor Days, having had 5 sons serve and survive, their youngest son, Bobs, died of influenza while in India – after the war was over. He was a cadet at Wellington College in India and died on March 20th. And late in the summer, John Curel Roberts Day died, aged only 64. The story is cloaked in mystery, but he was killed in a train accident. Mrs. Caroline Day has now sold her house and left the area.

Mrs. King, having no sons, still reports deaths in her family. Her cousins Fritz and Douglas Bowyer were both killed in France in 1916. And her cousin Charles Wood reported the deaths of his sons Lt. Col. Herbert who fought in Gallipoli and Meopotamia and was wounded but remained at his post and entered Baghdad. His brother Leut. Cyril Wood died in 1915 at the battle of Sari Bari in Gallipoli. Another cousin Ernest Wood lost his son Roy St. John in October 1916 at the Regina Trench in France. Another cousin Louisa Clark’s son Kenneth had two sons who died, Kenneth and Teho both in France in August 1918.

But we also had to suffer a death which was not directly due to the war.

Our wonderful father, also is dead. Warren W.A. Tree, died on June 7th, aged 68. I will attach some of what the newspapers reported about his death, as their glowing praise showed how much he was valued by the whole community.

The Worcester Herald, June 14th, 1919

Death of Mr. WWA Tree

The Doyen of Worcester Solicitors

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Mr. Warren Williams Arrowsmith Tree which occurred at his residence, 4 Lansdowne Crescent, Worcester on Saturday shortly before nine o’clock. Until three months ago, Mr. Tree was able to attend to his practice, but has since been almost confined to his house. The immediate cause of death was heart failure. The deepest sympathy of a wide circle of friends will be extended to the widow and five daughters for their bereavement. The deceased gentleman was 69 years of age.

Mr. Tree was articled to his father, the late Mr. James Tree, and admitted as a solicitor in 1876. For a short time he was engaged in journalism at Bristol, but subsequently returned to Worcester and joined his father in partnership.

Of a kindly and genial disposition, wise and reliable in his legal knowledge, thorough and painstaking in his effort on behalf of clients, and eminently fair as an advocate, he won the respect of the public and the appreciation of any Court before whom he appeared, and as his practice extended many responsible offices were entrusted to him.

Mr. Tree was appointed Treasury Solicitor and represented the King’s Proctor, the Mint Authorities and the Post Office and also was Steward of the Ombersley Estate.

For two years he was elected President of the West Worcestershire Law Society. He served on the Society’s committee and as one of the provincial members of the board of directors of the Solicitors’ Benevolent Society for England and Wales.

When the Clerkship to the Justices of the Worcester County Petty Sessional Divisions fell vacant about 13 years ago, Mr. Tree, who was not an applicant, was asked by the Magistrates to undertake the duty and he fulfilled the office with the greatest satisfaction of the court and credit to himself.

In later years his eldest son, Mr. Frank Tree became his partner. He was hon. secretary of the Worcester organisation of the N.S.P.C.C. and when he went to the war his father assumed the office and on his death permanently undertook the secretaryship.

Recently Mr. Tree took a former pupil Mr. H.J. Johnson into partnership with him. This gentleman joined the Public School Battalion at the outbreak of war and went with it to France subsequently receiving a commission in the King’s Own (Lancers) Regt. He went out again and was severely wounded in both arms. For valiant conduct he received the D.S.O. and was promoted captain. After having been on home service since recovering from his wounds, Captain Johnson was demobilised and has returned to Worcester.

A convinced Liberal in politics, and a supporter of the party in Worcester, Mr. Tree on more than one occasion sought Municipal office. His first contest was in Claines Ward, where he was heavily defeated. In 1903 he was returned unopposed in St. Peter’s Ward and was on the council for three years being defeated in 1906 by the late Mr. A.H. Whinfield.

HOUSING THE BELGIANS

During the war, Mr. Tree rendered yeoman service as Chairman of the Committee responsible for the housing and maintenance of the Belgium refugees who were received in Worcester. On him and Mrs. Ernest Day, the hon. Secretary fell most of the burden of carrying out this necessary but arduous work.

As his third Christian name indicates, he was related to Mr. Arrowsmith, the well known Bristol publisher. A brother of Mr. Tree’s is a canon in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Trinidad.

THREE SONS KILLED IN THE WAR

Mr. Tree had three sons serving in the war – Lieut. C.J. Tree, W. F. Tree and P.B. Tree – all of whom paid the supreme sacrifice.

The first son to be killed at the Dardanelles on July 20th, 1915 at the age of 25. Previously he was a master at a private secondary school at East Grinstead Sussex.
Lieu W.F. Tree on the day before his death in action in France, on July 22, 1916 attained his 28th birthday. He served his articles with his father, and subsequently joined him as a partner in the firm of Messrs. Tree and Son. He served with the 10th Battalion. The third and last son to be killed, Lieu P.B. Tree of the Machine Gun Corps was aged 23. Upon the outbreak of war he joined the Public School Bn. Went out to France in 1915 and after serving there for a time returned to Oxford to train for a commission which he received in the MGC. He went out on Christmas Eve 1917 and met his death in April of the following year.

One of Mr. Tree’s daughters married Capt. Stinton, who served in the Italian campaign.

The Mayor’s Eulogy

The Mayor said he had been asked the attendance f his brother magistrates and members of the local bar in order that they might make a record of the loss of the city as their late friend, Mr. Tree. In spite of all the experience of the four or five years he did not think that the hand of sorrow had fallen more heavily on any one family than upon the family of Mr. Tree.

Not only was Mr. Tree himself loved and respected but every member of his rather large family gained the affection and close regard of every citizen who was brought into contact with them. Mr. Tree was already slightly failing in health when the terrible calamity of the war came upon the country. He had three sons, and one by one those splendid boys were taken from him. Those who were fathers know that as life went on their own ambitions grew more slender and their thoughts went out to sons who were to follow them. So they could realise the feelings of their late dead and respected friend as one boy after another was taken. Lieut. C J. Tree was killed at the Dardanelles on July 20th, 1915, and then Lieut. W.F. Tree about a year after on the 22nd July 1916 was also killed. Mr. W.F Tree was partner with his father and the Mayor said how he was greatly struck when home on leave a short while before he was killed as his father was unwell, he appeared in the court as an advocate, and he was impressed by his capacity particularly in cross-examination. Then the youngest boy, Lieu P.B Tree was taken in April 1918. Mr. Tree was a proud father to have three sons serving in the war – a prouder father to know that all those sons had made the great sacrifice for the ideals for which the country was fighting. But there was sorrow as well as pride; and the grief of the father and mother could not be understood except by those who had passed through a similar experience.

The career of Mr. Tree in the city was well known. The temper and perhaps even the character of an advocate were possible tried more than those of any member of the community. In the heat of debate it was easy to say the unkind word, but thought no one present could say that in the whole of their experience they remembered Mr. Tree giving vent to an unkind thought or action in any case with which he was connected. If asked to describe their ideal of an English gentleman probably the first man their thoughts would be Mr. Tree for in his professional and private capacity he exemplified all the attributes of a gentleman. The Mayor then moved a resolution stating that the Justices placed on record an expression of the deep regret the great loss sustained by the Court and the city generally by the death of Mr. W W A Tree who was admitted a solicitor in 1876, and who for upwards of 40 years practiced before the City Bench and who throughout that period carried out his professional duties in a most exemplary manner. And the justices desired to offer their sincere condolence to the widow and family.

A PATTERN TO YOUNG SOLICIORS

Mr. Maund, as the oldest practicing solicitor in the Court (Mr. S Southall had had to leave) said as a lifelong friend and relative of Mr. Tree it was naturally hard for him to approach the subject. For 38 years he had perhaps had more opportunity of closer professional association with Mr. Tree and was better able to appreciate his qualities than anyone else. As an academic lawyer, Mr. Tree was unexcelled. As a practical lawyer he had few equals. For honesty of purpose and integrity he was an exemplar. As a man and a citizen he was as near perfection as most men could even wish to attain. To a friend, Mr. Tree was always kindness himself –he (Mr. Maund) spoke with heartfelt appreciation and knowledge. To an opponent he was the acme of courtesy, to an antagonist he was the personification of a patient gentleman. Mr. Tree had left an example which was a pattern for the emulation by all the rising generation of the profession; aye, and by all of them. Of Mr. Tree it might truly be said, “Here was a man. Take him for all in all. We ne’er shall look upon his life again.”

ABSOLUTELY FAIR

The Magistrates Clerk (Mr. J Livingstone Wood) on behalf of the officials of the Court said that having occupied the position of Magistrates Clerk for 11 years, he had a unique opportunity of judging Mr. Tree as an advocate. What struck him most was his fearlessness in doing everything he could in the interest of his client, and secondly, his absolute fairness to a prisoner or anyone engaged in the case, and his sincere desire never to use an unnecessary harsh word or to give additional pain to prisoners or anyone else. He was very jealous indeed of anything in the nature of wasting the time of the court and he never used 20 words when 10 or five words were sufficient. He showed a pattern to some of the younger members of the profession who had been and would be coming on in the Court. He had heard Mr. Tree say that he preferred to defend a prisoner than to prosecute one and that he was always glad to join in an appeal to the Bench when the circumstances permitted to temper justice with mercy. He concurred most heartily in the vote of condolence to Mrs. Tree and family. They had suffered by the stroke of Providence during the war; now had come this crowning sorrow of their life –the loss of an ideal husband and a loving father.

The Worcester Herald

IDA – Ladies’ Column,
June 14th, 1919

(This column is I think written by Mrs. Ernest Day, but she only gives the initials IDA as her signature.)

The Death of Mr. Warren Williams Tree

In the passing away from the active life of our city of Warren Tree one of the best of its citizens and the way eloquent testimonial to him were spoken by the Mayor and others on Wed a.m. are but well deserved tributes. His splendid courage in bearing as he did the losses and bereavements of the war must have impressed everyone with whom he came into contact.  He let no personal sorrow interfere with his work for others and the great services which he gave to the Belgian refugees both as vice chairman of the committee and as a generous private host to many of the earlier claimants on our hospitality showed him to be full of sympathy for th trials of these unfortunate people who come to us from ruined homes without hardly any worldly possessions. He was always ready to help those in need as Secretary to the Commission no one can be more grateful remembrance of his valuable service than I have.

The deepest sympathy will be felt for Mrs. Tree and his daughters – for our loss great as it is cannot compare with the blank left to the home where such a husband and father is taken away.

Father’s funeral was on Tuesday, June 10th, first the church service at Holy Trinity which was taken by Rev. J. A. Sharrock the Vicar, and scripture was read by our uncle, Rev. W. J. Maund, Weslyan minister of West Bromich.

Besides mother and my sisters and our brother in law, Tom Stinton and Auntie Louie, we also had mother’s brother from Cornwall, Mr. Brown. The Maund family turned out in full and also we had Mr. H.R. Johnston who was made a partner in the firm with father not long ago and Dr. Carnaugh, Mr. Water Webb, C.W. Potter, T. H. Ballard, R.J. Derbyshire, Miss Cole, Mrs. Ray and Rose Bridges.

It was very humbling to see the county and city police officers who formed a guard of honour as he was carried to his grave.

There were representative from the W. Law society, W Divisional Judges, Representatives of Lord and Lady Sandys, Ombersley Manor Court, County Constabulary, City Police, N.S.P.C.C., Liberal Assn., Angel St. Church, and the National Friendly Society.

Our good neighbour and friend, J.C.R. Day was there (I’ve already mentioned that he has since died), and another friend but no relation of his, W.G. Day.

Wreaths sent by us, with a special one from the grandchildren and many others including one from the Maunds.

I’ve copied out the Reverend’s address:

The object of this serve is twofold. First it is to commit the soul of the deceased to God and the body to the earth and second it is to comfort the mourners.
The beautiful chapter just read shows that death is not the end of all things, but the soul is given to another “spiritual body” and no doubt a life of activity is provided. The soul has to be purified from its earthly stains and the real life then begins. Death is not the loss of everything e.g. those cut off in early life as in war, pass to a more glorious life beyond – provided they have been loyal to God. We must cling to the doctrine of the Communion of Saints. Some on earth others in paradise.

“One army of the living God
To his command we blow
Part of the host have coursed the flood
And parts are crossing now.”

A funeral is really an occasion of thanksgiving though of course we all feel the wrench of parting from those whom we love. The only sting in death is sin. To those who neglect God and are disloyal to him, death is indeed a terribly sad thing. But those who live and trust in Jesus Christ as our brother did, death is a thing for which we thank God because he delivers us from the miseries of the sinful world. So we say with St. Paul, “Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Now the war is over and things are getting back to normal, the men have to find work to do. Una Day Richmond and her husband Dick and their son Peter went off to Saltspring Island near Vancouver Island in Canada. They bought a market garden and a cow there and other friends of theirs went out there too, the Haliday family, the Baumboroughs and the Bentleys. So Gwenllian and Mark Day decided to go out as well, and try their luck.

After they got to Canada, for awhile Mark could get no work, and just did what he could to make ends meet. They lived in a very rustic log cabin. Gwenllian and her friend Joan Haliday sewed trousers to make money, and they shingled the roofs of the log cabins. Towards the end of the year, Caroline Day went out to visit with them and is still there.

By the end of the year Mark found a job, in the Canadian Rockies – prospecting for gold at a mine called ‘Likely’ after the man who first established the mine, John Likely. Gwenllian wrote in her letter the story about how one time she was visiting Mark on the site, and this man John Likely came into the camp. He didn’t of course know who she was, but assumed she was a loose woman there for the pleasure of the miners. She offered him a cup of coffee and he said, ‘What are you doing here? Surely you would do better setting up shop by the coast.’ Later when he went up to the mine workings and was told by Mark that she was his wife, he was apparently very embarrassed at having made such a gaff.

Tom Stinton has had quite a tough time with his health over the last months. He said, “For months I had been in the trenches without turning a hair and now I get mumps and then quinsies.”

George Day and his wife Ann Cobb Day have had a baby boy who they have called Patrick de Cormelie, born on January 19th in Cairo. I wonder why he has such a fancy middle name. George whom everybody calls Jimmy for some reason, is the head of Education for the British Protectorate in Egypt. His wife hasn’t been well since the birth, and they are worried about her health.

Harold and Muriel and their three children have gone to live in Ryhall, a small village in Rutland. Harold suffered with his nerves during the war, and he has decided to give up mining engineering, and will now be a chicken farmer. Muriel’s mother, Mrs. Louisa King has gone to live with them and her house on Lansdowne Crescent is for sale.

John and May Day and their two children have gone back to Stamford School, where John is the headmaster. It is not any distance at all from Ryhall, and so May and Muriel will be able to see quite a lot of each other. Mrs. Eliza Stinton still lives here but she will spend time visiting between their house and Tom and Mary’s house in Loughborough.

My sisters and our mother and I continue to live on Lansdowne Crescent, but it certainly is not the same as it was ten years ago. Margaret continues with her little job. I have been asked to continue working for Mr. Johnson who took over father’s solicitor’s office, so I will continue to do that for the present.

Beth is back in Scarborough at Queen Margaret’s teaching music, and she has made friends with the Rowntree family who live there. Their father used to teach at King’s and we knew the family at that time.
 
Janet is now friendly with Ralph Brown from Plymouth, who is a distant cousin on our mother’s side. He is a Civil Servant and spends much time abroad. When he originally came courting it was with Margaret in mind, so she is heartbroken, and relations between her and Janet are somewhat strained.

What a loss this decade has dealt to our family, to our road, and of course to the country and the world. We can only hope that the dawn of 1920 will be a better time for us all.