Reported in the News Letter during this week in 1916

Patriotic Match

At The Oval

[May 15]

The only senior game in the city on Saturday [May 13] was played at the Oval between Glentoran and Linfield, both clubs giving their services for the aid of funds for comforts for East Belfast men at the front and prisoners of war.

Rain fell without intermission up to 2.30 on the day of the match, but for that hour afterwards quite a change came over the scene, and glorious sunshine prevailed. This was fortunate, and the attendance was very satisfactory, there being a big crowd present. Upon inquiry it was stated that fully £200 would be realised – a splendid sum under the circumstances.

It was a really capital game, and one in which Glentoran were distinctly the superior all-round team. Final result:

Glentoran ... 2 goals

Linfield ... 1 goal

Heroic Dublin Nurses

[May 15]

One more thrilling narrative may be added to the many that have gone before of the bravery displayed by doctors and nurses during the reign of terror in Dublin.

The private nursing home of Miss Fanny Overend, 29, Upper Mount Street, which appears to have been in the direct line of fire, was riddled with shot by snipers.

A child patient was sleeping in Miss Overend’s room when the first volley of shot crashed through the window. Miss Overend threw herself over the child to protect it from the bullets, and then, during a lull in the firing, she crawled along the floor with the child and got into another bedroom occupied by nurses. While here a bullet entered the room and buried itself in the pillow on which the head of a nurse was resting, but, fortunately, without injury to the nurse, who had a remarkable escape from death.

During the day, cries for help were heard from the direction of Mount Street Crescent. Although firing was going on all round, Miss Overend and Nurse Graham valiantly ventured out, and found a man lying on the street, grievously wounded. They were engaged stopping the haemorrhage when another man was seen to fall some distance away. This man had been mortally wounded, and died while the nurses were attending him. Returning to their first patient, the two nurses managed to get him to the nursing home, and another lady, name unknown, pluckily ran to the nearest Red Cross station and had the ambulance summoned. The man was taken to hospital.

Rev D S Corkey Wounded

[May 16]

It will be learned with regret that Rev David S Corkey, minister of Dundrod Presbyterian Church, who has been serving as a chaplain to the forces since May 1915, was severely wounded on Monday, 8th inst., the injury necessitating the amputation of his left arm.

Mr Corkey was attached to a battalion of the Royal Scots, and was on duty at the regimental dressing station when he was wounded in his left arm by shrapnel.

The arm was shattered, and on Mr Corkey’s removal to hospital it was amputated. It is gratifying, however, to be able to state that according to the latest report the reverend gentleman is progressing favourably.

The wounded chaplain is one of eight sons of the late Rev Joseph Corkey, MA, LLD, Glendermott, who entered the Presbyterian ministry.

He is a brother of Rev William Corkey (Townsend Street Church, Belfast), Rev Robert Corkey (Monaghan), Rev John Corkey (Dunloy), Rev Joseph Corkey (Duns), Rev Vernon A Corkey (Culnady), Rev James Corkey (America), and the late Rev Alexander Corkey, who died in the States some time ago.

Casement Trial Opens

[May 16]

Sir Roger Casement appeared yesterday at Bow Street Police Court, London, to answer a charge of high treason.

Seldom has a case attracted so much public attention as that in which this British ex-Consul, after an amazing career in an enemy country, is now called upon to stand trial on one of the gravest charges ever heard in British courts.

Also in the dock on a similar charge was a former private in the Royal Irish Rifles named Daniel Julian Bailey.

Casement, swarthy, sunken-eyed, his face wearing a set expression of brooding, was well groomed and distinguished looking.

The Attorney-General in his opening statement told the story of Casement’s reported efforts to found an Irish brigade among the prisoners in Germany, and made some extraordinary revelations to the plot to carry out an Irish raid. Evidence having been given by several witnesses, the hearing was adjourned.

Bakery Blaze

Six Horses Killed

[May 18]

A serious outbreak of fire occurred last night in Church Street, Antrim, involving the destruction of extensive stabling accommodation, the property of the Bloomfield Bakery Company, and occasioning damage to an adjoining house occupied by Mr Nathaniel Gray, agent for the company, and the Methodist school.

Six horses which were in the stables at the time were burned to death and three bread vans were destroyed.

The New Plot Against Ulster

News Letter Editorial

[May 19]

Mr Asquith’s inquiries in Ireland have terminated for the present, and he is expected back in London today.

He has not given any hint of his object, except in the two or three sentences in which he announced it, and they were purposely vague.

The enemies of Ulster attribute to him the intention of creating an Irish Council, composed of Unionists and Nationalists, to govern Ireland during the war, and to prepare the way for Home Rule. Some of them go further, and say that this is a golden opportunity for bringing the Home Rule Act into operation immediately, and the leading Radical newspapers, with the help of one or two which have hitherto been Unionist, are appealing to Ulster to acquiesce in a settlement; that is, to submit to the control of a Nationalist and Roman Catholic Parliament.

It is no wonder that this new plot is producing feelings of the deepest indignation, not only here, but among the friends of Ulster in England and Scotland who know the relative amounts of support which the two Parties in Ireland have given to the Government in carrying on the war.

Most of Mr Asquith’s followers in the Press ask or allow their readers to believe that the Nationalists represent the loyalty and patriotism of Ireland, and that they have earned Home Rule. What Ulster has done is ignored.

The supporters of Home Rule have always made large use of falsehood and misrepresentation, and they were never more active than now.

‘Daylight Saving Bill’

[May 20]

By the passing of the Summer Time Act – the formal but not very impressive title of the measure founded on what was popularly known as the Daylight Saving Bill – Parliament has shown its readiness to connive at the acceptance of a “great illusion”.

Tomorrow the day will consist of only 23 hours, because Parliament has solemnly decreed that time shall be advanced by one hour, but we shall be able to make up for this loss on the 1st October, when the old order of things will be restored by the simple expedient of putting the clocks back one hour, thus giving us a day of 25 hours.

Forgetfulness on the part of householders to put their clocks an hour in advance of the real time either before they retire to bed tonight or when they rise in the morning may result in a good deal of embarrassment, and perhaps in serious disappointment.

The actual change is to take place at two o’clock tomorrow morning, when at a single bound we shall skip a full hour of time. People who are accustomed to rise at nine o’clock will, if they follow their usual practice, be astir at eight tomorrow, but if they have done their duty by their clocks and watches, in compliance with the behests of Parliament, they will not have any difficulty in reconciling themselves to the illusion which is being forced upon them in the interests of national economy.

It was thought that when the Government adopted the daylight saving principle they would avail themselves of the opportunity to bring Irish time into conformity with English time. Irish time is 25 minutes behind that of England. Unfortunately, sentiment or prejudice was too strongly rooted to permit the change being made.