Gipsy Dan Boswell

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I feel I have read this persons words before but as yet have not traced him, do you hear the way he talks, just like hes talking of attractions at a circus, startling novelty he says, herrmmm

                                Lincolnshire echo Monday 14 august 1916


One sunny afternoon recently at Hampton court Station I saw an unusual sight a young gipsy conscript who was leaving to join the Colours. His eyes were full of tears, on the platform his gipsy father and his gipsy mother, his gipsy sister, and his gipsy sweetheart were seeing him off, and all the women were absolutely rocking with grief Even the gipsy father was crying. After the tram had left the gipsies went sobbing into the sunshine and then doubled themselves up on their little cart and howled.  What an  extraordinary sight, but, of course enforced military service for romany chals is a novelty in this country, and that is why the tears are flowing freely in the tans and the gipsy Mothers and sweethearts are demonstrative in their douleur. I should  like to have  had a minutes chat in their own language with the dusky daughters  Egypt the gipsies are really descendants of   Pali, a tribe in India—but their grief was so pronoused and so public that I felt the moment was not propitious for a Gorgio to  attempt an interview. so I watched them from a respectful  distance. I wanted ascertain at first hand the gipsy view of compulsory military service. I was informed by a friendly fly-driver who was also a lookeron said that the Hampton gipsies had been hiding their young men. and that there had been  considerable  difficulty in getting hold them for War purposes. But quite a number of young gipsies are now wearing the Kings uniform. And as soon as the get over the startling novelty of military life they will probably make Very good soldiers

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                                  Aberdeen journal Monday 11 September 1916


                                                     RAID ON GIPSY CAMP.


The Lynton police and military representatives made a systematic search at Exmoor at two o'clock on Saturday morning four young fellows who were attempting to evade military service. A gipsy camp was found, and a roundup started. Many of the men with little clothing on bolted from under the tent curtains; two were taken near the Moles Chamber. It was stated that one had grown a beard to make him look older, and said he was 42. The Barnstaple magistrates fined both £2, and ordered them to be handed over to the military authorities.

                                "Other raids of a similar nature are proceeding"

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                                    Reading mercury Saturday 18 November 1916


                                      Before C. A. Hawker, Esq Military Absentees.


 Privates Nelson Davis and Henry Roberts were charged with being absentees from the 3rd Hants Regiment, stationed at Gosport, and pleaded guilty. P.B. Hutson said that on the previous day he visited a gipsy encampment in “Pinniger’s Park” and saw the two men, whom he asked to produce their passes. These were found to expire Sunday night. They were remanded in custody to await an escort. Alluding the gipsy encampment, the Mayor said that hardly a day passed but that he received complaints from residents in the locality of the conditions prevailing there, and asked the police if anything could done in the matter. Inspector Boulter said that the travelling people paid rent for use of the field, and this made it impossible for the police to act, although they were quite anxious to do so. Several of the gipsies were in court, and from the statement made by one them it appeared that the period for which they had paid rent had now expired. The Clerk thereupon said that they must

                                                              "clear out".

 The matter had been before the Sanitary Committee of the Corporation, who were most anxious to away with the disgusting conditions that prevailed at this camp, almost in the centre the town. At the request the Mayor, Inspector Boulter undertook to see the owner in the matter.   

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                               Coventry evening telegraph Thursday 9 march 1916


                                                 Coventry recruiting tribunal

                                                          A Gipsys claim
 
                                             Coventry Recruiting Tribunal. A claim.

 Coventry Military Service Tribunal again sat this afternoon. Mr. It. A. Rotherham presided, and were also present Councillors and A. C .Bannington, Captain Kay (Recruiting Officer) and Mr. A. F. Gregory (for the military authorities), and the Clerk Mr. A. B, Lemon. An unusual case was beard in which a gipsy— travelling hawker —applied to the Court for exemption.
 
The man was Herbert Peter Buckland, of no fixed abode, working between Birmingham and Berkswell. The Clerk reported that the claim was lodged after the date, and the Tribunal inquired into the circumstances which led to this. Applicant stated that he could not read or write. He was not able read the newspaper.

” I have talked to a gentleman, and they have told me that they could not fetch me away because I am the only one to support my old mother,” he said.
 
Questioned to why, being only young man, he could not write, said he had never been to school more than three weeks in his life. Councillor Wyle’s: How did you escape the school attendance officer? — They never troubled us. The Chairman: If I gave you a cheque for £10, what, would you do with it. i should have to leave it to your honesty. I Have never taken a cheque in my life. You are a gipsy, are you not; — yes, known all over Warwickshire.

Applicant said that his mother was at that moment living ill in their caravan at Sparkbrook; she was 77 years of age. He had thought of his mother or he should have gone into the Army before now.
 A letter was read from man who knew Buckland he said that he and his mother were of the genuine Romany tribe, and if the old mother were transferred from her van to a house she would soon die. Captain Kay, these people live a strange life and military life would be stranger to them than others probably. He suggested a conditional exemption.
Temporary and conditional exemption till June 30th was allowed.

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                                       Yorkshire Evening Post 5 November 1917

                                             
                                             GIPSIES HIDING IN A CHALK PIT.



 At a Kent police court, three gipsies were convicted of stealing fowls and trespassing in search of game.
 it was stated that, to avoid being called up for military service, the men took refuse in a chalk pit at night. Round the entrance they placed wire entanglements on which hung tins and bottles, which gave a warning of any persons approach, and two dogs were placed on guard.
During a recent raid, however, the attention of the dogs was diverted, and a police sergeant was able to affect the arrest of the men by getting into the chalk pit through another entrance.

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 I will just travel back now, try to feel into the words, as you will see more laws, more regulations, Gipsys have always one way or the other been under the kosh, herrmm where have I heard that word before

                     Beverley east riding recorder Saturday 28 April 1888




THE GIPSIES. bill has been introduced to the House of Commons proposing a most drastic and important powers for registering, supervising, and regulating the vans or other vehicles used as movable abodes the itinerant population—namely, the hawkers and others known as gipsies. It is proposed that all such vans, Ac. shall by registered by the sanitary or local authorities, who shall duly letter or mark or number such travelling abodes. The number, age, sex of every person using such van shall reported, and the local or sanitary authorities shall have power to fix the number of persons who shall be allowed to dwell and sleep in any given travelling van. Powers are also proposed which the authorities may scrutinise the sanitary and other arrangements, and if it seems good to them may stipulate that no more than a given number persons may sleep in van, which in the case of gipsy with a family would be ruinous. Moreover the Local Government Board is to be enabled to exercise a paternal control over the education of such gipsy children. Officers from the Education Department will leave orders about school attendance, and the sanitary inspectors will have the power of looking into the bedroom accommodation and other domestic arrangements of the gipsy's house on wheels.

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 Gipsy Children for generations had not had much schooling, below is just a few examples, when you read the next few pages you may start to understand more, I also put the other names along with the Gipsy named Eliza Woods, they didn't want to be forgotten either

                                     Sheffield independent Friday 14 march 1879


                                                        Sheffield town hall


Second court school board prosecutions the following persons were fined for neglecting to send their children regularly to school Henry Wiltshire hawker 26 court, 6 house, high street.
Beverley east riding recorder



                                         Sheffield independent February 1891


                      SHEFFIELD TOWN HALL   — Before the Stipendiary Magistrates.
                     School board prosecutions William Wiltshire, hawker Pond Street



                                         Western chronicle 1 November 1912
 

Thursday.— Before Col. J. R. P. Godden (in the chair), Messrs Geo. Gordon, A. S. Williams, Norman McLean, P. H. Rawson and Aid. A. Dingley who was recently made magistrate for the county. A Gipsy’s Offence.— Nelson Cooper, gipsy, was summoned for encamping on the highway at Bishop Down, in the parish of Folke.—P .c. Pearce proved the charge, and defendant was fined 2s 6d with 5s 6d costs.  Eliza Woods, gipsy, summoned under the Children’s Act for not sending her children to school, and further she’ was charged with encamping, on the highway. Harry Light, gipsy, charged with allowing horse to stray, also with encamping the highway. Benjamin Denham, gipsy, summoned for tethering a donkey on the highway, also with encamping on the highway.

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   Children in school years, had and new of other children who also where schooled in the military mind set, a great love for King or Queen intern Empire, I have listened to documentary's about such things, also a very sad fact is , but they say it is true, well most of the young educated men from the university's were killed, like there working class countrymen they were raised to be trained, 

Gipsy Children seldom had the opportunity to belong to this country in such matters, always in one way or another they were raised with the fact that they where on the run, they where outsiders, this is a true fact , be objective and feel into the words that I continue to write, many many Gipsy Men went on to die fighting for this country,  they where taken by the authoritys by forse, many taken to their death on foreigne soil, they to where mostly just Lads, they to like their countrymen ,educated or working class, yes , they to died a sorrowful frightening death, a sad time for all, may they All , All of them , All of them, Rest in Eternal Peace


                                          Hull daily mail Wednesday 10 June 1914


             LETTERS TO EDITOR. BOYS' NAVAL BRIGADE SDGGESTIONS FOR A CORPS IN HULL.

                                                TO THE EDITOR OF THE " MAIL.


" Sir, a few days ago there appeared in your columns a paragraph and letter, the letter from Mr Smith, the hon. secretary of the newly formed Boys' Brigade, relative to the urgent need there is for Hull to organise a boys corps, similar to what are to be found in several districts of London, also in Gravesefied, Leicester, Littlehampton, Campbelltown, Plymouth, Norwich, Reading, Windsor, etc. etc. I am led to ask for an insertion of this letter because only a few years ago, when the Hull branch of the Navy League was in full swing, a discussion took place from time to time on the necessity of starting a branch of the Boys' Naval Cadet Corps, but unfortunately action did not succeed in discussion. 

 In a letter received from headquarters, Gofton Salmond, lieutenant-commander, RN.. states that if Hull, organises a branch he shall be pleased to come down and inspect and address the boys. No doubt your readers are acquainted with the objects, which are highly commendatory, i.e., to teach the boys habits of discipline, duty, and self-respect, in order that they may be educated to believe in the British Empire and the British Navy, whereon the Empire rests and depends for its existence. I may say the boys wear a uniform resembling that of the bluejackets in the Royal Navy. They are provided with competent Navy petty officer instructors, who teach them seamanship, gunnery, signalling, boatwork, etc., combined with a proper course of instruction in physical exercise. According to your correspondent, there will be a meeting on Wednesday, at 7.30 p.m., in the Royal Institution, when all persons interested in the  future of the Empire and of the lads will be welcomed, that committee may be formed, with president, vice-presidents, etc., which will insure success. I hope Hull will not be behind the places mentioned, but in a small way emulate London, which possesses ten branches, supported by gentlemen of all political creeds, and also ladies.
 €I am, Sir, etc., WILLIAM STEPHENSON (Hon. Treasurer). 11, Scale-lane, Hull, June 8th, 1914.

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                                           Western gazette Friday 15 may 1914

 
                    THE BOYS' BRIGADE, DEATH OF SIR WILLIAM A. SMITH, THE FOUNDER.

The founder and secretary of the Boys' Brigade, Sir William Alexander Smith, died London, Friday, aged sixty. He was present at the annual demonstration of the Boys' Brigade at the Albert Hall last Thursday, and was suddenly taken ill the next day. The King has sent the following telegram to Lord Guthrie, president of the Boys' Brigade:— The King has learnt with much regret of the sudden death of Sir William Smith, whose name will ever be remembered as the founder and friend of the Boys' Brigade. Stamfordham. The late Sir W. A. Smith was born in Glasgow and educated at Thurso Academy. In 1874 he joined the Ist Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers, and retired as hon. colonel a few years ago. 1883, with two colleagues, he banded together thirty boys as the “boys’ brigade," and the local effort in Glasgow at once spread. To-day the brigade numbers 70,000 officers and boys in United Kingdom and 120,000 throughout the world. Faced with the choice of giving up his business or brigade. Sir William chose, with great personal sacrifice, the former course.

R.i.P