Arthur Harrison Killed WW1

[TubbyLes]

Just got this e-mail forwarded to the chairman of Accrington local History society,if anyone,like Retlaw can help.---------

To - Hyndburn Local History Society
20 Royds Avenue, Accrington, Lancashire, BB5 2LE

Dear 'albertandhazel'

My name is Sam Eedle, and I am a member of the the Tewkesbury Local History Society.

I am researching the life of ARTHUR HARRISON, 1870-1915, who was a schoolmaster in Tewkesbury during the years before the First World War. He joined the local regiment, the Gloucestershire Regt., and was killed in action at Loos in 1915. His widow moved to Morecambe after the War.

I have discovered that he was the son of Matilda Harrison, the 'Accrington Poetess'

With the help of the Catherine Duckworth and Catherine Walsh at Accrington Local Studies collection I have seen her obituary (March 1893) and a couple of pictures. Also, with the help of Walter Holmes, from Accrington, I was able to locate Arthur Harrison's obituary which appeared in 1916.

I have already written a short piece on Arthur Harriosn, mainly concentrating on his service in France in 1915, for a local branch of the Western Front Association. However, I wish to expand on this and cover his life in Accrington and something about his mother.

Have you any members who are knowledgeable on Matilda Harrison and her family? If so, I would very much like to get in contact.

With thanks,

Yours sincerely,

Sam.

Sam Eedle
30 Brookside
Tewkesbury
Gloucestershire GL20 8BE
01684 291012

[Retlaw]

[quote=TubbyLes;811929]Just got this e-mail forwarded to the chairman of Accrington local History society,if anyone,like Retlaw can help.---------


With the help of the Catherine Duckworth and Katherine Walsh at Accrington Local Studies collection I have seen her obituary (March 1893) and a couple of pictures. Also, with the help of Walter Holmes, from Accrington, I was able to locate Arthur Harrison's obituary which appeared in 1916.
He already has all the information that we could find.
I don't think there is any more we can do for him, in Accrington .

Retlaw.

[katex]

[quote=Retlaw;811991]

Originally Posted by TubbyLes

Just got this e-mail forwarded to the chairman of Accrington local History society,if anyone,like Retlaw can help.---------


With the help of the Catherine Duckworth and Katherine Walsh at Accrington Local Studies collection I have seen her obituary (March 1893) and a couple of pictures. Also, with the help of Walter Holmes, from Accrington, I was able to locate Arthur Harrison's obituary which appeared in 1916.
He already has all the information that we could find.
I don't think there is any more we can do for him, in Accrington .

Retlaw.

Haha ... I got this too Les .. have replied to him with a post that AB did on Matilda Harrison, and told him about this site. Matilda had a few sons plus a daughter according to the 1881 census, so sure there are a few relatives knocking about in Accrington still, who may have some extra information to offer. Worth a try anyway.
Lurch .. don't be negative ....

This was the post put up :


Matilda Harrison


Born 1837. Died 4th March 1893



“Born in humble circumstances and largely uneducated, Matilda’s reading was confined mainly to the Bible and books that the local Sunday School libraries possessed that came her way. Her poems were, for the most part, confined to “In Memoriam” verses and the contemplation of life in its poorer aspects physically.
She managed, through the kindness of friends, to be able to publish a book of her poems under the title “The Poet’s Wreath” in 1890.
From this book, a poem on Dr Clayton, whom she had known:



One by one, our friends are passing,

Quickly from this mortal sphere,

Old familiar forms have vanished,

True and loyal, fond and dear.

Eyes that shine with love’s own brightness.

Hearts that throbb’d with love’s sweet thrill;

Hands that ministered in kindness

Now are cold and still.



In her preface to the poems, Matilda craves the indulgence of those who have had the advantages of an education, which she had not, and in a reply to a question as to how she wrote her poems, she says:
“I may honestly say I cannot tell. I only know that at certain times and under certain influences there is the unfolding of a higher nature, the rolling away of the mists and shadows of earth and the conscious and exquisite delight of a more congenial existence in the higher realms of thought, then, and only then, can I write.”
She could not write to order but only, as she herself said, when the spirit of the muse seized and carried her, as it were, away from earthly troubles and sorrows.



The Angels Wreath



I sat me in twilight’s poetical hour.

To await the poetical tide,

But a mass of confusion pervaded my mind

And a subject I could not decide.

Impatient, I laid down the pen to withdraw

From a task that so fruitless would seem,

When a voice whispered near to me,

Stay mortal, oh stay,

I’ll weave thee a beautiful dream;

With the words came came a feeling of exquisite bliss,

And the mortal sight closed to the world….



…Asked the bright being for whose honour’d head,

He had entwined a coronet so rare;

He smiled as he answer’d, for one who is not

To the world either wealthy or fair,

But one who has wept neath its cold bitter scorn,

And borne her full share of its sorrow.

But ever remember’d earth’s dreariest night

Would be lost in a glorious morrow.

For one who has wrought out a beautiful life,

By a thousand noble deeds,

Whose name never shone in the records which boast

Of empty professions or creeds.



Matilda lived and wrote most of her poems at number 26 Augusta Street, Woodnook. Where she passed away on the 4th March 1893. She was interred at Accrington Cemetary."
The above is abstracted from, Crossley.R., Accrington a Century Ago


__________________________________________________ ____________




Though I am sure that there have been, and are, poets of greater facility in Accrington, there is something in the story and poems of Matilda Harrison that surprises and touches me. I’ll admit the mode of expression is more suited to the time when the poems were written, but I don’t think that diminishes her achievement in any way .
The poems of Matilda Harrison represent, for me, that spark of creativity in all of us, which struggles against almost insurmountable odds to find expression.


So, I thought that it would be a good idea to have our own poetry competition. I propose that it will be called The Harrison Wreath, in honour of Matilda Harrison and the wreath she imagined her muse entwining for an ‘honour’d head’.
The competition will be open to all ages and all sections of the community living in Hyndburn. And will be for a single poem of any length, in any style, that has, as some part of its subject, persons, experiences, situations or locations in Hyndburn.
The winner of the competition will be entitled to style his or herself “The Harrison Laureate.” for the period until a new competition is announced.



What do members think? Is this a runner, or is it going to fall at the first hurdle?

[cashman]

to be honest aint really my bag, but a good idea if enough interested.