Officer killed in Maori war

Lieut-Col Booth killed in battle. By the last advices from New Zealand, received here on Wednesday morning, of the war between the British and the Insurgent Maoris, it is with much sorrow that we perceive among the list of killed Lieut-Col H Booth, 43rd Light Infantry, a young and distinguished officer, and a native of Northallerton. The news spread very rapidly, and cast a gloom over the principal inhabitants of the town, each one seeming to ask of another “Can it be true?”

The first news of the melancholy fact was received on Wednesday, and a later telegram on the following day conveyed confirmation which destroyed all hope that there might have been a mistake. It seems that the rebels had fortified themselves in a strong position at a place called Galeta, and that the only way of dislodging them was in taking the position by storm.

The assault took place on the 29th of April, and proved to be unsuccessful though the enemy suffered very severely. The loss to the British was seven officers killed, seven wounded, (three of whom have since died, amongst them Liuet-Col H Booth.) The gallant young officer died on the 30th, only surviving one day after receiving his wounds. Twenty-one men were also killed, and seventyseven wounded. Lieut-Col H Booth entered the 43rd as Ensign in 1847, at the age of 17 years. He distinguished himself in the Kaffir war, and received his promotions so rapidly that in 1860 he attained to the rank of Lieut-Colonel.

He was in the 34th year at the time of his death, being, it is said, the youngest Lieut-Col in the British service. He was not married, consequently a widowed mother and two brothers are the only near relatives left to deplore his loss. His father was Lieut-Col of the 43rd, and died here on the 6th of May, 1841. His death was accelerated by impaired health, resulting from long and arduous services in various climates. He was greatly loved by the men under his command, and from his kindheartedness and benevolence he was familiarly called “The father of the regiment.” A handsome monument was erected to his memory, in the Parish Church of Northallerton, raised by the voluntary subscriptions of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates in the regiments.

The fact of the late Lieut-Col Henry Booth being called after his late father, and joining the regiment to which he was so greatly attached, and in which he had spent the greater part of his life, and by the officers and men of which he was so much esteemed, could not fail to insure for him a degree of respect, there being still in the regiment a few soldiers who served under his father.

From this newspaper 100 years ago

Flying Scotsman: new luxury in travelling. All who have occasion to travel between London and Edinburgh by the East Coast route will learn with pleasure of the most recent arrangements which the Great Northern Railway Company, in conjunction with the North Eastern and North British Companies, have made for their comfort, a new complete service of corridor restaurant cars have been provided. In this connection it may be recalled that the Great Northern were the first railway company in England to introduce the dining-car on their system, one being run by them by way of experiment between London and Leeds in 1879.

Now such vehicles form a common feature on express trains, being available for all classes of passengers without extra charge beyond the amount payable for food, whilst the introduction of corridor carriages enabling passengers to walk right through the trains has greatly increased their usefulness.

Of course, in the beginning, there was nothing particular luxurious about the dining-car, though it was at once hailed as a great boon by longdistance travellers. As years went by however, various improvements were introduced, and it is now claimed that patrons of the East Coast route may feel that they are enjoying the last word in railway carriage construction, and particular in the luncheon portion.

The historic “Flying Scotsman” and its English counterpart, which have thus been brought thoroughly up-to-date, have for years been leaving King’s-cross (London) and Waverley Station (Edinburgh) at ten o’clock every morning, and landing their passengers in London or Edinburgh at an early hour the same evening, but they did not always do the journey in eight and a half hours. In 1869 the time occupied from King’scross to Edinburgh was ten hours. In 1872 the “Flying Scotsman” was accelerated to reach Edinburgh in nine and a half hours, and in 1876 nine hours were occupied.

From this newspaper 50 years ago

Pupil pilots from the Flying Training School at RAF Leeming cause as much inconvenience to RAF families as to Thirsk people, who have complained about the noise of recent night-flying exercises, says Group Capt R S Radley, their commanding officer. “It’s a problem, and I have every sympathy with the people who quite rightly complain. I know what they have to go through, as I have a four-year-old son, Richard, who can be guaranteed to wake up as soon as the first jet takes off,” he said.

Group Capt Radley said the pupil pilots with their Jet Provost aircraft – “noisy beasts” – planned to complete their night flying exercises on Wednesday night. “I have been in the RAF for 26 years and I’m still kept awake by them. It is certainly a problem that we are aware of!” The pupil pilots are in a bigger than usual course at RAF Leeming.

There are so many on the course that all the night flying required cannot be done from Leeming, and some has had to be switched to RAF Topcliffe and RAF Dishforth. At this time of year night flying cannot begin until 10pm, and it goes on for six hours.

“It’s always a problem during the summer, but much as we hate having to make all this noise at the worst possible time of the day, it has to be done.” says the group captain.