Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—James Alfred Culham and the Lowestoft Unemployment ‘Riots’

 

Heroes and Rebels in the Family Tree—James Alfred Culham and the Lowestoft Unemployment ‘Riots’

A Leading Seaman with the Royal Naval Reserve, James died on 8th of September 1940 at the age of 40. 

James was born at Lowestoft on September 11, 1899, the eldest son of five children born to James Alfred Culham and Georgianna Louisa Tyrrell. He was baptised at Saint Margaret's Church in Lowestoft, Suffolk, England on 15 March 1903 (the same day as his brother Walter) and his family lived at 65 Seago Street and this was still their address in 1911 and 1921. 

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on July 27,1915 and served on the trawler Christmas Daisy as a Deck Hand. On May 15,1917 Austrian destroyers attacked the British drifters that made up the Otranto Barrage in the Adriatic. After the engagement James was reported to be missing. He was captured by the Austrians and held at a prisoner of war camp in Austria until the end of the war. he was discharged on February 23,1919. 

On July 7,1919 James married Alice Harriet Amelia Cook at Saint Margaret's Church, Lowestoft. James was a fisherman living at 55 Seago Street, and Alice lived at 22 Crown Street. Their children were:

1.      James Alfred Culham 1920–2008

2.      Pearl Doreen Culham 1924–1989

3.      Peggy Culham 1930–2002

4.      Keith D Culham 1936–

James joined the Royal Naval Reserve on April 15,1924. At the time he, and Alice, lived at 1 Farrows Yard, Factory Street. Later they lived at 83 Fir Lane, Lowestoft.

On May 8, 1933, James joined hundreds of unemployed workers from around Lowestoft and the surrounding towns and gathered around the Town Hall.  The ensuing melee resulted in the arrest of 26 relief workers, including James, and others for creating a ‘riot’.  The story, as published in the Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury on Friday, May 19,1933, tells the story of the events as presented at trial.

In 1934-1936 James was employed fitting out fishing vessels. From 1936 he worked as a builder's labourer. 

In May 1939 James re-enrolled with the Royal Naval Reserve. In that year he was awarded the Royal Naval Reserve Long Service Medal. James was called out for service and was serving aboard H.M.S. Drake on July 31, 1939. He joined H.M.S. Ceres on August 4, 1939. He applied to join the Patrol Service but his application was not approved. 

James served on board the destroyer H.M.S. Ceres. From August 16–19, 1940 Ceres assisted in the evacuation of British and Allied soldiers from Berbera in British Somaliland as Italian forces moved on the capital, transporting them to the relative safety of Aden. In this capacity, Ceres bombarded the advancing Italian column on August 17th, slowing their progress and giving British troops retreating after the Battle of Tug Argan time to evacuate.

James contracted pneumonia and jaundice and was being treated at the European Hospital, Mombasa, Kenya, when he died just three days short of his 41st birthday.

James was known as James Albert, but some records show that he was also known as James Wilfred. 

James' brother Walter served in the Royal Navy and died on 4 June 1940 at the Isolation Hospital, Lowestoft, from acute bronchitis, congestive cardiac failure and broncho-pneumonia.  

(With thanks to Andy Pearce for some parts of the additional information)

Genealogy:  James Alfred Culham 1899-1940 married Georgianna Louisa Tyrrell 1865-1952 and her father was Henry "Harry" Burwood Tyrrell 1826-1873 and his mother was Elizabeth Day Burwood 1791-1877 and her father was Henry Bell Burwood (Fish Merchant/Boat Builder) 1766-1851 and his father was George Burwood 1743-1823 and his mother was Judith Salter 1707-1773 and her mother was Judith Farrow 1680-1718 and her mother was Anne Mewse 1654- and her father was Philip Mewse 1629-1673 and his father was John Mewse (Fisherman) 1592-1667 and his son was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1641-1719 and his son was Simon Mewse (butcher) 1672-1741 and his son was Simon Mewse 1683-1736 and his daughter was Mary Mewse 1727-1797 and her daughter was Elizabeth Curtis 1756-1831 and her son was John Curtis Adams 1797-1873 and his son was William Frederick Adams 1848-1907 and his son was George "Pikey" William Welch-Adams 1867-1940.

  

Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury Friday, May 19, 1933

 

SIX LOWWESTOFT RELIEF WORKERS SENT FOR TRIAL.

TWENTY OTHERS BOUND OVER ON CHARGES THAT FOLLOWED

RAID ON TOWN HALL.

 

A force of two hundred police, including 150 officers drafted into the town from East Suffolk, was on duty at Lowestoft Police Station on Monday, when the story was told to the Bench of the Lowestoft relief workers' raid on the Town Hall while the Guardians Committee for the North Area of the county was sitting.

Before the Court sat there was a stream of visitors to the cells, where they were allowed to see the male accused, who had arrived from Norwich Prison by motor-coach early in the morning.

As 11 o'clock drew near, a crowd gathered round the entrance of the Court, which was guarded by a number of police officers, and, led by women. the "International" and other similar songs were sung.

The singing and shouting was repeated at intervals during the morning.

The Mayor, Alderman Major S. W. Humphery, was the presiding Magistrate, and was accompanied by Mr. Arthur Evans, Dr. H. Muir Evans, Mr. W. Smith, Mr. A. Jenner, Dr. J. C. Mead, Mr. A. E Tuttle. Mr. C. A. Jacobs, Mr. W J. Balley and Mr. P. Greasley.

Mr. G. H. Davis. Senior Assistant Solicitor to the East Suffolk County Council, appeared to prosecute and Mr Francis G. Pearson, of Great Yarmouth, defended the accused.

The Chief Constable, Capt. Jasper G. Mayne and Supt. Lankester were among others in Court.

NAMES OF THE ACCUSED.

Accused were--

William James Arthur Grimmer (29), net worker. 91, Kimberley Road, Lowestoft;

William Henry Daniels (34), labourer, 117, Notley Road, Lowestoft;

John William Cleveland (33), labourer, 41, Southwell Road, Lowestoft;

Alfred Ernest Marshall (42), labourer, 12, Park Road, Lowestoft;

Robert Kitchener Cross (17), fisherman, 47, Steven's Street Lowestoft;

Walter Robert Quelch (21), fisherman, 8, Lighthouse Score, Lowestoft;

Harry Thurston (32), fisherman, 2, Cathcart Street, Lowestoft;

Alfred Edward Grey (23), motor driver, 10, Chapel Street, Lowestoft;

Robert John Cross (32), fisherman, 80, Crown Street, Lowestoft;

James Alfred Cullum [Culham](33), fisherman, 1, Farrow's Yard, Factor[y] Street, Lowestoft;

Bertram William Alfred (27), fisherman, Auckland House, 125, London Road South, Lowestoft;

Victor John Rix (24), fisherman, 60, Notley Road, Lowestoft;

Albert Arthur Harry Freeman (31), fish worker, 10, Park Road, Lowestoft;

Edward Charles Quantrill (22), fisherman. 3, Old Market Plain, Lowestoft;

Walter Richard Sabberton (33), fish worker, 7, Scarle's Buildings, Whapload Road, Lowestoft;

Joseph Samuel Lee (36), fisherman, 5, Gun Lane, Lowestoft;

James William Banham (32), labourer, 390, London Road South, Lowestoft;

Charles William Besant (33), labourer, 1, Windsor Road, Lowestoft;

Albert Edward Prank Waller (28), Iabourer, 205, Normanston Drive, Oulton Broad;

Robert William Girling (26), fisherman, 85, Oxford Road, Lowestoft;

Reuben Smy (49), fisherman, 2, Erskine Place, Lowestoft;

Edward James Wright (43), fisherman, 2, Dove Street, Lowestoft;

Lawrence Gcorge Sturman (18), factory hand, 36, Cambridge Road, Lowestoft;

Alan Edwin Moore (24), labourer, 49, Raglan Street, Lowestoft;

William Edward Layton (28), labourer, Todd's House, Normanston Drive, Oulton Broad;

David William Jones (36), labourer, 36, Windsor Road, Lowestoft.

 

Grimmer is the chairman of the Lowestoft branch of the National Unemployed Workers Movement, and Daniels is the vice-chairman.

All the accused were charged that, whilst riotiously assemhled together, they assaulted Supt. Arthur Mills, P .- c.s [Police Constables] W. H. Keeble, R. Chipperfield. W. Barber. E. P. and G. Smith.

CHARGES AGAINST THE WOMEN.

Mrs. Violet Jane Quantrill, wife of the accused of the same name, was charged with assaulting P .- c. [Police Constable] Chipperfleld, and Mrs. Aldred was charged with assaulting P .- c.s Smith and Southall.

"Prisoners up." called the Superintendent and twenty-six of the accused filed into Court, the dock accommodating but a few.

Moore, who was looking distressed, was given a seat and soon afterwards he had to be assisted from the Court in a fainting condition.

"The general fasts concerning this unfortunate disturbance." said Mr. Davis, in opening the case. "are probably well known to the Bench and the public, and it is felt a brief resume of what happened would not be out of place before I call witnesses."

On Monday, May 8th, he explained, a meeting of the Guardians Committee for the North Area of the county was held at the Town Hall at 2.15. Prior to the commencement, a small body of unemployed gathered near the main entrance, at which Inspector Nolloth and two other officers were on duty, for it had previously come to the knowledge of the police that there was a likelihood of a demonstration taking place and fortunately the police were prepared for that emergency.

About 3 o'clock, continued Mr. Davis, Grimmer, who it was understood, was Chairman of the local branch of an organized national unemployed workers’ movement, came to the entrance and handed in a note. This he asked to be delivered to the Guardians' Committee.

    It requested that a deputation should be received. Probably for reasons best known to themselves, the Committee decided not to receive them. Grimmer was so notified -- he should mention that a deputation was to be received at the County Hall on the following day -- and then went into the middle of the High Street and started to address the crowd. He reported that the deputation would not be received, and suggested that the crowd should force its way into the Town Hall.

THE RUSH AND THE ARREST.

The crowds moved nearer the Town Hall where Grimmer and four others made violent speeches to the crowd and incited it to force its way into the Town Hall. It would take too long to quote the various phrases and slogans used. The next thing that happened was that Grimmer tried to organise an attack on the main door, and, in fact, took a number of men round to the door, but his efforts did not meet with success. It was not until further violent speeches had been made by the prisoners Daniels and Jones, and finally by the prisoner Moore, that these men, who might be described as the leaders, accompanied by a large crowd, made a violent rush for the main door. At first there were sufficient police to hold them back at the entrance, but eventually they had to give way and a number of men, about 23, forced their way into the hall and were promptly arrested by a strong force of police who were inside. He would call evidence to show that there were many assaults on the police, and also to show that the disturbance was accompanied by riotous scenes and violent disorder. Fists were used freely, and a very ugly situation arose.

PREPARATIONS BY THE POLICE. 

Had it not been for the preparations made by the police and their tact and patience under very difficult circumstances, it was impossible to conjecture what might have happened. After the arrests had been made inside the Town Hall a motor-coach was summoned to convey the prisoners to the Police Station.

The police had great difficulty in getting the crowd under control, and more scenes occurred.  There would be further charges dealing with these incidents. "Everyone has sympathy towards those who are unfortunate enough to be unemployed." continued Mr. Davis, "and undoubtedly there are a great number of cases of severe hardship, but violent scenes like those witnessed in Lowestoft last Monday will not tend to enlist the sympathy of the public."

He was instructed that at a meeting of the Local Unemployment Association and Workers’ Club it was agreed to disassociate themselves from the previous Monday's demonstration. When the Bench had heard the evidence it would be for them to consider whether these men should not be sent for trial.

Early in the proceedings the Mayor drew attention to the fact that Moore had fainted and suggested that he should be allowed to go out of the Court room. The accused was then carried out by police-officers.

At the suggestion of the Mayor, the accused were provided with seats in the afternoon, two more having fainted during the morning, when the men had remained perfectly quiet.

At the close of the case for the prosecution, accused were charged, the names of Chipperfield,  Shaw, and Smith being taken from the list of officers, as they had not been called to give evidence.

ACCUSED GIVE EVIDENCE.

Opening the defence, Mr. Pearson informed the Bench that he proposed to call the accused in order to form the basis of the application which he would later make.

Grimmer was the first to go into the witness box. He was, he said, chairman of the local branch of the N.U.W.M., which had been formed in the town about three weeks. During the afternoon in question, he sent two requests for a deputation to be received by the Guardians Committee, the notes being handed to one of the police-officers. When he heard that the second request was refused, he was standing on the chair in Compass Street; he asked the crowd if they would go round to the Town Hall and support the members on relief. He denied swearing or advocating force, and said that when only a few of the crowd responded he said: "Well; it's finished." Daniels afterwards suggested that a third note should be sent in, stating that if no favourable reply were received to this they should disperse. They agreed to this, but he was afterwards pushed into the Town Hall by the crowd. Grimmer added that he was unemployed, and had a sick wife.

POLICE EVIDENCE DENIED.

Mr. Davis: When the police say you used force, what do you say to that?

Grimmer: I say "No!"

Do you say they are not speaking the truth?

--I do. Their evidence is all mixed up.

Danieis then gave evidence, stating that he was vice-chairman of the branch. He admitted that the statements alleged to have been made at the meetings outside the Town Hall were true; but declared that the police were "all mixed up" as to who made them. He, too, was unemployed, and had no means.

Next to give evidence was Jones, who also denied having advocated force. He was a member of the movement, but not an official, and was without means except for 17s a week from the relief. "I have always tried to do everything in reasonable and fair argument." He said, "and when the crowd got into the Town Hall there was no one more surprised than I was.” Layton declared that it was a deliberate lie to suggest that he incited the crowd. With regard to the allegation that he had taken note of the numbers of the police-officers, he said that he only wrote one number on a matchbox, stating that he would write to headquarters "to see whether the constable in question could get hold of a man's head and 'bash' it against the wall."

"IT IS DRIVING ME MAD."

A further denial of incitement was made by Moore, who declared, "Never, so long as there's a God in the air."

When he was cross-examined by Mr. Davis, Moore vehemently declared: "It is driving me mad to think I have been sent to Norwich for no cause at all. I am out to help the working classes, and not to run them down. Why should I be sent away for nothing?"

One of the young men, Robt. Kitchener Cross, of Lowestoft, a fisherman, who is not yet seventeen, said he heard there was to be a crowd at the Town Hall in the afternoon, and went there. He saw a paper there handed to a police-inspector, and wanted to see what happened. There was a refusal of admission, and a second statement brought a refusal.

Mr. Pearson: What happened? -- I heard someone say they would force a way in.

He added that he was pushed at the back and he could not get out any way.

You did not try to force your way in? – No; I never hardly touched the ground when I went in. (Laughter.)

You went against your will ? -- Yes.

Witness said he was not a member of the movement.

Lawrence Sturman, an 18-year-old factory hand, told how he heard there was a deputation. He had just been to "sign on," and thought he would go and see what was going on.

Mr. Pearson: Did you get a front seat? (Laughter.) -- I was near the wall, and I was forced into the Town Hall against my consent. . . .A chap pushed me, and said "Go on," giving me a blow on the face, and I was half-unconscious when I got inside.

Alfred Ernest Marshall, another of the accused, was sworn, and at once denied knocking off P .- c. Snell's helmet.

Mr. Pearson: You think he may have made an honest mistake? -- Yes. He knows me, for it is only last year I went to the assistance of this officer.

The Mayor: Do you honestly expect us to believe he picked you out because you had once helped him? -- I was nearest him.

A TOOTH PRODUCED.

Accused held up a tooth which he took out of a piece of paper, and said that it was his, and was knocked out.

The next accused. Reuben Smy, said he was knocked out by a policeman.

Mr. Davis: Why? -- I suppose he took a fancy to me.

Smy said that he was not a member of the movement, and had no intention of going to the demonstration.

Mr. Pearson thought he had said sufficient to indicate that these men had a reasonable defence which should be inquired into. With regard to the two youngsters, Cross and Sturman, it must be perfectly apparent that they found themselves in this trouble simply and solely because they were curious. They were not members of the movement--one receiving money from the Labour Exchange, but at the present moment not interested in what the other relieving authority could do. As far as they were concerned, he asked that the charges against them be dismissed. With regard to the others, defence was reserved.

The Bench then retired, and just as they were about to do so Moore again collapsed and two constables lifted him out of the crowded Court.

BENCH DECISION.

Returning after an absence of ten minutes, the Mayor told the accused to sit down again until their names were called.

First the youths, Cross and Sturman, had to stand. They were told they would be placed on probation for a period of twelve months. “I advise you not to be quite so curious in future." said the Mayor.

Then Grimmer, Daniels, Jones, Moore, Layton and Marshall had to stand.

The Mayor told them they would be committed to take their trial at the next Assizes at Bury St. Edmund's on May 29th.

The remainder of the accused were then called, and the Mayor said that they would each be bound over in the sum of £5 to be of good behaviour for twelve months.

"Thank you, sir," replied several.

"And let me warn you," said the Mayor. "you must not take part in any demonstration of any description during that twelve months."

Then came an application by Mr. Pearson that personal bail be granted. They had, he sald, been in prison for seven or eight days. There were wives and children dependent. There was not the slightest doubt but that they would turn up at the trial; there was no reason to expect the contrary.

The Mayor: The Magistrates are strongly of opinion that each of the six should find a surety in £25, and £5 in their own recognisances.

"I know all these men." said Supt. Lankester, who added that he wondered whether, if the surety were not insisted upon, the men would give an undertaking not to take part in any demonstration.

There was quite a chorus of "Yes, sir."

Then the superintendent asked if the Bench would, in the circumstances, be prepared to dispense with the sureties.

The Mayor eventually said that he must put the question to each individually before there could be a decision.

"Today I am finished with all organisations that come into Lowestoft." said Grimmer.

The Mayor: You realise there is a considerable crowd outside who will make martyrs or heroes of you. You must go straight away, and say you have nothing to say.

Jones remarked: "I said at Norwich that seven days have taught me my lesson.”

Moore: "Same applies to me."

The others agreed with what the superintendent had asked, and the Bench thereupon dispensed with the surety.

A defence certificate was agreed to, and the men then filed out.

MAN AND TWO WOMEN CHARGED. 

Business was not, however, over, for William Catchpole (40), fisherman, was put into the box charged with assaulting P .- c. Bickers, but he denied it.

The Mayor, binding him over for 12 months in the sum of £5, told him he was not the right person to go into a crowd.

"Right oh," said Catchpoie, as he went free.

Then came Mrs. Joyce Mary Altred, who is the wife of one of the accused who had been liberated, and she was charged with assaulting P.C. George Smith: also with assaulting P .- c. Southall. She denied it.

"She struck me' in the face three times," said P .- c. Smith.

Mr. Pearson: Was it serious? -- Only a slap on the face.

"A woman in the crowd deliberately knocked my hat off and slapped my face." said P.c. Southall, adding "It was the woman in the box.”

Accused was bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months, and put on probation.

Last of the accused was Violet Quantrill, wife of another of the released prisoners. She was charged with assaulting P .- c. Chipperfield, but said she could not remember it.

The Mayor said that, as in the previous case, she would be placed on probation for twelve months.

The Mayor said the Bench would like to compliment the police on the very excellent way in which they had conducted themselves. "You reflect very great credit indeed on the East Suffolk Police Force." he said, and so far as they could see the police had not shown any malice in dealing with these cases.

Mr. Pearson: Some of the prisoners wished to express similar sentiments with regard to the police, and expressed their gratefulness their treatment.

 

• The article below, with minor adjustments in places, was first published in 1982 as Chapter 6 in this writer’s book Living From The Sea – titled “Fishermen in Gaol”, by David Butcher

The 1920s and 30s were a time of high unemployment and hardship – and Lowestoft was no exception to the national trend. High levels of discontent accompanied the situation and found their most forceful expression (against the predicament of being jobless and at the mercies of a far from generous system of relief) in the so-called “Town Hall Raid” – also sometimes found referred to as the “Town Hall Riot”. Four days before this took place, however, nine men were charged in the local magistrates court of obtaining poor relief support payment under false pretences. Two of them had been working at a job and drawing relief at the same time, while the other seven had neglected to turn up for the task work assigned to them, which consisted of digging road material (sand and gravel) from Normanston Pit – which had been in use for this purpose for two hundred years or more and which is still present (though grown through with trees) near the junction of Lakeland Drive with Normanston Drive. With the exception of one man, who was discharged, all the accused were found guilty and were fined £2 each, with the threat of a seven day prison sentence for default of payment. Apart from this, a time-keeper at the Pit got a fourteen day sentence for stamping the absentees’ cards and receiving a sixpenny payment [6d] from each of them for doing so. While the cases were being heard, a sizeable crowd of people gathered outside the Courthouse in Regent Road.

 

Edward Charles –“Ted”– Quantrill, fisherman (1911-88) was one of the men remanded to Norwich Prison for his part in the Lowestoft incident. Tape-recorded on 7 February 1980, he gave a most graphic account both of what happened at the time and what subsequently ensued.

“There musta bin two or three thousand people unemployed in Low’stoff at that time. Yeah, someone hetta die afore you could git a job, then you’d jump in. A lot of us were on the Means Test ticket, which we hetta do three or four days work a week for cover. We used to go over to The Spike, as we called it – you know, the Workhouse [at Oulton] – an’ do what wuz called task work. We used to do all sorts o’ bloody jobs over there: makin’ beds, scrubbin’ wards out, gardenin’ – all sorts. You name it, they had it for yuh! Plantin’ taters wuz another thing. Sometimes, they’d go in the ground an’ sometimes they wun’t. Sometimes they’d go over the hedge to someone on the other side!

“Anyway, there wuz one time there when they cut our coal ticket orf, so we decided to make a deputation to the Town Hall. A lot of us used to go to a club in Duke’s Head Street. They called it the N.U.W.M. (National Unemployed Workers Movement) an’ they used to git us second-hand clo’s an’ that sort o’ thing. That gave yuh somewhere to go an’ all, to git yuh orf the streets, an’ we used to pay tuppence [2d] a week to belong. When we could afford it, that wuz! Jack Cleveland [who lived at No. 4 High Street] used to run the club an’ some of us got talkin’ one day about the coal ticket bein’ cut orf. We decided we’d go an’ see the Mayor, but when we got up to the Town Hall we wun’t able to. Well, we all gathered outside the place an’, in the end, we decided to push our way in. What we dint know wuz that the Police were already inside! The grabbed about twenty of us to make an example of.  CREDIT:David Butcher