Jeremy Watson's Family Stories

EAST LONDON IN 1930'S & 1940'S

CLARISSA NEWMAN ARTICLE

Also see : NEWMAN, CLARISSA MARY KIDGER

This article appeared in the December 1994 edition of The COELCANTH : The Journal of the Border Historical Society. Vol. 32 No 2.

Footnotes by JW. The content of this article largely replicates that in the typed memoirs of hers that I have.

EAST LONDON IN THE 1930's and 1940's

The formation of the East London branch of the National Council of Women, the first woman Councillor, Marina Glen Tea Garden and service with WAAFs.

(Extract from a private journal)

by

Clarissa Newman

Now with the arrival of my 87^th birthday it seems I had better hasten with the “formation of the National Council of Women E.L. In 1929 by myself” - The following ten years were full of great happenings for me – being requested to do this brave thing by their Head Quarters in Johannesburg and urged to it by Lady Crewe with whom I had worked for several years in Child Welfare and the South African Party – Women's auxiliary.

The moment proved just what was needed here for slum removal, a maternity hospital and wider interests for educated women – also representatives on public bodies. The latter came almost at once. I was elected President with a fine bunch of women on several committees – Their first notable act was to nominate me to contest a vacancy on the E.L.City Council – Of course we had no funds to fight an election but 'Pompey' Norton, the Mayor, was standing for re-election and invited me to join his ticket of 4 which I gleefully did and was therefore returned unopposed – East London's first women Councillor. Mrs Peggy Fuller and Mrs Ketchen M.A. were elected to the School Board; Mrs V.G.Lewis and Aunty Kay Tucker to the Hospital Board about the same time! These efforts were hard work but we carried the day.

So I have the distinction of being East London's first lady Councillor.

The City Council monthly meetings began at 5p.m. and ended some hours later. The first sign of rebellion on the home front came when I returned at 9.45 p.m. to find the house locked and Dora Tschangela asleep, the car away! Dad (Angus Newman) had taken the children with him to a picture – What could I do? Well, I got the hours changed for meetings of the City Council!

My experience in Child Welfare was a great help to the “old boys” on the Council as they had nobody with any Social Welfare experience – So, I was appointed to represent the Councillors on their Poor Relief Committee – The Depression of the early '30s was growing daily more trying and the numbers looking for relief on Wednesday swept into the City Hall demanding work – There were over 100 of the young fellows to whom 35/- a month was issued – I had found one a job as a polepainter now, “please to do the same for us”! Well, I sent for the Mayor, Dr Bruce-Bays, to meet my distressed friends, and he promised we would do the best to help. The Council authorised the City Engineer, A.P. Laing, to discuss with me and suitable work from these things already approved by Council in his pigeon holes – From those we chose the deviation of the Blind River and the filling of its old course.¹ This required the removal of a whole sand hill, but with a narrow-gauge line and sand trucks it could be done by those half starved men – So I discussed it with the Secretary of Labour, Mr Ivan Walker, and he agreed to increase the Government Subsidy and give paid holidays for the workers. The City Council accepted mine and Mr Laing's report and started up work that resulted in our City's beloved Marina Glen. C|ouncillor Col. V.G. Lewis moved in Council it should be named after Mrs Newman - “Clair Glen” Marina – someone else moved it should be named after Princess Marina, lately become engaged to one of Britain's Dukes – So I withdrew in her favour! Henceforth we have had on our Esplanade, Marina Park and Marina Glen.

A housing estate manager, Miss Gold, was engaged in England and she introduced the first, in South Africa, 1/- in the slot for electricity in the houses.

The N.C.W. was progressing, for a slum removal committee sponsored by the City Council had moved the Old Boer Camp and other deplorable hovels and was building the first sub-economic houses – to be called “Milner Estate” - Further, by a petition to the Provincial Administration and help from the Hospital Board a Maternity Hospital was on the way. When completed we were allowed to name it so when the Earl and Lady Clarendon visited us and opened it, the name was “The Lady Clarendon Wing” and it was for all races. The Earl said “You've builded bigger than you knew”, when he saw the little black babies in their ward.

After 7 years in the N.C.W., East London, I was elected National President in March, 1936, and the South African delegate to the International Council of Women Conference to be held in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia, in September, 1936. Never having been overseas this was my chance to go to England.

In August 1936 I was met at Southampton by Nevill (her so, N.E.M 'Noggs Newman).² My voyage on an Intermediate steamer, under ballast, had been grim – I was never on deck for 10 days – It had left me looking a wreck! However, to London we went, to a room in Westbourne Crescent, Lancaster Gate – a favourite digs of other South Africans, including Nevill and Sid Smale on the top storey.

I was invited to visit Vienna after Dubrovnik but preferred to get back to London for 10 days with Nevill. We found a play every night and what a new and thrilling experience that was to me. Also, we dined with Lady Nunburnholme and her son and were taken to a theatre afterwards. Mrs Bryant, Mayor of Peterborough called at the flat in London to say Bon Voyage! We had become friends in Dubrovnik, and corresponded for years after.

We returned to London early in October 1936 where gossips were revelling in stories of the Prince of Wales and Mrs Simpson who had just completed a holiday in the Mediterranean and Italian waters in her yacht. Returning home in Stirling Castle in the company of Lady Nunburnholme, Miss van Egan and two others of I.C.W. travelling to Johannesburg for a Dominion's Conference of N.C.W. S. A. at which I was to preside. We heard the king had resigned as he insisted on marrying this divorcee.

It seemed odd not to go straight home to East London but the Conference had to be attended in Johannesburg. Kay (Tucker) ³ was there and drove me home afterwards in her little car. The Dominions Conference in which the National Council of Women (S.A.) took part – Mrs V.G.Lewis and Mrs Ellender, were other delegates present from East London, and Kay – she represented the Trained Nurses Association of S.A.

This trip was memorable for two incidents – Leaving Kroonstad we had a puncture which had been caused by a nail studded horseshoe – we collected that as a trophy and proceeded to Bloemfontein for the night. Leaving it at cockcrow next day we pushed off into the rising sun at a good pace up and down the many rises until Bang! - another puncture. The spot was a lonely one and as Kay, in a scarlet jersey, got out to assess the damage, I spotted a bull across the road rearing up and down inside a low fence. So, I unpacked Angus's small revolver placing it in the glove department in the case of need – when looking back there appeared over the rice an ancient black car with sideflaps flapping which drew up beside us disgorging four most dilapidated young men – They strolled towards us – I jumped back to my seat and seized the revolver – One or two fellows took over charge of the change of wheel from Kay and the leader strolled up besides my window with his revolver in his hand saying “ Why – our guns are just alike” - I hastily explained we might need both as the bull looked like coming at us over the fence! Anyway, the tyre was fixed and they pushed off. We later passed them sitting on the side of the roadside sharing their breakfast from a huge kaffir pot. ⁴ When we got home and told of our adventures Dad commented sceptically “Well – here's the horseshoe – but where's the bull!” I honestly think Angus didn't attach much importance to hearing details of all my thrilling experiences at Conference!

I was elected a Vice-President of the International Council of Women (1sy in S.A.), and our trip by sea to be received at her place by Queen Marie and her Moter, Queen Marie of Romania and Granddaughter of Queen Victoria.

In 1937 I was in the throes of an election campaign – a United Party candidate for the Provincial Council which I lost to the new Dominion Party and Daily Dispatch. Only Angus cared as he was generously my election agent and keen on this adventure, which I was not – for it meant my resignation as a National President of the N.C.W. as I was on a Political Party Ticket!

In due course and by invitation – I was re-elected to the East London City Council to serve there finally for 8 years all told, resigning after the outbreak of World War in 1940.

Nevill had always belonged to the R.N.V.R. and on rejoining was commissioned. Doro (daughter-in-law Mrs Dorothy Newman) joined the Women's Voluntary Air Force of East London which was formed in Pretoria. I was invited to take command, as a City Councillor I could promote its interests in many ways. Let me admit at once that I had never flown!. ⁵ When my deputy, Mrs Jan Kohler, presented us with a small plane named “Clarissa” too! I might have flown in that except that all flying for women was disallowed as son as soon as War was declared on 4^th September, 1939. Still we all drilled at night to keep fit, and some started carpentry to produce toys as none could be expected from overseas for Christmas.

Marina Glen Tea Garden

Together, with Mrs Kohler. Miss Poole and Miss Betty Chew, we decided to get a suitable site for the Tea Garden. This I was able to do – being a C|ity Councillor and was even invited to choose what I thought would be a suitable spot. I chose what has ever since been known as Marina Glen Tea Garden. This started in a very humble way with only a primus stove for boiling water. ⁶ But with petrol rationing and the charming W.V.A.F. girls serving we soon required additions to benchs and tables and crockery and a suitable tea room to work in. It was the greatest fun – all workers were voluntary and all scones and flapjack were made on the spot. The W.V.A.F. were the backbone of this successful effort, but many other women gave up hours of their time voluntarily - and still do (tho' now for SANTA). ⁷ We had a dance floor laid when the two Airforce stations – airmen from Britain arrived at West Bank for training. These boys even helped us cook at nights! This nightly session ceased with the “black-out”. We had a wash up maid, and a Municipal guard boy with his dog and only they were paid. ⁸ Everything else it seemed was for free – except groceries, of course. Gifts of eggs from Transkei traders, tea from an old East London firm, milk for a year from Mr Salkinder, all the way from West Bank, and much more besides, even money. Funds went to the Governor General's War Fund and all others – totalling $10,000.⁹ in 5 years. Then most workers collapsed as did the Tearoom itself for a spell. ¹⁰

Meanwhile, in 1940, I was asked to go fulltime service with the W.A.A.F. and resigned from the City Council in 1941. I was commissioned and started recruiting women in the Border areas. Surprisingly, some 1000 joined and many advanced to useful positions – some commissioned and some sent to Egypt. Later, I became a Captain. When Col. Werdmuller offered me a majority I had to regretfully refuse the offer as it meant being in Pretoria. I had been promised East London would be my base when I joined. So back home I came at the end of 1943, which year had been spent in charge of the Unit in the Old Supreme Court, Cape Town. I lived with Sally, in her Newlands flat with Richard able then to be at Nursery School, while Sally, worked on the Cape Times. Work through the Cape Times we knitted sailor's highnecked, long-sleeved jerseys of greasy wool which finally was completed “For a sailor with one arm bigger than the other!”

During those years Sally (her daughter) wrote the children's books which were such a success. The best is “The Young Karoo” ¹¹which poems I would like to see re-issued – they have improved with keeping and I love them. Her work included 'Aunt Sally' effort for “Bundles for Britain”, the naming of the lion cubs at the zoom careers for South Africans”, and all achieved for Western Cape children through the Aunt Sally columns remains to her credit- No other war-work could have surpassed that, in my opinion.

In June that year I had 'flue caused by water flooding my office floor, and the heater being no more than a small light with no heat. Angus found me in there and took me back to the flat where we together stayed happily for a few days visit from him. I returned home in December. 

My fulltime duties with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force took me most days to a set of very suitable offices on the st floor of Netherlands Bank Buildings, Oxford Street, East London. Mrs Jan Kohler was a voluntary 2nd in command with Miss Poole and Miss Betty Chew and Corporal Wright who did fine work with the Voluntary Unit, the most outstanding being the Marina Glen Tea Garden raising war funds. 

Much of my time was taken up by recruiting trips throughout the Transkei and up to Aliwal North.

Colonel Werdmuller arranged for me to have a car and a driver from the Women's Auxiliary Army Services. One one occasion I had Mrs Ansderson head of S.A.W.A.S. (Cape) of P.E. with me visiting all S.A.W.A.S.branches. Big meetings were held everywhere – I must not fail to recall the great help given me by Mr and Mrs Fyfe King the Senior Magistrate of the Transkei and his wife. He enlisted each other Magistrate to help me in every possible way! Arranging for Mrs Fyfe King to have a uniform was a great triumph on my part,

On one trip Mrs George Smyth, Norah, was with me in the interests of Red Cross. We left home with doctor threatening her death from a bad cold, but we called at Aliwal North and Barkly East where Norah had recovered and I nearly choked from tonsilitis in the night following an agonising address to ta meeting of enthusiastic supporters. My only aid was knitted stocking soaked in icy water wrapped round my neck and that covered by my knitted khaki jersey! Memories of my mother's belief in wet compresses for most ills!

On two occasions Mr Jan Kohler drove me to Pretoria for W.A.F. meetings – One found us at Engcobo for the night when at 11p.m. the barman rushed to tell us the H.M.S. Hood had been bombed and sunk by the Germans.

Later we visited Drodrecht looking for possible recruits and were given a welcoming meeting, beautifully set up with hot-house flowers by Mrs Sills who, with her husband organised the opposition to the anti-war gang who had possession of the S.A.W.A.S. there. I got two fin girl recruits, a Sills and a Stretton (doubtless and 1820 settler connection). 

I had been an officer for some months when I was suddenly ordered to Voortrekker Hoogte – the W.A.A.F. camp in Pretoria for a month's training. The lectures were enjoyable but daily drill by an army drill sargent was not funny. ( I was somewhere between 55 and 60 years of age). The final test was a general knowledge paper in which I came 2^nd after sitting with the paper for 20 minutes unable even to read the questions! When my senses returned I found it very easy. I have the drill session which preceded the test to blame for the black-out!

The officer who finally attested my papers, seeing my whole name said : “Excuse me – but did you teach me at Cambridge High School in Standard I and V”. Puchert and Promnitz were the boys I had pushed through 2 classes a year as they had been out of school till almost grown-up!. 

Jack and Ivy Tucker saved me for posterity by their hospitality on all 'days off' – also be meeting me at the Station whenever I arrived in Pretoria by train!

A Transkei trip combined with Mrs Anderson of Port Elizabeth Head of S.A.W.A.S. in Cape (East), each looking for recruits and calling at most places from Umtata to Port St Johns arrived at the latter lovely spot on my 60^th birthday – a telegram from sister Kaye giving away my secret. Being Sunday Mrs A and I walked to 2^nd Beach for lunch and back at sundown (7 miles) – when I opened the telegram “Ah” she said “this deserves a celebration”. So she and I each had a whisky and soda on her, and I hope “wartime” would forgive the extravagance.

Having combed the Eastern Cape of recruits I was attached to the Castle at Cape Town for the year 1943 during which time I had the pleasure of signing all the S.A.W.A.S. on – a very fine bunch of young women – to the Navy. Living with Sally in her flat – while Harry was in charge of Moullie Point and their search-lights – compensated for my absence from home.

Returning to Eastern Cape at Christmas 1943-44 I was sent on a tour of the Midlands which was almost completed when I was given leave.

During my years in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force Angus was elected to the City Council and carried on there with some of my interests – I came home to find a Nursery School in the Milner Estate and another in Moore Street Quigney. He also pushed through a new abattoir and – I almost forgot – he procured a Councilo house in the Milner Estate at the request of Miss Mary Gold, the housing manager, which laid the foundation for a fine Coloured Play Centre developed and managed by the E.L. Child Welfare Society on behalf of the City Council. ¹² Later Angus became Chairman of the de Waalk School Committee until failing health called for a lessening of most activities.

As the war years drew to a close I was mostly in East London occupied with discharging the many women who had enlisted from this area. Gradually I had to struggle to get my life back to normal – For those not having experienced it let me tell you – this was extremely difficult for me – just a volunteer who had not left the country and one who had not been under fire! To walk about in town was to be a ghost for nobody remembered me! That must have been terrible for the menwho had faced death from air, sea and shores for years to 'Keep the Home Fires Burning' – to return where they belonged and find themselves forgotten – Nothing that was done for them was ever enough – but let me recall the generosity of our City Fathers in providing our ex-servicemen with plots and plans – a help towards the finest housing scheme in South Africa – and a reward for much suffering. Angus was Chairman of the City Council Soldiers re-Housing Committee. 

Just then my restless return to civvy street resulted in a longing to leave 3 Smuts Road and live nearer the sea. Angus surprisingly agreed to a possible move but hoped we might find something suitable on one of East London's many rivers for preference. ¹³ I searched the Daily Dispatch for 6 months till suddenly there it was - “a small riverside house on the Nahoon River with private jetty” - After some persuading Angus rang up Kaffrarian Estates and found where this was and got authority to inspect it. We collected V.G and Dorothy Lewis at 5p.m. And drove along the Main Transkei Road to 4 miles from the East London Market Square. Such a tree and flower filled spot, such a tiny house, but only a high-banked wall and low stone footpath and jetty divided us from the river! We had brought our drinks and mugs and sat on a grassy bank loving the birds and islands and distant bush-covered kranz while we enjoyed the advantages and drawbacks of 'moving out of town' – that's how our friends described it when we did exactly that.

The following is the editor's note on Clarissa that follows her article.

Clarissa Newman (nee Tucker) was born in 1886 in Kimberley. As a child she visited East London for seaside holidays. During the Anglo-Boer War, her mother and younger members of the family cane to East London. She completed her schooling in Grahamstown where she captained the hockey and tennis teams. She obtained her Teacher's Certificate studying at nightschool. In 1911 she married Angus Newman and after a year, they moved to East London. She taught at Cambridge High School for 5 years. After the birth of her two children she became involved in community affairs and served East London with distinction. She was instrumental in starting a baby clinic in the location and worked with the Child Welfare Society for 43 years. She was the first woman Councillor and started the East London branch of the National Council for Women. During the War she served as a Recruiting Officer for the WAAFs. She died in 1977 at the age of 91. 

This extract is from her private journal which was written for the benefit of the family. We are indebted to her son, Mr N E M 'Nogs' Newman, for permission to publish it.

Footnotes: