File:Matthew M. Lamb, trawler-hand, arrested for breaking and entering (21644293078).jpg

Name: Matthew M. Lamb Arrested for: not given Arrested at: North Shields Police Station Arrested on: 5 October 1914 Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-256-Matthew M Lamb

The Shields Daily News for 7 October 1914 reports:

“TRAWLER-HAND SENT TO PRISON FOR BREAKING AND ENTERING

Today at North Shields Matthew M Lamb (21), deckhand, minesweeping trawler no. 461, was charged with breaking and entering the house, 73 Tyne Street and stealing therefrom a gramophone, records, and several other artefacts valued in all £4, the property of Emma Cope.

Miss Cope stated that prisoner stayed with her on Friday night last and on the following day she met him in South Shields. On reaching home she found the house had been broken into and she missed the gramophone, records etc.

A neighbour of the last witness deposed to seeing the defendant with other men at Miss Cope’s house. Defendant burst open the door and witness later saw defendant carrying the gramophone. There was no one with him. Defendant was very drunk.

Sergt. Spindler said the defendant replied to the charge when arrested “I don’t know anything about it but I take all responsibility”. Defendant said he was drunk at the time and didn’t remember anything about the offence. Defendant was committed to prison for one month.”

These images are taken from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 (TWAM ref. DX1388/1). This set is our selection of the best mugshots taken during the First World War. They have been chosen because of the sharpness and general quality of the images. The album doesn’t record the details of each prisoner’s crimes, just their names and dates of arrest.

In order to discover the stories behind the mugshots, staff from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums visited North Shields Local Studies Library where they carefully searched through microfilm copies of the ‘Shields Daily News’ looking for newspaper reports of the court cases. The newspaper reports have been transcribed and added below each mugshot.

Combining these two separate records gives us a fascinating insight into life on the Home Front during the First World War. These images document the lives of people of different ages and backgrounds, both civilians and soldiers. Our purpose here is not to judge them but simply to reflect the realities of their time.