Open Writing

During the war, Mr. Tree rendered yeoman service as Chairman of the Committee responsible for the housing and maintenance of the Belgium refugees who were received in Worcester. On him and Mrs. Ernest Day, the hon. Secretary fell most of the burden of carrying out this necessary but arduous work.

In private life as in public affairs, Mr. Tree was greatly esteemed. His mind was a treasury of good stories and his frequent phrase, “That reminds me” was always regarded by his friend as the prelude to an appropriate and amusing story, which never failed to interest and entertain.

As his third Christian name indicates, he was related to Mr. Arrowsmith, the well known Bristol publisher. A brother of Mr. Tree’s is a canon in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Trinidad.

Mr. Tree had three sons serving in the war – Lieut. C.J. Tree, W. F. Tree and P.B. Tree – all of whom paid the supreme sacrifice.

The first son to be killed at the Dardanelles on July 20th, 1915 at the age of 25. Previously he was a master at a private secondary school at East Grinstead Sussex.

Lieu W.F. Tree on the day before his death in action in France, on July 22, 1916 attained his 28th birthday. He served his articles with his father, and subsequently joined him as a partner in the firm of Messrs. Tree and Son. He served with the 10th Battalion. The third and last son to be killed, Lieu P.B. Tree of the Machine Gun Corps was aged 23. Upon the outbreak of war he joined the Public School Bn. Went out to France in 1915 and after serving there for a time returned to Oxford to train for a commission which he received in the MGC. He went out on Christmas Eve 1917 and met his death in April of the following year.

One of Mr. Tree’s daughters married Capt. Stinton, who served in the Italian campaign.

The Mayor’s Eulogy

The Mayor said he had been asked the attendance of his brother magistrates and members of the local bar in order that they might make a record of the loss of the city as their late friend, Mr. Tree. In spite of all the experience of the four or five years he did not think that the hand of sorrow had fallen more heavily on any one family than upon the family of Mr. Tree. Not only was Mr. Tree himself loved and respected but every member of his rather large family gained the affection and close regard of every citizen who was brought into contact with them. Mr. Tree was already slightly failing in health when the terrible calamity of the war came upon the country. He had three sons, and one by one those splendid boys were taken from him. Those who were fathers know that as life went on their own ambitions grew more slender and their thoughts went out to sons who were to follow them. So they could realise the feelings of their late dead and respected friend as one boy after another was taken. Lieut. C. J. Tree was killed at the Dardanelles on July 20th, 1915, and then Lieut. W.F. Tree about a year after on the 22nd July 1916 was also killed. Mr. W.F Tree was partner with his father and the Mayor said how he was greatly struck when home on leave a short while before he was killed as his father was unwell, he appeared in the court as an advocate, and he was impressed by his capacity particularly in cross-examination. Then the youngest boy, Lieu P.B. Tree was taken in April 1918. Mr. Tree was a proud father to have three sons serving in the war – a prouder father to know that all those sons had made the great sacrifice for the ideals for which the country was fighting. But there was sorrow as well as pride; and the grief of the father and mother could not be understood except by those who had passed through a similar experience. The career of Mr. Tree in the city was well known. The temper and perhaps even the character of an advocate were possible tried more than those of any member of the community. In the heat of debate it was easy to say the unkind word, but thought no one present could say that in the whole of their experience they remembered Mr. Tree giving vent to an unkind thought or action in any case with which he was connected. If asked to describe their ideal of an English gentleman probably the first man their thoughts would be Mr. Tree for in his professional and private capacity he exemplified all the attributes of a gentleman. The Mayor then moved a resolution stating that the Justices placed on record an expression of the deep regret the great loss sustained by the Court and the city generally by the death of Mr. W.W.A. Tree who was admitted a solicitor in 1876, and who for upwards of 40 years practiced before the City Bench and who throughout that period carried out his professional duties in a most exemplary manner. And the justices desired to offer their sincere condolence to the widow and family.

A Pattern to Young Solicitors

Mr. Maund, as the oldest practicing solicitor in the Court (Mr. S Southall had had to leave) said as a lifelong friend and relative of Mr. Tree it was naturally hard for him to approach the subject. For 38 years he had perhaps had more opportunity of closer professional association with Mr. Tree and was better able to appreciate his qualities than anyone else. As an academic lawyer, Mr. Tree was unexcelled. As a practical lawyer he had few equals. For honesty of purpose and integrity he was an exemplar. As a man and a citizen he was as near perfection as most men could even wish to attain. To a friend, Mr. Tree was always kindness himself –he (Mr. Maund) spoke with heartfelt appreciation and knowledge. To an opponent he was the acme of courtesy, to an antagonist he was the personification of a patient gentleman. Mr. Tree had left an example which was a pattern for the emulation by all the rising generation of the profession; aye, and by all of them. Of Mr. Tree it might truly be said, “Here was a man. Take him for all in all. We ne’er shall look upon his life again.”