Commemorative

Christmas Eve at the Front

An interesting letter has just been received by Mrs Packer, of Broadclyst, from her husband, Corpl Packer of A Company, 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who is serving with the Expeditionary Force in Northern France. In the course of a letter he describes a remarkable incident which occurred on Christmas Eve between the British and German trenches.

Local News

Torrington Tank

Sergt G H Hanks, of a Tank Battalion, has written as follows to the Mayor of Torrington (Mr B G Lampard-Vachell); ‘Last week I was given a new tank. I see by the inscription on its plate that it is due to the generosity of the people of Torrington that I have the honour to command this grand tank. I would like those concerned, especially of Dolton and Dowland, Sudbury’s Gloves, and Torridge Vale Savings Groups, to know that their great efforts have given us a fine weapon to help in the defeat of the enemy. If there is any Savings Group interested in the progress of the tank and crew, and they write to me, I will ensure all letters are answered. May the tank and its crew prove their worth in action very shortly. Greetings to all concerned from myself and crew’.

Lunch-Time Shopping

From Mr C Cann, secretary of the Bideford Town Council had before them at their recent meeting a letter requesting support of the efforts being made by the Trades and Labour Council to persuade Bideford shopkeepers to remain open between 1 and 2pm, as it was considered this period was the only available time the majority of workers had for shopping. Cllr W H Chubb explained that at present many war workers were given time off to do essential shopping during their working hours. If shops remained open between 1 and 2pm particularly food shops, they would be materially assisting the war effort by saving the number of hours that would otherwise have to be taken off during working time. After further discussion the Council decided to refer the matter to the General Purposes Committee, who have power to deal.

Air Raid Shelters’ Cleanliness

‘They are not as clean as they might be’ remarked Cllr W H Chubb at the same Council meeting, when making a suggestion that the public air raid shelters should be fitted with gates in order to keep out dogs, etc. He had been surprised at the condition of one shelter he had gone into. Ald H A Huxham said he agreed with this and thought they should follow the example of Barnstaple Council, who had fitted their shelters with gates. These could be unlocked in an emergency by smashing the glass of the key container. Cllr W Harris pointed out that the Council had already decided against having gates fitted to shelters when this matter was discussed some time ago. After further debate it was decided that no action be taken in the matter.

Gunner and the ‘Gazette’

Gunner J Sherborne, now serving with the Royal Artillery overseas, has written to the Editor saying how much he looks forward to the arrive of his copy of the ‘Bideford Gazette’ sent to him regularly by his mother, Mrs T Sherborne, of 6 Bowden Green, Bideford. Gunr Sherborne has served with both the 1st and 8th Armies, in the defence of Malta and in the invasion of Sicily Italy. ‘I am proud to say I met the boys of the Deconshire Regiment in Sicily and passed on my supple of Gazettes. I was informed that several boys from Bideford were in the Regiment, although I did not have the luck to meet any’ he adds. Regarding news from home, he was very enthusiastic over our splendid result in Wings for Victory week.

Another £10,000 From Devon

Mr A Porter, of 81 Queen Street Chambers, Exeter, hon. secretary of the Devon County Committee of the Red Cross Agriculture Fund, has forwarded a further £10,000 to the London headquarters of the Fund. Among the chief items which go to make up this large sum are monies from the following areas: Tiverton, £1,446; Cullompton and District, £1,063; Honiton, £708 19s 2d; Newton Abbot £700; Chulmleigh, £595 16s 3d; Plympton, £541 18s 5d; Bideford, £387 5s; Moretonhampstead, £386 9s 6d; Burrington, £362; Hemyock, Culmstock and Clayhidon, £231 9s 3d; East Anstey and District, £220 2s 6d. A golf match realised £466 0s 8d and sundries make up to £2,261 11s 1d.

National Trust Purchase

An island of 37 acres of glebeland close to Selworthy Church, Exmoor, has been purchased by the National Trust. In the Holnicote Estate, now being acquired by the National Trust from Sir Richard Acland and the trustees of his marriage settlement, was the island and this land had been zoned for some building development. It is in order to safeguard the church and the village that the National Trust has stepped in an purchased the island,

Gazette article dated 29 December 1943

Brothers’ Meetings

Bideford and Torrington Interest

Two brothers, members of a family with seven sons in the Forces or other branches of National Service, have recently been able to meet in North Africa. They are Driver John Francis Symons, of 16 Geneva Place, Bideford, and Driver Percival Symons, of 115 New Street, Torrington, sons of Mr and Mrs J Symons, of 30 Torrington Lane, East-the-Water, Bideford. Both are married and have a son.

Driver J F Symons, who is in Divisional Signals, was employed by Bideford and District Co-operative Society before joining the Forces some three years ago. He was a member of Bideford Health and Strength Club.

Driver P Symons is serving with a Tank Transportation Company. He has been in the army for about four years. Both took part in the Tunisian Campaign, and have been in North Africa for a year. They have been able to meet there on several occasions and have also seen W Stevens, of Hart, Street, Bideford.

Gazette article dated 29 December 1943

Five Hours’ Crawl Into Enemy Lines

Abbotsham Officer’s Patrol

In the brilliant sunshine, but with the threatening rain clouds scudding over the mountain tops, an officer and three men set off on patrol. Their commission was to find out if the Boche still occupied a village beyond the next range of hills.

Surmounting the first line of hill tops their hearts missed a beat for between them and the next summit, was nothing but sheer hard rock, not even a few clefts for protection. Occasionally there grew a clump of scrub growth. There was only one thing to do – crawl. Down on their side they went, rifles resting on one leg, and they pulled themselves over the open rocks. Bruised and soaking wet, they were able only to snatch a few seconds’ rest at each clump of gorse. At such a time, not even the grandeur of the Italian mountain ranges could compensate for the difficulties encountered.

Still they went on and with only a small hillock between them and their goal they took a last ‘breather’. Here the slopes were wooded and several gullies gave them friendly protection. With rising spirits and bodies they were now able to get on to their feet.

For nearly five hours this little band of men had been probing the enemy’s lines. Most of that time was spent either on their sides or on their stomachs but still they had the return trip to face. With the information, and more, which they had set out to collect, back they went. Foot by foot, yard by yard, they slithered down gullies and slopes. With the advantage of having covered the ground once, their progress was a little faster, but not much.

Wet through, but remarkably cheerful, these men arrived back at their company’s position in the darkness, some nine hours after setting out. That night, as a result of their efforts the Boche, who were snugly quartered in the village, had little rest, for our artillery thoroughly enjoyed the task of pounding such a splendid target.

And that night, too, Capt J R Strick, who led the patrol, had a minor disappointment. On their way out, these four men came across a cave blasted into the hillside. Obviously it had been used as a German dug out, and equally obviously it has been left in a hurry, for there still remained beds, blankets and food. Capt Strick, who comes from Abbotsham Court, near Bideford, North Devon, thinking salmon would make a nice change for supper, put a tin in the blouse of his battle dress. As he said “You can imagine my chagrin and annoyance, when I opened that tin and the salmon fairly leapt out, it was so bad.”

Capt Strick is the eldest son of Major-Gen J A Strick, CB, DSO, and Mrs Strick. Aged 25, he joined the Territorials just before the outbreak of war when a University student. He has been twice wounded – once in Sicily and now in Italy. He had previously served in other parts of the Middle East.

His father’s long military service included the campaign in Italy during the last war.

Full Gazette article dated 21 December 1943