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.

Family’s Proud War Service Record

When a Bideford Gazette representative visited Mr and Mrs C R Marshall of Wyltowyn, Landcross, last week, he was the first to bring them the good news that their second son, Sergeant Reginald Leslie Marshall (since commissioned at Pilot Officer), had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for gallantry and devotion to duty.

He was among a group of seven Devon airmen whose awards were announced at the same time. All of them had taken part in many successful operations and displayed high skill and fortitude.

Among friends especially interested in the award is the Bideford Gazette for Pilot Officer Marshall learned his trade as a compositor there in his youth. Subsequently he was employed for a number of years by the firm of Stephen Austin and Sons, Ltd, Hertford. He volunteered for the RAFVR in 1940, and became a Sergt Flight-Engineer on heavy bombers.

Aged 33, he is married and has a son. His wife was formerly a nurse at Bideford Hospital and is now a member of the Civil Nursing Reserve.

Pilot Officer Marshall is expected home on leave for Christmas.

This is indeed a family with a proud record of war service and all volunteers.

Another son, Acting Sergt Frederick George Marshall is serving with the RAF in Rhodesia, and there are two daughters, Edith and Madeline, Red Cross nurses, and a sister-in-law in the ATS. His brother Able Seaman William Charles Stuart Marshall, the eldest son, was among those on HMS Dorsetshire who lost their lives when she was sunk in the Bay of Bengal in April 1942.

Mr Marshall, senr, an ex Master-at-Arms in the Royal Navy, is serving as a Sergeant in Devon Special Constabulary.

Gazette articled dated 14 December 1943

Air Raid Shelters At Home

Morrison and Anderson Shelters Available

Sir – I again feel it is my duty to draw the attention of householders to the facilities which have been provided at very considerable expense but which, for various reasons, do not appear to be widely known. I refer to the availability of Morrison (and Anderson) Shelters.

Approximately 150 householders have seen the wisdom of acquiring and installing a shelter in their homes and this comparatively small number is a cause of some concern in official circles.

The lives of many children and adults have been saved by the possession of such shelters.

I am aware that there are various reasons why these shelters cannot be placed in some houses but where neither Morrisons nor Andersons are suitable, then, in certain conditions, a grant is available for strengthening a specially selected portion of a house. The Borough Surveyor is willing at all times to give advice on the matter.

The Council have not received instructions to despatch a considerable number of shelters to other places where the demand is more insistent and this may be the last opportunity of securing this valuable form of protection in Bideford.

At some risk of being labelled as an alarmist my personal advice is to ‘make sure rather than to be sorry.’

J H Sharley
Mayor of Bideford

Mayor’s Office
Bideford,
Devon

December 6th, 1943

Gazette articled dated 14 December 1943

Memories of the VJ Celebrations

No need to tell it to the Marines,

they know how much the children enjoyed the trips on the river in the light naval craft on the second of the VJ holidays.

The top photograph (by I C Williams, Bideford) shows a happy boatload of youngsters about to leave Bideford Quay for a trip. ‘The spirit of Victory’ was the title given to the galaxy of fancy dress, music and merriment photographed at Torrington’s VJ Carnival procession by Pringle and Woodward, Torrington.