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.

Appledore continued its VE celebrations on Thursday May 10th when in several streets in Appledore, impromptu tea parties were held for the children.

When the children had finished the housewives who organised the occasion sat down to a tea party for themselves. The Vicar of Appledore (Rev H C A S Muller) visited most of the parties taking part in the streets and other places and said a few words, and caused much enjoyment by singing ‘Two Little Girls in Blue’.

In the evening there was more street dancing, the people dancing in the western part of Irsha Street collecting £2 for the Red Cross as their victory thanksgiving.

On Wednesday afternoon, the St Mary’s Church School, held their celebration tea, arranged by Mr T Parsons (headmaster) and a large staff of willing helpers. The Vicar attended and expressed his thanks to all who had assisted.

On Friday evening, schoolchildren, aged 4-16 years, from St Mary’s Church School and Appledore Council School, with their teachers, parents and friends, and members of the Appledore Youth Club, were taken for a trip up the river to Bideford and home again in an LCT. Led by the Rev H C A S Muller, the children enthusiastically showed their thanks to the Royal Navy for taking them for this much enjoyed ‘trip on the river’.

On Saturday a carnival wagon with people in fancy dress came round the streets in Appledore, adding to the festivities of the day. Tea parties continued to take place along with bonfires and dancing, while in Irsha Street, during an interval in the dancing, exact impersonations, causing much amusement, of famous personalities, were made by a sailor from HMS Appledore. Further open air dancing took place in the park.

Although there was a large drain by Bideford on HM Forces stationed at Appledore, the parade held to St Mary’s Church, Appledore, on Sunday May 13th, was, nevertheless, large and representative.

Assembling on Marine Parade, one minute’s silence for the fallen was observed before marching to the Church via the Quay, Irsha Street and Torridge Road, led by the Boys’ Brigade Band.

Organisations present included the Royal Navy, Naval Patrol, representatives of the ships in harbour, Royal Engineers, RAF, Home Guard, Special Constables, Civil Defence, WVS, representatives of Northam Council, Red Cross, Appledore Boys’ Brigade, Girl Guides, etc.

The church was filled to overflowing by the large congregation. The Vicar of Appledore conducted the service assisted by the Revs R W Mould, B Hardy, and A R Richards. The Vicar gave a short but impressive address in which he urged everyone to re-dedicate their lives. Miss Barrington presided at the organ.

PC J E Harris (Appledore) marshalled the parade, assisted by the Vicar.

Victory peals were rung during the day on St Mary’s Church bells.

Gazette article dated 22 May 1945

Gazette letter day 22 May 1945

Evacuees’ Gift At Woolsery

‘Your Kindness and Hospitality’

On the village green at Woolsery, in front of the church, stands a handsome new oak seat. This seat is to be inscribed ‘This seat was given by the children evacuated from the blitzed areas to the people of Woolsery in appreciated of their kindness and hospitality 1940-45’

With the sunshine smiling down and in the presence of a delightful rural community gathering, the seat was unveiled and dedicated by the Dean Rural, Preb, I L Gregory (Vicar of Hartland).

‘This is a unique occasion for Woolsery’ said Mr C B Griffiths (headmaster of Woolsery School and Parish Billeting Officer), opening the proceedings after introductory prayers. He conveyed apologies for absence from Messrs J C Hilton, C T Braddick, and the Rev E L Lewis.

Looking back, he thought they had been very fortunate in the children they had had evacuated to them. It had been a great experience for each of them, and when the evacuees were young men and women it was hoped they would return to Devon, to Woolsery, and revisit their foster parents.

Some time ago the evacuees had raised money to provide an oak seat and cherry trees for the people of Woolsery. The trees had been ordered, the oak seat was complete, and it was a work of art, done by a local craftsman, Mr W E Brent. Mr Griffiths, on behalf of the evacuated children, then presented the seat to the Parish of Woolsery, asking the Parish Council to accept it.

Mr W H Harding, Chairman of the Parish Council, accepted on that body’s behalf, and welcomed the very fine gesture. On behalf of the evacuees taking refuge in the parish during the last five years, Mrs Clutterbuck thanked the people of Woolsery for the great, kindly service they had rendered.

On behalf of the Rural District Evacuation Authority, Mrs I E Halford associated herself with the expressions of goodwill. To conclude the open-air ceremony, the school children, including a number of evacuees, sang national songs of the Allies, Mr Griffiths being at the piano. The VE tea followed.

Mrs Piper, canteen cook, assisted by members of the School Fund Committee and WVS supervised, and Mrs John Andrew, who is a school manager, was convener for the public tea.

Full Gazette article dated 19 June 1945

Evacuees Homeward Bound

Some Tears At Parting

Tears at leaving their wartime home – and joy at once more returning to their own homes – were mingled on crowded Bideford station at 9.5am on Tuesday morning.

Young and old were among the party, including the twenty eight elderly ladies who had been staying at Belle View Hotel, Westward Ho! Ex-Mayors helped to trundle the luggage, which varied from ‘prams’ to bicycles, with travelling cased by the dozen, and there was a ‘help your neighbour’ atmosphere. Amid the excitement tinged with sadness, and on a long journey home, how many thoughts went back to those grim days and nights of bombing of 1940-41 and the 1944 flying bombs.

Those returning from Bideford Borough assembled at the Bethel (which was the first Rest Room), by kind permission of the Rev R J Parsons (who was Bideford’s Evacuation Reception Officer at the peak of the evacuation). At the Bethel the Deputy Mayor of Bideford – Ald F E Whiting, - deputising for the Mayor – Ald H W Fulford - who was unavoidably absent addressed them.

Others attending included Cllrs Sharley and J H Bright. VCP cars assisted in bringing evacuees from the outlying districts. The parties, which were of mothers and children, were made up as follows: From Bideford Borough, 82; from Northam Urban District, 74; and from Bideford Rural, 46. Quite a number of evacuees had already gone home. Evacuation officials were present to see the evacuees off, including the Chief Billeting Officials of the districts concerned, and other helpers. Mr Dovell represented the Ministry of Health.

Other parties of evacuees joined the special train at Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Torrington.