Names

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.

20 December 1968

Dark – December 15th to John and Rosemary (nee Edworthy), a daughter, Sandra Margaret, a sister for David and Michael.
Locke – December 6th at the Barnstaple Maternity Unit, to Michael and Bridget (nee Scoins), a son, Stuart Richard.
Plows – December 12th at the NDDHMU to Jennifer (nee Middleton), and Peter, a son, Andrew.
Wonnacott – December 11th at the NDDHMU, to Hazel (nee Wood) and Gordon, a son, Stephen Andrew, brother for Rachel.

David-Turner – Mr and Mrs Arthur Turner, 25 Richmond Park, Northam, have pleasure in announcing the engagement of their only daughter, Hazel Denise, to Kenneth Douglas, youngest son of Mr and Mrs Cyril Davis, of 5 Morwenna Terrace, Northam. Congratulations.
Powell-Dennis – The engagement is announced between Christina Mary, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs E Dennis, Berry Farm, Hartland, to David John, youngest son of Mrs F M Powell, Laburnam Cottage, Bucks Mills and Mr J Powell, Bremen, Germany.

Heywood-Clarke – On December 14th at the Parish Church of St Mary, Sheila Anne, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Leslie Clarke, to Roger James, elder son of Mr and Mrs J Heywood.

Atchison-Short – On December 22nd 1918, at Baptist Church, Torrington, David James Atchison, Newtownards, Ireland, to Gwendoline Short, of Torrington.

Births

10 December 1954

Boyles – December 2nd at 28 Market Street, Appledore, to Anne (nee Lynch) and Arthur, a daughter, Diane Mary, a sister for Peter.
Dennis – December 3rd at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to May (nee Fishwick) and Jack, a son, Leslie Malcolm.
Fletcher – December 8th 1954 at Denaryn, Northam, a sister for Carolyn and Andrea.
Morrish – December 7th to Joyce (nee Stranks) and John, a sister for Paul, Lynn.
Sluman – December 8th to Norah (nee Husband) and Wilfred, a son.
Squires – December 9th to Margaret (nee Ferrett) and Arthur, a son.

Funeral Of A Gallant Soldier

Capt. Chester Gayton, of Westward Ho!

The funeral took place on May 28th of Capt Chester Gayton, of Westward Ho! who passed away at a Bideford Nursing Home on Tuesday, after a long illness at the age of 41. Capt Gayton, who was a native of Croydon, saw active service during the Great War, on the North West Frontier, India. He later took up a Commission in the Indian Army (119th Multans) but was invalided home in 1919 and in 1920, being unfit for further service, resigned from the Army. He was a member of Toc H and the Officers’ Association of the British Legion.
About eight years ago, Capt Gayton came to Appledore, where he made many friends and two years ago the family removed to Westward Ho! He leaves a widow and four children.
The service was held in St Margaret’s Parish Church, Northam, conducted by the Rev S G F Brandon, Priest-in-Charge, of Westward Ho! assisted by the Rev R A B Chambers, the Bideford Branch Toc H Chaplain. There were also present the Rev H C A S Muller, Vicar of Appledore and Chairman Appledore Branch British Legion, Rev A C Brockett (Appledore Congregational), Rev A Green (Northam Congregational), several members of the Toc H (Bideford) and also of the local British Legion branches.
Mourners were the widow; Master Norman Gayton; Mr Gayton; Mr Peirce; Mr and Mrs Fred Cork; Mr G Cork; Mr J Billings, Mrs Butterworth, Mr Harry, Matron lill, Miss Annie Cork, Mrs Ernest Cork, Messrs J T Slevin, W Oke, F Lang and R Henderson, Mrs and Miss Mary Hocking, Mrs G Moyse, Miss Stacey, Mrs Victor Lesslie, Mrs Featherstone, Mrs F Bennett, and Mrs White.
The coffin was covered with a Union Jack and medals laid thereon. The bearers were Messrs Ernest Cork, Charles Mills, John Boyle, William Mills, J L Richards, William Watts, Reg Down and Richard Fishwick.
Wreaths were sent.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Mr H A Edwards (Bideford).
The full Gazette article is dated 8 June 1937