100 Years Ago

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.

100 Years Ago - June 1916

WAR TIME APPEALS CONTINUE
The Royal Navy appeal to the Bideford men with sea experience to join up for the Yacht Patrol Division in the Royal Navy. Seamen and firemen can be guaranteed El-IOs per week with 10 shillings food allowance when not victualled. Assistant cooks and stewards will be paid £l-5s per week and 3 rd Engineers £2-8-Od. They are also seeking carpenters who will be paid £l-15s per week.

The waste paper collection system set up and described in last month's edition is now fully operational. The depot at the Fish Market is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 9 -1 0'clock. The patriotism encouraged by saving paper is further reinforced at the foot of the advertisement with the exultation "God Save the King".

Appeals against call up are heard in all the local towns and in Bideford 27 were heard during the second week of June 1916. Albert Henry Prance, 28 of Mill Street, a fish and chip shop proprietor, applied for a second time for an additional period of exemption. His appeal was refused as it was felt that this work could be done by a woman. W C Friendship, a baker of Market Place, applied for exemption on behalf of Alexander Penhorwood, 28 and married. Another of his employees named Darch had been granted exemption on the ground that the bakery would not be able to function without them. Both were exempted until 1st October and Friendship was required to seek replacement staff as soon as possible. Miss Turner of Abbotsham appealed for extra time for Sidney Slee, 29, saying that Slee and a 14 year old boy were all that she had to look after the farm which included 73 bullocks and 87 sheep. This appeal was denied.

R Blackmore and Sons, auctioneers, have been instructed to sell the following vehicles:
A 4 wheel dog cart.
2 wheel Battlesden car. (Our research has found that this was a light 4 seater trap which is pulled by a pony) A La Buire 5 seater Touring car 18 HP and leather upholstery A Siddeley Wolseley 5 seat 12 HP tourer.
"All these vehicles have been in private ownership and have been well looked after."

R D Blackmore are advertising for auction at their Bideford Quay premises a considerable part of the estate of the late H G Heaven, Vicar of Lundy. Included are cut glass Bohemian vases, large Oriental jars, Dresden, Spode and Wedgewood china and many silver items weighing in total 750 ounces. The extensive sale catalogue concludes with a roasting jack!

100 Years Ago - May 1916

War time savings continue.
Street lighting; The Mayor Mr F R Chope hopes that in view of the Daylight Saving Bill having been passed by parliament no public lamps should be lit in the town during June, July and August.
Paper saving: The Bideford UDC have decided to grant the Bideford Chamber of Trade rent free of a loft at the market for the collection and disposal of waste paper which will be sent away and repulped, will alleviate the stortage and deficiency created by restricted importation of wood pulp. action woul#onsiderably lessen the need for horses and manual laboure The store is over the Borough Fish Market and a paper baler will be purchased at a cost of £19:O:Od. Waste paper will be collected 3 times each week and can also be brought in.
May Fairs: Traditionally this month is when the arrival of summer is celebrated but this year there appear to be no May Fair festivities across the newspaper's area except that Torrington had their annual fair but the attractions were almost nil so attendance was small.

Sapper W H Westlake Royal Engineers of Chanters Road Bideford has received the Silver medal of the Russian Order of St George fourth class in recognition of gallant services at the second Battle of Ypres. Sapper Westlake was formally in charge of Bideford Telephones and was a prominent member of the swimming club.
Lance Corporal Fred T Cole in acknowledging the receipt of a pair of knitted socks from Bideford mentioned that they were spoilt when he took them into action in the pocket of his British Warm coat on March 8th. Only one bullet went through them but as the socks were folded it made so many holes that they were useless.

Farleighs Stores, Bideford, Telephone 79; They have a special offer of sardines for sale.
1000 small tins of Choice Quality @ 2%d.
1000 large tins of Good Quality @ 61/2d.
00 large tins of Very Choice Quality @10hd.
500 medium tins of Finest French @ 8%d.
1000 tins of Skipper & Topmast Brand Brisling in Oil and Tomato @61hd. (Brisling were formerly called sardines)

100 Years Ago - April 1916

Mr A W Cock auctioned three freehold properties in the town. These were 7 Elm Grove, 13 Vinegar Hill and a dwelling house and stables at 1 Bull Hill , the latter premises formerly known as The Cornish Arms .

Bideford Borough council holds tribunals every week, sitting in the Town Hall , to hear applications for exemption from military service. Herniman Prust woodyard, 32 years old, proprietor of a grocery and provisions merchant's business, was granted exemption as long as he remains in his present occupation. He has been left single handed as both his assistants have joined up. His 5 brothers are al ready serving in the Army. Albert Henry Prance, a Fish and Chip shop proprietor, claimed that his wife could not carry on the business which would have to be closed if he went to war. It was obvious that such a business was a great advantage to the people living in the neighbourhood. He was granted a one month exemption.

Ladies interested in Motor Cycling should inspect the latest model , the "Royal Ruby" 2 stroke, perfect in every detail , now on show at Messrs George Boyle, 1 Allhalland Street.

At a meeting of Bideford urban District council it was decided that the names of those who had volunteered for the War should be displayed on boards fixed in the Market.

The Taw & Torridge Fishery Conservators heard a status report from the Superintendent water Bailiff. Large numbers of salmon have passed through the town and on to the upper waters of the river. Salmon fishing was very good and a good number of fish had been taken. The weather was too cold for trout fishing.

Henry Hopkins of Bideford was summoned for using headlights on a motorcycle at 10.10pm on 29th March. He pleaded guilty through i gnorance. superi ntendent Hul land said that under current regulations, no headlights were to be carried within 6 miles of the sea or estuary. Mr Hopkins was fined 2/6d.