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 - April 1915

Peugeot cars have now arrived in Bideford. The French manufacturer has appointed Heard Bros as their only dealer across the entire Devon and Cornwall area. Prices range from E125 for a baby 2 seater up to E875 for a 40/50 hp car fitted with a "SuffoIk" 5 seater touring body complete with all accessories. For further details telephone Bideford 70.

An exciting new crop on the gardening page in the 6th April edition: Readers are encouraged to consider planting "a garden variety of Indian corn or maize" known as sugar or sweet corn. It is quite extensively grown and eaten as a vegetable in Canada and the United States. Several local seedsmen are selling seeds of improved acclimatisation and now is the time to sow.

Sale of Lloyds Bank premises Bideford: Messrs R Dymond & Sons are offering for sale by auction on the 8th April the freehold property situated on the corner of High Street and Allhalland Street, formerly the Devon & Cornwall Bank. The Auction took place at Tantons Hotel and in the following week's edition of the Gazette the following report was printed. "Bidding was started by G Boyle at £1000 and W H Chope bettered this by £50 and then by £50 bids each bidder bettered their offer up to a figure of £l700. Then Mr W H Chope offered £1725 at which point the property was withdrawn and made open to Private Treaty sale by Messrs Hole Seldon & Ward solicitors for the vendors"

Local residents are beginning to respond to the opening of Commons Auxiliary Hospital to receive wounded soldiers with gifts and donations including vegetables, shirts, pillows, eggs, cigarettes, cream, carpet slippers, boots, jig saw puzzles, looking glasses, jam and hymn books. Rev Dimond Dimond Churchward gave sweets.

Bideford farmers and gardeners have been asked to contribute to a national egg collection scheme to aid wounded soldiers. Across the country 130,000 eggs have been collected weekly but the organisers hope to increase this to 200,000 and Bideford is expected to play its part. Collection points have been set up at the Butchers Market at the top of Grenville Street and at the NFU offices in the High Street. In letters to the Editor in the 13th April edition a letter from Mr J M Metherell, chairman of the Bideford branch of the Devon Farmers Union "earnestly request the farmers of Bideford District to make a generous response to the appeal." Eggs will go to the base hospital in France for men who are returning from the Front Line.

100 Years Ago - March 1915

The government has announced increased separation allowances for soldier's families from the first of March: 12/6d for wives, 5/- for the first child, 3/6d for the second and 2/-for any subsequent children. These allowances will finish at the end of the war and will make a big difference to many local families where the breadwinner is away fighting for his country.

The first batch of wounded soldiers has been received at 'Commons" Auxiliary hospital. Provision has been made for 36 patients in total. The house is situated at the left hand side of Atlantic Way and opposite Lakenham House. It was formerly the residence of the late Colonel Wilson Hoare, Commander of the Royal North Devon Hussars.

It is reported that after much negotiations Messrs Kynocks Ltd, ammunition manufacturers, intend to establish a works for the extraction from wood of acetone or cordite in its lowest state. The site is just beyond the allotments at East-the-Water and will be connected by railway sidings to the L&SW Railway and also to Barlett Bayliss timber yard who will supply the wood required.

The Licence of the Blacksmiths Arms, East—the-Water, has been transferred to the adjoining premises. The tenant is Mr Beer. Structural alterations to the New Inn have been approved and the tenant is Mr R G Court. Police sergeant Doidge said the police had no objections and the magistrates approved the changes.

100 Years Ago - February 1915

2nd February 1915 The Union of London and Smiths Bank, who have an agency here in Bideford, have appointed girl clerks in one of their offices for the first time. This is seen as a radical step, as banking has always been seen a male prerogative

Nowadays we are used to paying a pound for a wide variety of goods, but it seems this practice is nothing new. On 9^thFebruary 1915 Messrs Stewart & Co who have a shop at 52 Mill Street were holding a 1/- (one shilling) sale. On offer amongst other things, were: 2 Large Brown Towels; 2 Large White Towels; Large Rush Mats 2¹/2 feet x 5 feet; 4 yards of Check pattern Glass cloth; Lots of complete sets of Ladies and gents underwear and many more items all at 1/-.

Farleigh's Stores, High Street, are advertising Pancake Flour, which — they say — makes delicious pancakes without the need for eggs or sugar.

At the annual meeting of the Bideford and District Tradesman's Association, Mr H Brain reviewed the progress of his earlier proposal that all business should close for lunch between Ipm and 2pm except on Tuesdays. He reported that the majority of local business owners are now in favour.

Bideford section of the Volunteer Training Corps held a training route march from Bideford to Westward Ho! and back. Played out of Bideford by the Wesleyan Brass Band and accompanied throughout by The Bugle Band. It rained all day but the men were in good spirits and consider it their duty to train this way. All men who cannot join the Regular or Territorial Armies are asked to volunteer and should contact Mr W E Jenkinson at the Town Hall.

On the 16^thFebruary Bideford Town Council Refugee committee have acquired the lower room in the School rooms at Silver Street. These rooms were recently used at the Scout HQ. There are over 200 refugees from Belgium in and around the town and this will be a social club for them. A week later the Gazette reports that the club is now open and 126 refugees attend the opening.

The Government are advertising for Shoeing Smiths to look after the horses being used in this country and abroad in the war effort. Pay will be 5/- per day and those who are qualified and under the age of 45 can apply at the local recruiting office. Service could be in England or overseas.