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 1914

This month we have decided to focus on the perennially popular subject of fashion. The Gazette devoted a column each week to ladies clothing illustrated with drawings of the garments, some of which are shown here. Going by these pictures the women of 1914 seem to have had tiny waists and tall statuesque outlines. Note also one very masculine look!
Home dressmaking was in vogue and female readers were encouraged to make their own clothes, buying the recommended patterns and materials from local haberdashery shops, of which Bideford had several. This was more economical than buying ready-made clothing from the shops as you could use the pattern several times and add your own personal touches. Clothing was showing some trends of the belle époque era; ladies spent their afternoons going out to see and be seen. Fans of Downton Abbey may recognise some of these outfits.

In 1914 clothing was moving away from the restrained Edwardian fashions towards more relaxed styles. Previously, women had been wearing heavily embellished dresses with tightly laced corsets underneath. As World War I broke out in Europe, these restrictions loosened. Men still dressed in traditional suits while children wore more practical clothes.
As regards underwear, most men, boys and girls wore "union suits". This one-piece snugly-fitted garment was often made of flannel. Children's union suits in 1914 had shorter sleeves and leggings. Also in 1914, the American Mary Jacobs patented the first bra. Women previously wore full corsets to provide shape and support under their rigid fashions. Now designers considered the bra as an alternative "foundation garment" when developing the new, looser styles that would continue in later decades.

100 Years Ago - December 1915/January 1916

In the Children’s Court in Bideford, before Mayor Mr S R Chope and other magistrates is a 13 year-old boy charged under the Children’s Act with stealing 5 savoy cabbages and 18 broccolis. He was caught red handed with a sack, a table knife and a perambulator in which he was going to carry the vegetable away. Found guilty as proved, his father was ordered to pay 9/- which equates to £46 in today’s values.

Owing to the number of Bideford constables who have joined HM Forces, Devon Constabulary has published a list of 33 men who are doing duty as unpaid special constables. Each street and its constable are named and there are 5 in the High Street alone.

The paper is full of Christmas advertising, local stores are suggesting to readers that an early purchase would ensure goods because some items are in short supply. W T Ridge, 70 High Street has various whiskies at 3/6d a bottle, equivalent to £18 today. S Dennis of Mill Street advertises prime Ox beef, fed by Mr Curtis of Abbotsham which will be slaughtered by humane killer(?) as supplied by the RSPCA. He also has rendered lard at 8d per pound, while pickled silversides and briskets are always ready.
Messrs WH Short, 10 Allhalland St., advertises Ladies Parcels:
No1 at 10/- contains 1 cream jap silk blouse of the newest style, 1 silk lace collar, 6 dainty embroidered lawn handkerchiefs and 1 crepe de chine bow.
Less expensive is parcel No 2 at 5/- containing 1 flannelette blouse, 1 useful overall, 3 hemstitched handkerchiefs and a bottle of Eau de cologne.
For the girls, 1 cream wool turban, 1 dainty pinafore, 1 smart hair ribbon and 2 pretty hankies costs 2/6d.
The men seem to be catered for by H Meredith in the High Street, offering Vacuum flasks, shaving requisites, Tommy Cookers and electro pocket lamps in a great variety. We would be interested to learn about the Tommy Cooker?
On 21st December an article in the paper states “present giving seems to be on the increase, although perhaps owing to the lessons of the War they are of a more practical nature and it is a delightful reminder of human affection. Considering the value of the articles offered as Christmas presents the prices in the present circumstances are extraordinarily low.”

There is less poaching at the moment, although a large number of salmon which have been in the fresh water have now swum into the small rivers.

The Ford Motor Co has published a reply to allegations made in the national press that Mr Henry Ford is pro German. The company states that these statements are malicious slander. Included in the advertisement by the Bideford Motor Works who are the agents for Ford Motors are price reductions in all of their model range with the claim that they are now better value than ever. Interestingly other manufacturers have increased their prices!

In the Workhouse, known locally as The White house, Bideford Guardians at their fortnightly meeting have read an amusing postcard from a former inmate. Postmarked Liverpool December 1915 it reads “I am writing to say I am sorry I had to leave the school but I am trying to pass into the Army and I have had a lot of teeth out by order of the Drs and my sight is a lot better. I am glad to say I can write this card myself I have passed the Doctors for Home service subject to getting my glasses I have been going to the Eye hospital twice a week for some months now. I will write to you again. Yours respectfully.” Name given. The clerk to the workhouse commented, amid laughter, that he seemed to have made a rapid recovery.

And finally, In the 21st December edition we find - A Notice to Tradesmen; A number of Bideford Boy scouts are offering their services to the local tradesmen in order to facilitate the delivery of parcels etc. in the town during the next few days. Any money earned by the Scouts in this way will be paid into the Boy Scouts Ambulance Fund which is keeping a number of Motor Ambulances at the Front. A tradition continuing till today.

100 Years Ago - May 1917

The main theme this month is the state of the food supply. In his regular column for allotment holders, “Spadeworker” encourages the growing of carrots as the most important root crop; varieties such as Red Elephant, James Intermediate and Long Surrey are recommended. Kohl Rabi is also good vegetable as it is not affected by drought. Also mentioned are leeks, vegetable marrows, peas and Jerusalem artichokes. Lime and soot mixed together makes an effective insecticide.

Early potatoes grown under glass at Stevenstone, near Torrington, have been lifted and have given good results.

“Cockcrow” in his column reminds poultry keepers that meat is an essential part of their birds’ diet. Left-over meat scraps and offal should be cooked and mixed with meal. A good supply of fresh water is also important.

Later in the month another appeal from Mr Osborn and Mr Labbett is printed, this time asking for people to become Food Controllers. These people will take the lead in using substitutes for wheat in bread-making. Suggested alternatives include rice, oatmeal, barley, maize flour, dried peas and beans. The “Win the war cookery book” contains 100 useful recipes and is available from stationers and bookshops for 2d. (Does anyone have a copy of this book?)

Bakers across the area are appealing for their staff to be exempt from military service. Their argument is that people who bake bread at home eat it in larger quantities than if it is bought from a baker, thus depleting the wheat stocks.

Lord Fortescue, writing to the paper from his estate at Castle Hill, exhorts readers to avoid waste of every kind and to keep within the recommended rations. At this time, there was no compulsory rationing imposed by the Government.

In contrast to all the talk of shortages, Farleigh’s Stores appear to have a plentiful supply of bacon, advertising in the paper every week.