Featured Articles

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.

56 years in Business at Clovelly

For 57 years a resident of Clovelly, where he kept a gift, art and souvenir shop for 56 years, Mr George Stephen Reilly, of 'Hearemai' Westward Ho! has died at the age of 77.

For a number of years he was a member of the Clovelly Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and, as a farewell tribute, the lifeboat crew in uniform were bearer at the funeral at All Saints' Church, Clovelly, and the coxswain lit the "Safe home" flare at the graveside. Mr Reilly was born at Fulham, his father being the portrait artist, John Reilly.

In the First World War, Mr Reilly served in the Royal Flying Corps and during the last war he was a member of the Home Guard.
The funeral service was conducted at Clovelly by the Rural Dean, the Rev. E B Bridger (Vicar of Northam), in whose parish Mr Reilly had been residing. The Rector of Clovelly, the Rev. R O H Eppingstone, assisted. The organist was Mr A R Fisher. Family mourners attending were Mr G Reilly son; Mrs M Thompson daughter; Miss E Reilly sister; Angela, grand-daughter; Miss O Cole, Mrs L Segar, nieces.
Unavoidably absent were; Mr C Reilly, son; Miss D Reilly, sister.
The bearers were Messrs. G Lamey, C Shackson, P Shackson, A Lamey, B Abbott and T Cruse.
Others present included: Capt. J Jenn, Messrs. A Burrow, G Dark, J Ellis, R Hesketh, J Whitefield, W Badcock, W Braund, R Cruse, J Folley, C Braund, Mesdames Patt, Ball, A Braund Howard; Mr and Mrs O Parsons (Bideford), Mr and Mrs J C Hilton, Mr and Mrs W Jewell, Misses L Badcock and S Ellis.
Floral tributes included: From brother Charles; Olive and Lucy; love to uncle from all over the fence; George; Patricia; the two grandsons, Mark and Peter Reilly; Ray, Julian, Beatrice and grandad; all in New Zealand; Marguerite (M.G.), David and the twins; Lucy; brother Charles and Frank; Heather; local branch R.N.L.I; Post Office, Clovelly; William Jewell and family; W Beer and family (Bideford); Gilbert and Carrie; Lilla; Tom Braund and family; Mr Twose and family (Westward Ho!); the Powell family; Keith and family; Mr an dMrs J C Hilton; Mr and Mrs Hosegood; Mrs Reece; Joan (Horwood); Angela and John; all at Riversdale (Weare Giffard); Mrs Badcock; Will and Arthur and families.
Funeral arrangements were by Trapnell's Ltd, High Street, Bideford

For the villagers of Shebbear

For the Villagers of Shebbear it is a Moving Time

November 5 means more than bonfires and fireworks for the people of Shebbear. Every year " since the mind of man runneth not to the contrary" the village bellringers have ensured the Devil is driven from the district. They ring discordant peals on the bells and then move outside the Church to turn the "Devil's Stone." This is a massive boulder weighing more than a ton, which, with the aid of crowbars, they turn over, a task that must be symbolic of wrestling with the prince of darkness and it ensures that he is kept away for another year.
Geologists are interested in the origin of the stone. Some Shebbear people have no doubt. They swear that it was dropped by the Devil when he was descending from heaven to hell.
And even during the war years the villagers took no chances. They managed to keep the stone on the turn

FOOD FACTS for expectant mothers

FOOD FACTS for Expectant Mothers

These are your priority foods

As an expectant mother you are entitled to certain priority foods, essential for your own and your child's health. As soon as you have a certificate from your doctor, health visitor or certified midwife, take it or send it with your own ration book to your Food Office. You will then be given a green ration book (R.B.2) modified to meet your special needs. You can start to use this, in addition to your own, directly you have registered with yours shops.

The extras to which the green ration book entitles you are:
MILK: 7 pints a week - at reduced price of 2d. a pint under the National Milk Scheme, or free, according to income. This is in addition to the ordinary allowance of milk on your own ration book.
EGGS: Two shell eggs at each allocation; one on the green book and one on your own.
DRIED EGGS: Six packets every four weeks; four on the green book and two on your own.
MEAT: A half ration of meat on the green book in addition to the full ration on your own.
CONCENTRATED ORANGE JUICE: You can get this at welfare centres, clinics and food offices. A six-ounce bottle costs 5d. You should take a tablespoonful in water every day.
COD LIVER OIL OR VITAMINS A & D TABLETS: You get these also at welfare centres, etc. A bottle of cod liver oil costs 10d, and last six weeks. Tablets are 10d for 45. Take a teaspoonful of cod liver oil or one tablet every day.
If you are entitled to free milk you will also get cod liver oil (or tablets) and orange juice free.

After your baby is born

When your baby is born and the birth has been regisered, take or send both your own ration book and the green ration book to the Food Office. They will be altered to allow the following extras: MILK: The mother of a child under 12 months is allowed 7 pints a week (at full retail price) on her own ration book. The child gets 7 pints a week on his green ration book, at the reduced price of 2d a pint, or free, according to income.
EGGS: Until your child is 6 months you continue to get one egg per allocation on your own ration book and one on the child's green ration book.
All babies from six months to eighteen months can have eggs at the rate of three a week. Take your baby's ration book to the Food Office and you will be given authority to get them. You are of course allowed two packets of dried eggs every four weeks, and children are allowed four packets of dried eggs every four weeks as long as they hold the green book.
MEAT: The child gets a half ration of meat in the green book.
COD LIVER OIL AND ORANGE JUICE: Your baby should have these every day.