Commemorative

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.

Some of Torrington’s joyful scenes marking VJ are seen in the pictures.

The top picture was taken in the Square on VJ day and shows the dancing after the official proclamation had been made. Young and old joined with zest.

Although the tea given to the schoolchildren on the following day had to be transferred to the Drill hall because of rain, instead of being held in the Square, this was certainly not allowed to mar the happiness or success of the occasion. There was a wonderful response to the donation for the tea.

A similar success was the tea, also in the Drill Hall on the same day, given to Old-Age Pensioners. The Mayor and Mayoress (Ald and Mrs L S Hutchings), who so ably led the VJ rejoicing, are seen in the pictures, the Mayor standing on the extreme left in that of the children’s tea and the Mayoress on the extreme left of that of the pensioners’ tea.

Torrington’s VJ Variety

Bonfires – Dancing – Fancy Dress – Teas

Torrington certainly had its fair share of VJ Day joy! Bonfires – dancing – fireworks – fun – all had a place in the festivities. Just after the announcement of the surrender of Japan, a large number of people paraded through the streets singing, etc. amid the bangs of fireworks.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Mayor of Torrington (Ald L S Hutchings), speaking in the Square, said that as Mayor of that ancient borough it was his proud duty to announce that the long-awaited day had at last arrived. ‘The greatest war in the world’s history is over’ he declared, ‘and the United Nations today rejoice in victory over enemies who for years have perpetrated crimes which have shocked the civilised world. Everyone has been called upon to suffer many hardships. The cruel mark of the war has been impressed upon us. We have met today not only to celebrate the great victory, which by the grace of God the heroic men and women of the United Nations have won, but also to express our sincere gratitude to God, who has given us a great victory. Our hearts must also go out to that heroic band of those who will never return, and to those who will carry wounds to the grave. Let us not this day in our celebrations forget them or those who suffer with them. For us all in this dear borough, it should stimulate our thanksgiving that we have been spared the horrors of bombing from the air which befell many of our beautiful cities and towns. The war is won. We are at the end of the most astonishing military campaigns in the history of warfare. Yet now, while we give thanks for deliverance, there are other thoughts that occur to our minds. We are at the end of the intolerable state of warfare, but let us all in future go forward with the determination and resolution to achived the preservation of civilisation and a world at peace’.

His Worship went on to say how proud he was to be making the announcement that the world was at peace once more. ‘The war has ended during my term of office’ he declared, ‘and as an ex-Serviceman of the last war, I sincerely appreciate the great honour of being your chief citizen. I have now completed nine months of office and I am deeply indebted for the great assistance I have received from the Mayoress (Mrs L S Hutchings) and the valuable help and cooperation of so many friends in a very hard and difficult period. Let us all remember we have still a great task to complete. We have a sacred duty to do to the men and women still serving. We must not have a repetition of the year 1919. We must see that they back to a job of work to do, with a fair wage, a decent standard of living, and homes fit for them to liven in. We have throughout the war borne ourselves as becomes the sons and daughters of a great country. Let us still carry on the great tradition in the difficult change from war to peace.’

A united service of thanksgiving was held immediately afterwards in the Square, conducted by the Vicar (Rev C J Barker) and other clergy, followed by floral dancing and modern and old fashioned dances till early the next morning.

A fancy dress parade was also held, the results being: 1. Mayoress of Torrington (Mrs L S Hutchings) and Mrs A Sanders (flower girls); 2. Mrs A N Thacker and Mr A Gilbert (Pearly King and Queen); highly commended: Mr E Rook (old lady with child). Thanksgiving services were held in the churches on Wednesday and Thursday evening and the Church bells were rung.

On Thursday, owing to the inclement weather, dancing could not take place, but the Home Guard Band, who, with three other dance bands were in attendance throughout all the celebrations, rendered selections in the Square.

Over 400 children and 150 old age pensioners, including patients from Torrington Public Institution, were entertained to a fine tea, given at short notice by the inhabitants of Torrington, and at which the Mayor made short speeches. The Home Guard Band were in attendance and rendered selections throughout.

This was followed by dancing in the Square and a floral dance through the main streets of the town to the old Bowling Green, where several thousand people participated in community singing and dancing around a huge bonfire, and then back to the Square where dancing, etc. took place until the early hours.

Children’s sports in the Vicarage field took place on Friday, and on Saturday, a carnival was followed by dancing in the Square, which was specially flood-lit and decorated for these occasions.

On Sunday afternoon a united service of thanksgiving was held in the Parish Church, conducted by the Vicar and other clergy, at which the Mayor and Corporation attended in state, accompanied by other public bodies.

Gazette article dated 21 August 1945

Despite the expectation of Japan’s early acceptance of surrender, the streets of Northam were dark and empty just before midnight on Tuesday.

But, within a very short time of the official announcement a complete change took place. Lights appeared in the windows and voices could be heard calling, ‘It’s all over, Japan has given in’. Then followed the music of an impromptu band and choir parading the streets.

Early on Wednesday morning villagers were busy with decorations. Services of thanksgiving and prayer were held in Parish Churches. In the evening the streets were crowded people wending their way to the Square where dancing to the accompaniment of music from a Radio Van was carried on until well past midnight.

Thursday night saw the culmination of the celebrations when a fancy dress parade enlivened the streets with its bright colours. On Bone Hill a bonfire was lit and then followed dancing on the Square as on the previous night.

One and all entered into the spirit of final victory and a thoroughly enjoyable time was spent by old and young. The village’s thanks are due to those tradesmen who organised the festivities on both evenings.

Gazette article dated 21 August 1945