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.

Flags, flags, and still more flags!

That was one impression of Appledore on VE Day and the day after. With bunting from pre-war Regattas and with ships’ flags, Appledore presented a very gay scene. From Appledore Quay, the docks and shipping looked a mass of colour. Fairy lights were prominent and pictures of their Majesties and Mr Churchill were to be seen in many windows.

Celebrations at Appledore started on Monday evening, when fairy lights in Irsha Street set the pace and heralded singing, dancing and other frolic – with somebody’s piano out in the street – until 11.30, ending with Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem.

On the Tuesday morning, a Victory peal of bells was rung by the St Mary’s Church bell-ringers. At 10am HM Forces attended a service at St Mary’s the Vicar of Appledore (Rev H C A S Muller) officiating and giving an address, supported by Rear-Admiral H G C Franklin and Comm. Ommaney, Lt Howe, RNVR, presided at the organ. At 11am the schoolchildren of St Mary’s Church School attended a special children’s service at St Mary’s. At 6.30 the bells were rung once more and at 7pm a thanksgiving service took place.

Effigies of Hitler, Goebbels, Mussolini and Co. were to be seen in different parts of Appledore, and with much rejoicing were subsequently burnt.

On Tuesday afternoon, as a result of a solo accordionist playing in the streets, a fine collection was made in aid of the Welcome Home Fund. Starting from South Road, a victory parade of schoolchildren, carrying flags, etc. led by the 1st Appledore Boys’ Brigade, Company and Band, marched through Appledore, stopping at the Park, where after a hymn, and prayer by the Vicar of Appledore, and a short address by the Rev A E Green, children’s sports took place, arranged by Mr J E Harris, Mr J Boyles and others.

On VE night, Appledore hit the heights with bonfires, taking place, the scenes being illuminated with fairy lights. The day after VE Day was somewhat quieter. At 5pm at the Council School, Richmond Road, schoolchildren and members of Appledore Youth Club were entertained to a sumptuous tea, and at about 5.30 people assembled on the Quay to watch the miniature naval review setting off for Bideford. On VE night 2, the frolic of the evening before was re-enacted again, bonfires with rockets and dancing and singing proclaiming the town’s joy at the great news.

15 May 1945

Welcome Home To POW

Presentation At Torrington Ceremony in the Square

Presentation of £20 each coupled with expression of the town’s pleasure at seeing them back home and best wishes for the future, were made to returned prisoners-of-war from Torrington at the largely attended public gathering in the Square on Thursday May 31st. Torrington is thus continuing its gesture of presenting £20 to every repatriated prisoner-of-war from the town.

The money has been raised by the combined Social Committee of the Home Guard by means of various entertainments, the chairman of the committee being Capt F S Kelly and the hon. treasurer and secretary, Mr N L Lockton.

At the ceremony Capt Kelly introduced the Mayor (Ald L S Hutchings), who first took the opportunity of congratulating the Social Committee of the Home Guard for what they had done for various charities. It had been wonderful work raising £465, and his Worship knew it would be of interest to know how the amount had been distributed, which included the following: Mr Ebsworthy’s Prisoner-of War Fund, Toc H, Red Cross Penny-a-Week Fund, Torrington Cottage Hospital, British Legion, National Institute for the Blind, Army Cadet Force, Mrs Grantham’s HM Forces Fund, to the patients at the local Institution, to a piano for the use and entertainment of those at the local Institute, four Challenge Cups, instruments for the Band, and twelve benefits for prisoners-of-war when repatriated.

He wishes to acknowledge the great work of Capt Kelly, of Mr Lockton, and of members of the Committee, and the hard work for the prisoners-of-war by Mrs Eastmond and Mr Charles Ebsworthy.

Col J E Cruickshank, commanding the 24th (Hartland) Batt, Home Guard, which includes Torrington, then handed the gifts of £20 to each of the prisoners – Pte E R Perryman, Sgt T J Hocking, Gnr W C Piper, Radio Officer R J Long, Cpl J Bastone and Pte R Rook.

Full Gazette article dated 12 June 1945

Thanks From Evacuees

Now that evacuees are officially returning to their own homes from reception areas such as ours it is pleasing to place on record their appreciation of the hospitality accorded.

Their thoughts are briefly but none the less sincerely and feelingly expressed in a letter received by a local resident from an evacuee from Surrey. The letter stated “As this is Thanksgiving Sunday I feel I must write to tell how deeply thankful we all feel to you for the sanctuary you gave us all when we needed shelter. All my life I will remember your great kindness to us all’.

Gazette article dated 12 June 1945