Torrington

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.

Torrington's charity group, the 1st Company of Cavaliers, have been accused of cutting down trees on the river bank that they had agreed to leave standing.

The Cavaliers have been clearing brush and trees from the area in preparation for the water carnvial to be staged during the October Fair and also to give a better view of the river from Castle Hill. Representatives of Torrington Anglers Association and the Commons Conservators met the Cavaliers on the river bank and it was agreed to leave certain trees. These were marked with a white cross.
Now the Angling Association have complained that the trees have been felled and a meeting of all three organisations has been arranged for tonight.

Mr John Quick of Torrington

Mr John Quick, who is a postman, was formerly employed for 30 years by a local glove factory.

He has given many years service to public work. During the last war he served with the 2nd Devons, being severely wounded at Neuve Chappelle in France in 1915. He is a past president of the local branch of the British Legion and for many years has been a representative on the Exeter and Barnstaple War Pensions Committee.
For some eight years he has been a member of Torrington Town Council and he has served on the Town Trustees for about 15 years, being this year’s chairman. He is also a Commons Conservator. In August 1939 he was appointed a magistrate for the Borough of Torrington.

Gazette article 13 July 1943

Col J E Palmer to be new Sheriff of Devon

The new Sheriff of Devon is to be Lieut-Col Joseph Eric Palmer, of Rosemoor, Torrington.

He was chosen by the Queen on Thursday of last week when she appointed the 1964 Sheriffs of England and Wales by pricking the roll of Sheriffs with a gold handled steel bodkin.
At Rosemoor, Col Palmer farms 400 acres, the holding including some woodlands. Twice Mayor of Torrington, he is chairman of the local Bench of magistrates, a member of the Town Council and local representative on Devon County Council. He is a member of many local organisations and committees. For 30 years he served in the Territorial Army, for most of that time in the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry. For his part in the landings in France he was awarded the French Croix de Guerre and mentioned in despatches. He holds the Territorial Decoration with bars. After the war he for some time commanded the North Devon Regiment of the Royal Devon Yeomanry, RA, TA.
His wife, whom he married in 1939, was formerly Lady Anne Walpole, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Orford.

Gazette article dated 3 April 1964