People

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.

December 1945

4 December 1945

Eastman – on November 29th 1945 at The Nursing Home, Torrington, to Margaret (nee Stacey) wife of Dvr J H Eastman, a sister for Sheila (Jean Margaret).

Purcell – on November 20th at 7 Joy Street, Barnstaple, to Lavinia (nee Vaughan), wife of Cpl J Purcell, RAF, the gift of a daughter.

Clark-Usher – the engagement is announced between Victor, younger son of Mr and Mrs E J M Clark, Dalhousie, Chudleigh Avenue, Bideford, and Edna, youngest daughter of PC and Mrs Usher, Avalon, Alcombe, Minehead.

Moody-Hallett – on December 4th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Appledore, by the Rev J S Shenton, Hector O’S. Moody, of Marine Parade, Appledore, to Kate Hallett, of South Street, Newport, Barnstaple. Present address 58 Richmond Park Road, East Sheen, London, SW14

11 December 1945

Godbold – on December 3rd at Oakville, Market Street, Appledore, to Ella (nee Prout), wife of W Godbold, the gift of a daughter, Marjorie.

Perkins – on December 7th at the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to Mr and Mrs A C Perkins, of Cross Park, Woolsery, the gift of a daughter, Elizabeth.

Ploof – on December 9th at 2 Garfield Terrace, Bideford, to Betty (nee Moore), wife of Francis L Ploof, USA, the gift of a son, Francis Robert.

Eveleigh-Bennett – on Monday December 3rd 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, L/Cpl V B Eveleigh, of Winchester, to Florence Freda Bennett, of 9 Elm Grove, Bideford.

Hutchinson-Anderson – on December 1st 1945 at Burnt Oak, NW, Alexander Caldwell Hutchinson, B.Se, AMI MechE, of Tower House, Orchard Hill, Bideford and Geraldine Anders, MRCS, LRCP, of Hendon.

Jones-Daniel – at Bideford, Violet, youngest daughter of Mr E Daniel, of Park Lane, Bideford, to Jack Jones, of London.

Ebsworthy-Redcliffe – on December 11th 1920 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by the Rev Parsons, Frank Ebsworthy to Florence May Redcliffe. Present address: 20 Barnstaple Street, Bideford, E.

18 December 1945

Babb – on December 14th at the Grenville Nursing Home, to Mr and Mrs Cyril Babb, of Rose Terrace, Buckland Brewer, a daughter.

Bennett – on December 15th to Mary, wife of Surg-Lieut. Douglas H Bennett, RNVR, a daughter.

Buckley – on December 8th to Cpl and Mrs L Buckley (nee Winnie Copp), the gift of a daughter, Marion Patricia Mary, a sister for Joy.

Copp – on December 16th to Mr and Mrs V J Copp, of 8 Chudleigh Avenue, Bideford, a daughter.

Hocking – on December 14th to Mabel (nee Smith), wife of Petty Officer Hocking, RN, a son, David Alec.

Johnson – on December 14th at Woodhayes Nursing Home, Exeter, to Mary (nee Bull), wife of Lieut C A Johnson, DSc, RN, a son.

Norman-Kurr – the engagement is announced between William Edward, RN, aboard HMS Redpole, only son of Mr and Mrs W E Norman, West Barton Cottages, Horwood, near Bideford, and Thelma, only daughter of Mr and Mrs Kurr, of Pashely Street, Balmain, NSW, Australia.

Cope-Fair – on December 4th at Haileybury College Chapel, Hertford, by the Rev W H M Wathen (bride’s uncle), assisted by Rev Canon E F Bonhote (headmaster of Haileybury) and the Rev W RL Lloyd, Lieut George Edmund Thackwell Cope, eledest son of Capt H V Cope, of Hanley, Bideford and the late Mrs E K Cope, to Camilla Esme Fair, eldest daughter of Major and Mrs Charles H Fair, of Trevelyan, Haileybury College, Hertford. A report on the wedding can be found HERE (opens in new window)

Symons-Matthews – on December 8th at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, by Preb. W N Manning (Rector of Bideford), Sigmn. A J (Bruce) Symons, Royal Corps of Signals, only son of Mr and Mrs H Symons, 11 Salem Street, Barnstaple, to Vera M Matthews, only daughter of Mr and Mrs W Matthews, of 3 Wimborne Terrace, Bideford. A report on the wedding can be read HERE (opens in new window)

24 December 1945

Bentall – on December 18th to Gertrude (nee Madge), wife of Denis Bentall, the gift of a son, John Stuart.

Pearce – on Saturday December 15th at 32 Manston Road, Exeter, to Joyce (nee Friendship), wife of Hugh Pearce, a son, David Hugh.

Tredwen - on December 20th at Wreneaton, Belvoir Terrace, to Gladys (nee Facey), wife fo Mr R C Tredwen, the gift of a daughter, Diane.

Fowler-Schillers – the engagement is announced between Miss Florence Schillers, youngest daughter of Mrs Schillers of 35 Torrington Lane, Bideford, and Mr G W Fowler, of 4 Horne Park Road, Ilfracombe (RAF).

Purchase-Fulford – the engagement is announced between Jack, only son of Mr and Mrs D N Purchase, of Great Hele, South Molton, and Phyllis Doreen, second daughter of Mr and Mrs W J Fulford, of Horwood, Monkleigh.

Articles published in the Gazette December 1945

Births, Engagements and Marriages

27 March 1945

Bennett – March 20th at 15 Lime Grove, Bideford, to Joan (nee Copp), wife of Cpl Bennett, RAF, a daughter, Judith Ann.
Pound – March 19th to Joan (nee Headon), wife of Sergt Pound, RA, a daughter, Susan Ellen, at Castle Hill Nursing Home, Maidenhead.
Wilkinson – March 20th to Audrey and Claude Wilkinson, a son, Nikolas Clive.

Pullman-Hardman – engagement is announced between Capt Cecil F Pullman, The East Surrey Regt, son of Mr and Mrs Frank Pullman, Old Hedges, Churt, Surrey, and Hilda Desiree, only child of the late Lt-Col R S Hardman, RFA, DSO, and Mrs Hardman of Glenside, Bideford.

Way-Heslop – marriage arranged between Lieut J S Way, son of Mr and Mrs Stanley Way, Fernwood, Bideford, and Molly, only child of Mrs and the late Mr Heslop, Doncaster, will take place on March 31st.

Seed-Jackson – March 20th 1945, at the Parish Church, Bideford, by the Rev Preb W N Manning, Joan Audrey, WRNS, daughter of Lt-Commander and Mrs R G Jackson, Appledore, and Westcliff-on-Sea, to John Oswald, RM, son of Mr and Mrs J R Seed, Abbotsham Road, Bideford.

Blight-Stoneman – March 24th 1920 at Alwington Methodist Church, Frances Stoneman to Ernest Blight. Mr and Mrs Blight now reside at Knotty Corner, Fairy Cross, Bideford.
Patt-Steer – March 29th 1920 at the Parish Church, by the Rev Newton Leeke, Alfred John Patt to Hilda Steer. Present address: 8 Avon Road, Bideford, E.

Births, Engagements and Marriages

27 November 1945

Hocking – November 20th 1945 at 95 Irsha Street, Appledore, to Ruth (nee Evans), wife of CPO Hocking, RN, a son, Barrie Charles.
Langmead – November 21st at Cory House, Fore Street, Stratton, to Irene (nee Grills), wife of D E Langmead, 35 Sentry Corner, Bideford, a son.

Clegg-Babb – engagement is announced between Gunner Eric Clegg, son of Mrs Clegg and the late Mr Clegg, Hulme, Manchester, and ACW Gwen Babb, WAAF, daughter of Mr and Mrs George Babb, 20 Bowden Green, Bideford.
Little-Turner – engagement is announcement between Thomas, only child of Mr and Mrs James Little, Elm Grove, Bideford, and Margaret, only daughter of M G J Turner and the late Mrs Turner, Romford, Essex.

Mitchell-Friendship – November 7th 1945 at St Mary’s Church, Bideford, L/Cpl C J Mitchell, son of Mr and Mrs J T M Mitchell, 3 Meddon Street, to Winifred Rose Friendship, daughter of Mr P J Friendship and the late Mrs E Friendship, 7 Trafalgar Place.