Coastal Defence

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.

Details of proposals for the reorganisation of the Coastguard Service throughout the country, including a total reduction in complement of 179, which are to be discussed by representatives of the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Service Union of which coastguards are members, were recently released.

The Hartland district is planned to include Port Isaac, Boscastle, Bude, Morwenstow, Hartland, Clovelly, Lundy, Westward Ho!, Croyde, Mortehoe, Ilfracombe and Porlock.
Strength would be reduced from six station officers and 16 coastguards to 3 and 12 respectively.
Among proposed changes in types of station are: constant watch to constant night watch, Ilfracombe; constant watch to occasional look-out, Westward Ho!; constant watch to occasional look-out, Croyde.
Members of the Civil Service Union are concerned at the proposals which, they state, must increase the danger to yachts and other small craft and pleasure vessels.
To obtain the strongest case to present at its meeting with the Ministry, the union has written to British yacht clubs asking for any views which they may have on the coastguard service in their areas, and which might be helpful in the discussions.

Gazette article dated 1950

Work on Westward Ho! coast protection 21st October 1949

Coast protection work at Westward Ho! was to commence as soon as possible, Northam Urban District Council were told at their meeting. The preliminary work will involve the construction of groynes for the protection of the gap at the south end of the Pebbleridge and filling in with pebbles removed from the accumulation to the south-west.

Clerk, Mr F W Hockaday reported the firm were ready to start the work. Mr G W G Hutchings said he was pleased to note something is being done. Mr T Fulford complained that the council were "rather in the air" at the moment as to how much money they would have to find themselves. Mr H V Cope asked if it was not time the Ministry were told the work was about to commence on the coast erosion scheme and asked how much grant would be forthcoming.

Rev A E Green asked how much would the council be prepared to pay, he was not hoping for much more than a 75 per cent grant.

Coast erosion - "fair and frank discussion" 18th March 1960

Coast erosion - "fair and frank discussion" 18th March 1960 - Coastal Defence

Much good could come from a meeting between council sub-committee and the Lords of the Manor where a fair and frank discussion on the position relating to the Pebble Ridge and the Burrows, Mr J W Martin (chairman) told Northam Urban Council.

All were gratfeful to Mr Percy Browne, MP for his prompt assistance in the matter, and the Ministry official who visited the locality at short notice "to see what our troubles are."

When Rev A E Green enquired whether there would be a report from the sub committee, the clerk, Mr A Gardner, said that the matter could be discussed more fully by the General Purposes Committee.