Evacuees 1940
billeting officer 21 May 1940
4,000 Evacuees 1940Arrangements for Bideford & Torrington Districts 11 June 1940
Evacuees' Birthday Celebrations at Hostel 1941Evacuees at Queen Street Hostel 01 April 1941
Evacuees' gift to Woolsery 1945Evacuees gift of oak seat to village 26 June 1945
Child populaton rose hundreds overnight 196525 yrs ago Bideford biggest influx 25th June 1965
Happily playing, forgetting Blitz Terrors 1942Toddlers at Carleton House War Nursery 9 June 1942
Christmas for the children in Bideford 19413,000 schoolchildren free cinema show 15 Dec 1941
Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 1941Devon 72 detachment of British Red Cross 14 Oct 1941
Re-evacuated - home 1945unaccompanied children returning home 3 July 1945
Damaged homes left behind 1940appeal for offers of shelter 17 Sept 1940
7 April 1955
American Children's gift 1942Plaque was unveiled 6 October 1942
Thrill for Youth 1941Bideford Evacuees keep fit 1 July 1941
Evacuees 1940billeting officer 21 May 1940
If evacuees should come
21st May 1940
Evacuees: Bideford Borough is due to take 1,500 children and Bideford Rural district 1,000. Mr W J Langford headmaster of Bideford Grammar School is chief billeting officer for evacuees for the borough and joint allocation officer for the two areas.
Town clerk of Bideford Mr F C Backway, who is borough evacuation officer, Mr M J Durant, who is chief reception and billeting officer for the rural district, and Mr C S F Harding, headmaster of Bideford Senior Mixed School, who is detaining officer, he will be busily engaged with teachers, officials and other voluntary workers in seeing that everything possible is done for the children and that they are safely guided to their new homes, following on medical inspection.
4,000 Evacuees 1940Arrangements for Bideford & Torrington Districts 11 June 1940
4,000 evacuees children expected
11th June 1940
The evacuation of children from greater London is to commence on Thursday and this means that Bideford and Torrington districts can expect, according to the allocations previously announced, several thousand of these evacuees.
This great London exodus, which involves about 120,000 children, will take six days to complete. The majority will come to the Westcountry - Cornwall, Devonshire, Somerset and Wales.
Bideford borough was instructed to make arrangements to received 1,500 children; Bideford Rural District, 1,000 children: Torrington Borough 200 children; Torrington Rural District 1,600.
With the arrival of the children and the number of "unofficial" evacuees - elderly people and mothers and children already seeking safety in the town - practically all Bideford's available accommodation will be in use.
Owing to the insufficient response on the part of householders in some districts compulsory billeting powers will have to be exercised.
Evacuees' Birthday Celebrations at Hostel 1941Evacuees at Queen Street Hostel 01 April 1941
Evacuees' Birthday Celebrations at Hostel
1st April 1941
A group of evacuees at the Queen Street, Hostel, Bideford on the occasion of a recent birthday celebration. They were dressed in the costumes of many nations, had a special tea, and concluded with games, entertainment and dancing.
The occasion celebrated three birthdays - those of Leslie Crisp and Jack Everard, two evacuees from London, and Nurse K Humphrey, daughter of the Master and Matron (Mr & Mrs F W Humphrey), who came from Bexhill.
Costumes were made by the matron while others were loaned by members of the W V S.
After tea Mr S R Dark and Mr John Lee entertained the party with conjuring and paper tearing of designes and also provided music for dancing.
Names of people in photograph: In the centre are sitting the Master and Matron and Nurse Humphrey is in the top right hand corner, and Miss Morgan, Mrs Edwards and Mrs Mills (staff of the Hostel) are seen among those standing. Children present are Jack and Colin Everard,...
Evacuees' gift to Woolsery 1945Evacuees gift of oak seat to village 26 June 1945
Evacuees' gift to Woolsery
26th June 1945
Woolsery has a permanent reminder of the happy friendships arising from the great war-time evacuation of 1940-45 for, at a charming little ceremony on June 13th a handsome new oak seat was presented by the evacuees in appreciation of the kindness and hospitality accorded to them by the village.
In the top photograph the Dean Rural (Preb. I L Gregory, Vicar of Hartland) is seen dedicating the seat after having unveiled it. Below Mr C B Griffiths (headmaster of Woolsery School and Billeting Officer for the Parish) is addressing the gathering prior to the unveiling. Behind him stand respresentatives of the Rural District Council, Education Committee, Parish Council and Managers of the School. Photographs by I C Williams, Bideford.
Child populaton rose hundreds overnight 196525 yrs ago Bideford biggest influx 25th June 1965
Child population rose hundreds overnight 25th June 1965
25 years ago Bideford and Torrington districts received the biggest influx they had ever known.
Six consecutive nights long trains brough hundreds of children and helpers to the locality. They were the first official evacuees to be received in the area. Bideford Borough received about 1,100 evacuee schoolchildren in June, Bideford Rural district 750, Torrington Borough 280 and Torrington Rural district 1,220.
Not everyone responded to the voluntary billeting appeal and in a few cases compulsory powers had to be used but, more happily, some people who had at first declined to take in evacuees were so touched when the children arrived that there was a change of heart.
Inevitably there were misfits, but on the whole the children quickly settled happily in their new homes.
There are those on whom the locality cast its spell, who never went back and have almost forgotten they were "Londoners."
Happily playing, forgetting Blitz Terrors 1942Toddlers at Carleton House War Nursery 9 June 1942
Happily playing, forgetting Blitz Terrors 9th June 1942
Tragedy seems far from these happy groups of toddlers, but it cannot help being in the background.
These pictures may serve as a reminder of the great part Devon and other reception areas are playing in caring for the younger generation from more vulnerable areas and of the fact that the war will leave us for many years to come a legacy of stricken lives in need of our warm and practical sympathy.
Photographs show some of the 30 toddlers at Carleton House War Nursery, Buckleigh, where they are being cared for after being rendered homeless, and some, orphans, through Nazi bombing.
A particularly sad case is that of Rita Hay, second right in the bottom group. She is the only survivor of a family of ten.
Christmas for the children in Bideford 19413,000 schoolchildren free cinema show 15 Dec 1941
Christmas for the children in Bideford 15th Dec 1941
3,000 schoolchildren - native and visitors - will have a free Cinema show this Christmas.
Bideford Entertainments Ltd, Strand Cinema and Palace Theatre, Bideford Ltd are repeating their kindness of last year and are giving the whole accommodation of both houses on the morning of December 20th and 24th for this purpose.
The home towns have not forgotten their children evacuated here and to encourage children to remain in reception areas the L.C.C., Metropolitan Boroughs, Croydon, Bristol and Plymouth are all sending financial help for Christmas treats. The local teachers have generously accepted responsibility for raising funds for the Devon children so that native and evacuees will have a combined treat in each school.
Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 1941Devon 72 detachment of British Red Cross 14 Oct 1941
Happy Plymouth Toddlers at Instow 14th October 1941
Devon 72 Detachment of the British Red Cross Society which is the Instow branch of that organisation, has been busily engaged for some months in assisting with the care of some fifty children whose ages range up to 5 years and whose homes have been bombed in Plymouth. In the charming settings of Tapely Park, the residence of Mr John Christie, these children are receiving care and attention watched over by a matron and trained sisters.
The Instow Red Cross nurses, under the capable supervision of Miss W Dobbs, Commandant, have given valuable assistance, not only in the essentials of nursing but in the less spectacular, but none of the less important, tasks in the kitchen when staff has been depleted.
Re-evacuated - home 1945unaccompanied children returning home 3 July 1945
"Re-evacuated" home 3rd July 1945
A mixed atmosphere of happiness excitement, tears and sorrow prevailed on Bideford station when the last big "re-evacuation" this time of "unaccompanied" children returning to their own homes, took place.
The Borough children assembled at the Bethel (by kind permission of the Rev. R H Parsons), where the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford (Ald. and Mrs H W Fulford) addressed them, saying that it was "Au Revoir" and not necessarily "Goodbye." The Chief Billeting Officer of the Borough, Mr A R Blackwell, wished them god-speed and then called for three cheers for the Mayor and Mayoress as representing the foster parents of Bideford and District which, needless to say, were heartily given.
Among those on the station to see the evacuees off were the Mayor and Mayoress of Bideford, Cllrs J H Sharley and J H Bright with their wives, the Chief Billeting Officers of the Districts concerned, evacuation officialls, W V S, ministers and clergy, and many others.
Letter...
Damaged homes left behind 1940appeal for offers of shelter 17 Sept 1940
Damaged homes left behind
17th September 1940
From the bombed areas of London and the south-east coast have come in scores of people to seek haven in this part of the Westcountry.
Some have come under the official schemes - such as mothers with young children - others have come because they have relations or friends in these parts, and there are also those who have come quite unofficially.
Offers of shelter should be addressed to the Mayor of Bideford through the Chief Billeting Officer (Mr W J Langford), Town Hall, Bideford.
Mrs R I Smith, of Peckham, has come with her family of five, two of whom were already in Bideford as evacuees under the government scheme. "Its not war-fare, its murder" declares Mrs Deverill, also of Peckham, who is staying at Chircombe, Northam.
From West Ham, Mrs I Jude, staying at 4, Church Walk, Bideford, said just at the back of her house, which had its windows blown out, there was a time bomb. When they left it had not gone off. They had had no real sleep for...
7 April 1955
Remembered by many friends at Clovelly as Harry, the evacuee who lived for eight years with Mr and Mrs W Beer at Crosslands Farm, Higher Clovelly, Mr H C Clements was married at All Saints’ Church, Fulham, recently to Miss Patricia Mary Baker, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs W Baker, 867a Fulham Road, Fulham.
Mr Clements is the youngest son of Mrs C Clements, 338 Wandsworth Road, Fulham.
The wedding service was conducted by the Rev Dr A G Hawes. The bridesmaid was Miss Claire Baker and Mr L A Clements, brother of the bridegroom, discharged the duties of best man. Messrs S Ellis, J W Baker and T Middleton, friends of the bride and groom, were ushers.
The full Gazette article is dated 7 April 1955
American Children's gift 1942Plaque was unveiled 6 October 1942
American children's gifts 6th October 1942
Another symbol of the ties uniting the English speaking people of America and those of this country, is the plaque at the Queen Street evacuee hostel, Bideford, commemorating the gifts sent to the children of this country by the youth of America. The plaque was unveiled by Mayor of Bideford, Mr G H Braddick.
Mr E Blackwell (Chief Billeting Officer) said the plaque was given by the British War Relief Society of the USA, and commemorated sending £25 worth of toys and gifts from America.
Special praise is due to Mrs Scali for her work and Mrs Symes, the matron at the Duart sick bay and to the matron of the Westcroft Hostel.
People present were: Miss Bates (Devon County Medical Department), Mr F C Stillman (Assistant Billeting Officer, Bideford Rural District), Mr Owen (Deputy Chief Billeting Officer, Barnstaple), a large number of voluntary workers and the children from the hostels at Queen Street and Westcroft.
Thrill for Youth 1941Bideford Evacuees keep fit 1 July 1941
Thrill for Youth, Bideford Evacuees keep fit
1st July 1941
"Mens sana in sano corpore" (a sound mind in a sound body) is a motto taken to heart by Peckham Central School, nearly 250 pupils of which were evacuated to Bideford a year ago and have found wartime school premises at Bideford Baptist Schoolrooms.
Photograph above show a practice on the lawn outside the Baptish School buildings, and it will be seen that movement and thrill are inseparable from their exercises.