The main focus this month is on the Peace celebrations and we are including two posters that appeared several times in the paper during July.

In London a wood and plaster War memorial is unveiled in Whitehall for the parade on 19th July. The Portland stone Cenotaph was built a year later.

Peace celebrations were taking place in every town and village around the area and all were faithfully reported in the Gazette.

The General Early Closing Order was suspended for Friday 18 July, allowing shops to stay open for as long as they wished to, offsetting the losses due to the closures on the Saturday.

Northam Council had decided to provide tea for children aged 3 – 14 and will also write a letter to each of those who suffered bereavement due to the War. The former Bideford to Bude stagecoach, pulled by four horses and driven by Mr Parsons, fetched children from Westward Ho! to Northam Square to join the party. It is reported that “the sound of the horn and the get-up made a fine show”.

In Appledore, the day began with a peal on the bells, conducted by the Captain, Mr W Down. At 11am, the adults attended a service at the Parish Church whilst the children had their own service in the Congregational Church. After lunch a procession of children and demobilised soldiers and sailors will pass through the village, where many houses had been decorated in their honour. A prize was given for the best decorated house. Dancing in the evening rounded off the celebrations, the cost of which would be met by voluntary contributions.

If you would like to find out how your community marked this special day, come and visit us at the Archive.