The second Christmas since the Armistice, but the shadow of the War is still affecting the lives of local people. Although many families have been reunited, the papers this month contain several reports of the deaths of servicemen returning from active service, TB and influenza being rife on the transport boats.
Payments into the Bideford War Memorial fund have reached £1,000 but an editorial in the Gazette expresses regret that there are many who have not yet subscribed.
Food rationing is still an issue, with frequent announcements from the Ministry of Food. Supplies of poultry for Christmas will not be large. Turkeys are scarce and are likely to fetch high prices. The Ministry has reminded dealers that the order fixing maximum prices for poultry and game is applicable to the whole of the UK. Some people have been trying to obtain supplies from Ireland by offering more than the controlled price. Attempts to obtain prices in excess of these are illegal and offenders are liable to heavy penalties. Several local butchers have already been prosecuted and fines of up to £50 imposed.
Control over food supplies could last for a further three years. There is still a world-wide shortage of sugar and butter. As a result the butter ration has been reduced to one ounce per head per week.
Local traders are doing the best they can with supplies which are freely available. Farleigh’s Stores has raisins for 1s 4d per pound, with sultanas costing 1s 6d. Ready-made puddings in white basins are available in two sizes, priced at 2s 3d and 3s 11d. A variety of nuts is also on sale, together with plums, prunes, oranges and grapes. A bottle of raisin, orange or ginger wine would cost you 2s 6d.
W C Talbot, wine and spirit merchant of 1 High Street, Bideford, thanks his numerous customers for the return of all empties, so that he can prepare for the Christmas trade.
The Government has proclaimed a double Bank Holiday, with Saturday 27 December being an additional day off. Large congregations were seen at all church and chapel services. Bideford and District Hospital entertained patients and staff to turkey, plum pudding and mince pies, followed by a musical entertainment and special cakes for tea.
Mr Wm Copp, delivery agent for the London and South Western Railway, gave a supper to his employees at Ashton’s Hotel, Well Street, Torrington. The food was supplied by the Misses Ashton and the evening concluded with votes of thanks and the singing of the National Anthem.
In other news:
Bideford Town Council has been trying to come to a decision on a new uniform for the Town Crier. At present he has two outfits, one “a full knee-britches affair”, the other a working suit with cap. A sub-committee comprising the Mayor and Councillors Cann, Heywood and Chope finally concluded that the cost of two outfits was too great, so one decent uniform will be provided.
There was an exceptionally crowded attendance at the first of a series of Popular Sunday Evenings for the People, being held at the Palladium Cinema in Mill Street, Bideford. These have been arranged in order to stop the young people from running about the streets on Sunday evenings.
In an echo of past times, Robert Yeo of Manchester House, Bideford, is selling Maid’s overalls for 3s 11d and Maid’s dresses for between 9s 11d and 12s 11d.
Finally, the RNLI has decided that the “pulling and sailing boat” at Number 1 station (Appledore) will be replaced with a motor lifeboat. Number 2 station (Braunton) will be dismantled and closed. There will not be a financial saving but it will be more efficient, with the boat able to go out in any wind and at any state of the tide.
(A shilling in 1919 would be about £2.50 today, and a penny (d) would be roughly 20p, but online calculators vary.)