THORVERTON HISTORY SOCIETY

GUEST speaker at Thorverton History Society was Ciaran Stoker MA, who spoke on the subject of “Belgian refugees in Devon during the Great War”.

The evening started with our chair Barrie announcing that some local history research was to be done and anyone interested in getting involved should contact Graham Wills or Rob Turner.

Our initial project is likely to be an update of a document written nearly 20 years ago on industries in Thorverton and add photographs and maps.

Going back to 1914 Ciaran told us that when Belgium was invaded 250,000 Belgians came to the UK.

It remains the largest ever migrant movement to the UK and every country was expected to play its part.

A lot of the research on the subject was done by volunteers at the South West Heritage Trust using material from government publications, newspapers, personal correspondence and photographs.

The Devon County War Refugee Committee was formed in 1914 and was chaired by Earl Hugh Fortecue. Their offices were in Southernhay West, Exeter. There was also an Exeter branch chaired by the mayor James Owen. However, there were disputes between the City and County committees.

Miss Clara Andrews travelled extensively around the county trying to raise more money and get people to take in more refugees.

Alice Clapp was involved with the Exeter committee and kept a log book for the purpose of tracking people, organising accommodation and provisions. There was an ever present fear that some of the refugees might be spies.

The refugees were often extended families including their domestic staff, men, women, young and old and a diverse workforce that included fishermen, businessmen and agricultural workers.

More than 50 per cent were under 20 years old so school places were needed. However, this could be difficult because of the language differences.

Accommodation was needed and properties around the county were loaned for this use. In Bampton one building housed 16 people including 11 children. There were problems when it was found that one of the men was working on a tug boat in London and not a nearby quarry and earning more money than declared. The family was relocated to London.

A family in Ottery St Mary consisted of husband and wife plus three children. He had been gassed in the war but was a keen gardener and grew many vegetables for local consumption. This family remained after the war and their children married into British families.

Other families returned to Belgium after the war. A Belgian family stayed with a local farming family at South Brent but returned home when it was safe to do so but continued to stay in contact with their host family.

Repatriation started in January 1919 and ran for a period of 6 months. The flow back was via London with many farewell ceremonies. Refugee committees were closed but during their existence there had been much fundraising through fetes, concerts, plays and parades. Strain had been put on transport and railways as well as the logistics of daily life with much hardship for many on both sides.

There had been problems with different languages and religions and differing elements of Belgian society had problems integrating.

There was some discontent where Belgian men of military age were not involved in the military and the war. In Brixham the fishermen got on very well with their fellow fishermen from Belgium, many of whom had managed to bring fishing boats with them. Fishermen were excused army service.

We ended on a local note from Ian Stoyle who produced a newspaper cutting from 1915. Mr Huggins of Canns Farm, Raddon had loaned a large house in Bullen Street, Thorveront to Belgian refugees. Furniture had been loaned by other parishioners and a local committee organised weekly fundraising collections to be made to provide them with money.

Robert Turner