Budleigh Salterton Devon
Memorial stained glass window by G Cooper Abbs showing St Michael Archangel and St George
Figures from the Services are represented, also a ship of the Elizabethan era suggesting the freedom enjoyed in these islands by sea power through the ages.
Correspondence with the Diocesan Registrar during the approval of the design brought up the following points
"The armour behind the knees is wrong and would not work as the leg would not bend with armour behind as well as in front.
A modern ship would be more appropriate between a modern seaman and soldier
The helmsman's great coat should be checked to ensure it is in accordance with the type used".
These recommendations were all ignored.
"This window is dedicated in honoured memory of those who gave their lives in the service of their Country and of those residents who were killed by enemy action during the war 1939 - 45
P R Anstey; H R Bartlett; F A Bedford; F W Bristow; H Bucknell; A E Burch; W E Carter; T C Clack; A W Cooper; R I Critchard; J H V Dale; A E D Davey; N E Dennis; J L Endicott; A F R Evans; H H Gray; J S Harris; S C Hayward; P J R Kitchin; J B Leahy; L T Ley; G J Lockyer; R E Newcombe; C H Palafry; G T Palmer; W F Pannell; A S Pengilley; P Pritchard; F W Richards; D V Saunders; H I Skinner; C F Southcot; F Steward; H S Tanner;
R Warren; A Watkins; R Watson; F I Watts; R Yeats
Residents killed +++
D Ackland; F E Davie; J T Davie; V L Davie; H Evans; D W Hadden; M K Hudson; J Lowe; M A Pine; S Sanders"
+++ Between the start of the Second World War in September 1939 and the end of 1941, civilian casualties on the British mainland far outnumbered those of servicemen fighting at the front.
Government maps made by those planning defence strategies for the UK show that although high civilian casualties were anticipated, it was thought these were most likely to occur in and around London and industrial areas further north. Devon, it was predicted, would remain a relatively safe area and was designated a safe haven for evacuees from other parts. So confident was the government of its predictions that it was not until 1942 that the first consignment of Morrison indoor air raid shelters arrived in Exeter - just 6000 for an entire city. In many rural areas, only as late as 1944 were Anderson and Morrison shelters being made available for the first time; allocation was means-tested so that only the poorest people could be supplied with a shelter free of charge. Budleigh Salterton received its first consignment of air raid shelters at the beginning of 1943 long after its ordeal by air raid had begun.
On the other hand, maps captured after the war plainly show that our enemies had other ideas. The south-west had been a favourite holiday destination among Germans prior to the outbreak of war. Through Nazi eyes, Devon was part of a vital national rail network, connecting other British naval bases to the great dockyard at Plymouth and facilitating troop movement. More importantly, they saw a place where they might inflict damage of another kind. They saw a county steeped in history with a wealth of beautiful architecture which was inhabited by a kindly, peace-loving population - might not the British people be made to feel fear to the point where they considered giving in and surrendering their heritage in order to preserve it? It seemed like a strategy worth trying so, from the very earliest days of the war, Devon experienced dozens and dozens of small raids - called "tip and run" raids locally - when perhaps a one or two planes suddenly flew in over the coast in broad daylight to drop a land mine or a high explosive bomb at random, before abruptly turning tail and heading away again.
- Church of St Peter , Budleigh Salterton Devon
www.devonheritage.org/Places/Budleigh%20Salterton/Civilia...
- Church of St Peter, Budleigh Salterton Devon
Picture with thanks - copyright mhs www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/98911
Budleigh Salterton Devon
Memorial stained glass window by G Cooper Abbs showing St Michael Archangel and St George
Figures from the Services are represented, also a ship of the Elizabethan era suggesting the freedom enjoyed in these islands by sea power through the ages.
Correspondence with the Diocesan Registrar during the approval of the design brought up the following points
"The armour behind the knees is wrong and would not work as the leg would not bend with armour behind as well as in front.
A modern ship would be more appropriate between a modern seaman and soldier
The helmsman's great coat should be checked to ensure it is in accordance with the type used".
These recommendations were all ignored.
"This window is dedicated in honoured memory of those who gave their lives in the service of their Country and of those residents who were killed by enemy action during the war 1939 - 45
P R Anstey; H R Bartlett; F A Bedford; F W Bristow; H Bucknell; A E Burch; W E Carter; T C Clack; A W Cooper; R I Critchard; J H V Dale; A E D Davey; N E Dennis; J L Endicott; A F R Evans; H H Gray; J S Harris; S C Hayward; P J R Kitchin; J B Leahy; L T Ley; G J Lockyer; R E Newcombe; C H Palafry; G T Palmer; W F Pannell; A S Pengilley; P Pritchard; F W Richards; D V Saunders; H I Skinner; C F Southcot; F Steward; H S Tanner;
R Warren; A Watkins; R Watson; F I Watts; R Yeats
Residents killed +++
D Ackland; F E Davie; J T Davie; V L Davie; H Evans; D W Hadden; M K Hudson; J Lowe; M A Pine; S Sanders"
+++ Between the start of the Second World War in September 1939 and the end of 1941, civilian casualties on the British mainland far outnumbered those of servicemen fighting at the front.
Government maps made by those planning defence strategies for the UK show that although high civilian casualties were anticipated, it was thought these were most likely to occur in and around London and industrial areas further north. Devon, it was predicted, would remain a relatively safe area and was designated a safe haven for evacuees from other parts. So confident was the government of its predictions that it was not until 1942 that the first consignment of Morrison indoor air raid shelters arrived in Exeter - just 6000 for an entire city. In many rural areas, only as late as 1944 were Anderson and Morrison shelters being made available for the first time; allocation was means-tested so that only the poorest people could be supplied with a shelter free of charge. Budleigh Salterton received its first consignment of air raid shelters at the beginning of 1943 long after its ordeal by air raid had begun.
On the other hand, maps captured after the war plainly show that our enemies had other ideas. The south-west had been a favourite holiday destination among Germans prior to the outbreak of war. Through Nazi eyes, Devon was part of a vital national rail network, connecting other British naval bases to the great dockyard at Plymouth and facilitating troop movement. More importantly, they saw a place where they might inflict damage of another kind. They saw a county steeped in history with a wealth of beautiful architecture which was inhabited by a kindly, peace-loving population - might not the British people be made to feel fear to the point where they considered giving in and surrendering their heritage in order to preserve it? It seemed like a strategy worth trying so, from the very earliest days of the war, Devon experienced dozens and dozens of small raids - called "tip and run" raids locally - when perhaps a one or two planes suddenly flew in over the coast in broad daylight to drop a land mine or a high explosive bomb at random, before abruptly turning tail and heading away again.
- Church of St Peter , Budleigh Salterton Devon
www.devonheritage.org/Places/Budleigh%20Salterton/Civilia...
- Church of St Peter, Budleigh Salterton Devon
Picture with thanks - copyright mhs www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/98911