Armistice – How The News Was Received

When the Armistice was signed 100 years ago today, many took to the streets in celebration. This article was written by one of the North Devon Herald's journalists and describes the scenes in Barnstaple on that memorable day. "PEACE HAS BROKEN OUT!"I was in the midst of a shorthand transcript in the reporters' sanctum of …

Home From Dujailah – Braunton Sergeant’s Experiences in Mesopotamia

In August 1916 one of the journalists from the North Devon Journal visited Sergt. George Kerswell in Braunton. George Kerswell was born in Dunsford, near Exeter, in 1878 before moving to Braunton. By the time he went to war he had a wife, two sons and a step-daughter and was in the thick of the …

The Priscott Twins

Fred and Reg Priscott, twin brothers, served with the 1st 6th Devons in both India and Mesopotamia during the First World War. Born 18th October 1895, in Barnstaple, they were the Regiments only serving twins. Before the war both Frederick John and Reginald James Priscott were working for local furniture maker Shapland and Petter and …

Mervyn Ninnis – Trenches Like Canals

Whilst scanning items for our North Devon War Items project on our Facebook page, I came across several stories about the men who served in the war which made me want to find out more about them. One of these men was Mervyn Ninnis of the Devonshire Regiment. Born on the 9th January 1889, in …

North Devon Men in the Great Naval Battle

In this second post to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland  is a transcript taken from the North Devon Journal published the following week. In its report covering the battle the Journal published information about those who survived as well as those who did not... In the Great Naval battle on May …

The Battle of Jutland – The Toll of the Brave

In the first of two posts covering the Battle of Jutland 100 years ago today we have a transcript of an article from the North Devon Herald. The next post will be a transcript taken from the Herald's rival paper, the North Devon Journal. Published almost a week after the event both published news regarding …

Failing To Register Aliens

More from those Troublesome Aliens as Mrs Ellen Dyer of Summerland Street is brought before the bench for failing to register two Belgian musicians who were lodging with her in this article from the North Devon Herald... At the Barnstaple Borough Sessions on Thursday, before the Mayor (Councillor F. A. Jewell), Messer. H. Barrett, G. …

Discover the Battle of Dujailah & the 1/6th Devons…On Our Shelves

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Dujailah. While it remains one of the less well known battles of the First World War, but for North Devon it was one of the worst. Some 49 officers and men were killed from the 1/6th Devonshire Regiment in one day and hundreds more died as a …

Sixth Devons -Leaving Lahore for Active Service

The following article taken from the North Devon Herald includes another letter from one of the Priscott twins who were serving in the 1/6th Devonshire Regiment. By the time it was published they had already arrived in the Persian Gulf and were making their way from Basra to Sheikh Saad on foot...Barum Athena The 1/6th …

6th Devons in Persian Gulf – Barumites Who Hope to Reach Bagdad

Twin brothers Fred and Reg Priscott were members of the 1/6th Devonshire Regiment a Territorial Regiment which drew it's numbers from Barnstaple and North Devon. By Christmas 1915, the Regiment had already spent a year in Lahore, India, before they received orders which would see them sent to Mesopotamia and the Persian Gulf... Mr. and Mrs. …