Clyst St George 31st August 1940

WESTERN MORNING NEWS 2nd September 1940

THE NIGHT OF SATURDAY 31ST AUGUST 1940
CLYST ST GEORGE DEVON

Local newspapers reported the events of the night of Saturday 31st August 1940 when Clyst St George village in Devon fell victim to an enemy bombing raid during the Second World War. Thought to be the first church to be bombed during the conflict by a stray German raider. A number of articles read as follows:
“ Long before the Exeter Blitz of 1942 a small Devon village was the victim of an enemy bombing raid during the Second World War. More than 1000 incendiary bombs dropped on Saturday night destroying the village church, a dwelling house and two thatched cottages nearby, but there were no casualties.
The rural fire brigade turned out promptly, a neighbouring town sent two pumping units and another nearby brigade assisted. “ There must have been hundreds of incendiary bombs dropped” Chief Officer S. Mitchell told reporters “ We drove through showers of them on the way to the fire” When they reached the scene, two thatched cottages at the rear of the George and dragon Inn were burning furiously and a detached house , 900 yards away was ablaze.
A mile of hose was run out to play water on the burning cottages and two others, which adjoined were saved from the flames. Practically all the furniture in the destroyed cottages was saved.
The ancient church was completely gutted. The assumption being that an incendiary bomb fell through the roof and set the organ ablaze. Chief Officer Mitchell mentioned that an incendiary bomb fell through the roof of one thatched cottage but the fire was quickly put out. Another bomb burst through the roof of still another cottage and set some bedding alight but this too was extinguished. Mr Mitchell spoke highly of the fine spirit of camaraderie that inspired the three brigades. “ They all worked like one team” he declared “We had a full and hectic night”

Rich in historical interest the church was formerly a country landmark. The earliest reference to it dating back to the 13th century. Built of red sandstone in the Perpendicular style, the church consisted of a chancel, nave, north aisle, south porch and an embattled western tower containing six bells. It had been restored and re-seated in 1852. Thirty-six years later a new vestry was added, the organ was enlarged and oak choir stalls and a corridor leading to the pulpit were erected. The interior walls were decorated with the Stations of the Cross and all the windows were stained glass. There were many ancient memorials within the church including a brass tablet dated late in the 16th Century. The belfry arches were decorated with 24 coats of arms representing Lords of the Manor from the very early times. The whole of the interior of the church was burnt out, only the outer walls and tower remained standing. The bells which had been re-hung three years earlier remained firm but the mechanism of the clock fell into the aisle. Ironically, in an address on 30/09/1937 to dedicate the bells following retuning and repairs costing some £340, the Bishop of Exeter, Dr C E Curzon, observed that people were not responding to the appeal of the bells as they used to do” This was not he said because they were wicked, but because they were so busily occupied with the cares, riches and pleasures of the world. His Lordship “ trusted the time would come when people would be dissatisfied with all this rushing about and would come back to the House of God” One wonders what his Lordship thoughts were three years later. The rectory which stood a few yards away was undamaged. The stables which contained two cars, one of which was saved and a large quantity of paper which had been collected for salvage were gutted.
There were reports of timely acts and heroism that saved further destruction: The rector of a neighbouring parish who was also a sergeant in the Special Constabulary was one of the first on the scene. He saw an incendiary bomb blazing in the porch of the church. Wrapping it up in the doormat, he picked it up and hurled it into the churchyard.
A twelve year old boy, Joe Chown of 3 Model Cottages living with his parents John & Ethel saved a nearby cottage from destruction by quick action. “I was asleep when the bomb fell on the bed right beside me” he told reporters “ I jumped out of the bed and helped Dad downstairs. Then I ran into the garden and got a bucket of soil and smothered the bomb with it. It kept flaring up and shooting out sparks at me, but I managed to get it out in the end” Joe Chown died in 1970 in Exeter aged 42.
The two thatched cottages which were burnt out adjoined the main road and can be seen in the very early picture of the George and Dragon Inn. The houses were occupied by farm workers Mr and Mrs Victor George and Olive Broom, their son and mother-in-law, and Mr & Mrs Jesse and Julia Alice Loosemore who were all rendered homeless. The alarm raised by a neighbour who saw a bomb drop on the cottages and a fire start.
“ I had just dropped off to sleep” Mrs Broom told reporters “ when I was awakened by Mrs Loosemore shouting fire and to get out quickly. I jumped out of bed. My husband took the boy and we all hurried downstairs. Within a few minutes the burning roof collapsed. The flames seemed to take the house in one leap” Mr Tom Gibbings who resided in the neighbourhood said first he heard a whistling noise “I thought it was a bomb” he said” and I immediately went into the porch. I saw flares of light all the way round. I opened the door and shouted to the wife to bring the children down. Bombs were flying in all directions. There seemed to be hundreds of them and I put out half a dozen which fell near the house. Bombs were alight all along the hedges and some even in the middle of the road”.
The house of Mr James Frederick Wilcocks an air raid warden and his wife Ethel Anne was completely destroyed on the site of the present day Spurbarn. Later he and Mrs Wilcocks were accommodated at the neighbouring farm of a relative. Mrs Wilcocks said the first thing she saw was the vicinity of the house lit up and on investigation found an incendiary bomb ablaze. She seized a shovel and tried to put it out. On looking round she saw that another bomb had penetrated the roof of the house. She telephoned for help and while this was on its way a number of ex-servicemen arrived. “ They did wonders” she said “ They could not save the house, however, but helped to take out some of the furniture. ARP workers managed to stop the flames spreading to the garage and other outbuildings”
A dance was in progress at the George and Dragon Inn when an incendiary bomb hit the flat roof but it was successfully dealt with. One spectator compared the scene to “ Dante’s Inferno”. “ They fell like a firework display” he said.
During Sunday afternoon and evening hundreds of people visited the village. Residents went around with collecting boxes inscribed” Please help those whose homes have been destroyed by the Nazis” Among notices on the door of the Parish Hall where an evening service was being conducted by the Bishop of Exeter was one headed “A Spitfire a day keeps the Germans away”
The Bishop in his sermon said anything like hatred or detestation for the act that had been committed was out of place. They should register all the more deeply their determination to do what they could by prayer and service to uproot an evil thing. Until that was done there could be no tolerable life for men who loved freedom and righteousness. Services were then on held in the village hall until the church could be repaired. The church costing £15000 to rebuild was rededicated on the 4th July 1952 by Dr R C Mortimer Bishop of Exeter.

WESTERN MORNING NEWS 3rd September 1940

WESTERN MORNING NEWS 3rd September 1940

Incendiary bomb in the flat roof of the St George and Dragon Inn 31st August 1940

WESTERN MORNING NEWS 3rd September 1940

EXPRESS AND ECHO 11th April 1951

INCENDIARY BOMB IN THE CHURCH PORCH

Scores of incendiary bombs dropped on Clyst St George on the night of 31st August 1940 destroying several houses in the village and the rectory stables.One incendiary bomb dropped inside the church organ setting fire to the church that was completely burnt out.

Do visit the really beautiful parish church of Clyst St George.Always warm inside and welcoming.Wonderfully maintained grounds and church.