EVACUEE CHILDREN VISIT EXETER, 1940.

Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War seventy-five children who had been evacuated from London to Exmouth  came by train, with their teachers, to visit Exeter.   They were from Lambeth and Waterloo and they were, says a report in the Express and Echo, (Wednesday 27th March 1940) "thrilled at the prospect of seeing ancient buildings and of having history combined with holiday."

Their schedule was a demanding one.  They started with a tour of St Nicholas Priory.   Their guide there was the Curator , at that time a Miss Upright.   I feel sure she lived up to her name.  Next, the Bishop of Crediton, no less, took them round the Cathedral and they were then given lunch in the Cathedral Rest Rooms.  Thence they were taken to the Guildhall where Mace-Sergeant W.E. Lovick showed them the Cap of Maintenance and the Sword of State and talked to them about the hall, the city regalia and the famous paintings on the walls. After this they were let loose in Rougemont and Northernhay where "they made Athelstan's Tower resound with Cockney accents." 

I read this report with a curious feeling of loss.  No doubt the reality of a party so large of children so young was as chaotic then as it would be today but the impression I received was of an England where children were actually interested in their nation's history and where good citizens were willing and able to show and share the city's glories and  to demonstrate their own civic pride.  

CAPTAIN REDVERS BULLER'S VICTORIA CROSS

 

A week or two ago it seemed that Exeter City Council were going to move the magnificent statue of Redvers Buller in order to protect the sensibilities of those Exeter College students, a minority surely, who are offended by his presence at their gates.  Fortunately this is now not likely to happen and we shall not probably need to mount a 'LEAVE SIR REDVERS WHERE HE IS! - MOVE EXETER COLLEGE!' campaign.

Yes, there was once a British Empire.  The conversation will continue as to how much harm or good it did to the causes of humanity, (whatever they are!)   But there can be no doubt that its servants were often great men, brave and courageous, who endured hardships and overcame tremendous difficulties.  We do well to remember them.  Buller was such a man.    And the artists who commemorated such men and women were skilful craftsmen whose work lives on.  

 This article (my bold type) is from the Durham County Adviser - Friday 13 October 1899:

"SIR REDVERS BULLER

Sir Redvers Buller comes of an old Devonshire family. and had he wished it he might have lived the life of a country gentleman.   But he early decided otherwise, and was wearing the Queen's uniform at nineteen.   Eagles do not catch flies" is the proud motto of his house.   Archibald Forbes, in speaking of Buller's achievements in the Zulu war, says:- 'Here was a man with some six thousand a year, a beautiful house in fair Devon waiting for his occupation, a seat in Parliament all but secured; and yet for the patriotic love of leading that strange medley of reckless adventurers he was living squalidly in the South African veldt,  sleeping in the open for three nights out of the six with a single blanket thrown over his body, his hands so disfigured by cattle sores, the curse of the veldt, that I never saw them not bandaged up.   With his intrepid heroism he had saved the lives of so many of his men that in talking to them, it almost seemed that he had saved all their lives." Sir Redvers Buller, who is just sixty has, it is said, seen more active service than any soldier in Europe.  It was on March 28th 1879, after the retreat from Isandlwana, (says a military writer in "The Gem") that Redvers Buller gained the Victoria Cross.  He had been making one of his intrepid reconnaissances when his men were suddenly surprised by the approach of a large number of Zulus.  It was necessary to retire.  But never for a moment did Buller lose his coolness and calmness.  The Zulus came down the hill in hot pursuit.  Man after man fell before their assegais or were buried under the dislodged boulders.   Captain D'Arcy wa one of the first to fall.  Buller rescued him from his assailants placed him on the back of his horse, and galloped off with him to a place of safety.  Scarcely had he returned when Lieutenant Everitt was dismounted and once again he snatched him from the ground and bore him to the rear,  And yet again, seeing a wounded trooper whose doom seemed assured. he also carried him off the field when the enemy was within a hundred yards of their prostrate victim.  For this almost superhuman feat he now bears the coveted bronze badge."