During 1917 The Belgian refugees staying in Teignmouth and Shaldon saw life continue with births, deaths, enlistment in the army, petty squabbles and celebrations. The latter event saw the presentation to the people of Teignmouth of an ornamental vase and base as a tribute of gratitude from the Belgian refugees.
1918 was to be a momentous year, the war that was supposed to be over by Christmas 1914 finally came to an end in November, but it would not be until 1919 that the majority of the refugees would return home.
In March 1918 Teignmouth Urban District Council (TUDC) received the annual report of the War Refugees Committee of its work over the past 12 months. The Committee had dealt with 638 people including 180 Belgian soldiers on leave from the front. One young Belgian soldier Leon Lemmons was killed in action, his family were lodging in Teignmouth and thus shared the grief of local British families who had lost loved ones.
The fit and able men amongst the refugees either joined the Belgian army or had been placed in employment locally or sometimes further afield and had become self-sufficient. There were now, in March 1918, 360 refugees residing in Teignmouth and Shaldon and local householders had benefitted from the money paid for those lodgings, with more offers of accommodation than refugees to take it up.
The work of the War Refugees Committee had been monitored during the year by the Central Authorities and praise was given and in particular for the efforts of Secretary Miss Audrey Lynne.
Miss Lynne was to receive further recognition of her work with the refugees later in the year. Firstly the Teignmouth Post reported in June that "His Majesty the King of the Belgians bestowed on Miss Lynne the Medaille de la Reine Elizabeth". Secondly Miss Lynne was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). In July the Refugees celebrated the Belgian National Fete Day and Miss Lynne was again the centre of attention. Following the singing of national anthems Miss Lynne was presented with a silver rose bowl inscribed as "a tribute of gratitude from the Belgian refugees of Teignmouth and Shaldon to Miss Audrey Lynne on the occasion of being awarded the Medaille de la Reine Elizabeth". Proudly wearing the medal Miss Lynne also received a bouquet of sweet peas and made a short speech. After the speeches the crowded Teignmouth Town Hall were entertained with a concert with contributions from the refugees.
During September a member of the Belgian Ministry, His Excellency Count Goblet D'Avilia visited Teignmouth addressing the Belgian refugees and thanking the people of Teignmouth and Shaldon for their very good care and support.
The war was still continuing but the Battle of Amiens during the summer proved a turning point for the Allies who from then on continued to advance. Rumours of a German surrender began to circulate but it wouldn't be until November 11th 1918 that the armistice was signed and the war ended. A service to celebrate peace was held at the Church of Our Lady and St. Patrick in Teignmouth, the church was packed and contained many of the Belgian exiles.
The question now on Belgian lips and perhaps also on the lips of the families hosting them was when would they be repatriated. The question was discussed at December's TUDC meeting and although some refugees from the North-East had reportedly already left no official communication regarding the Devon refugees had yet appeared. In January 1919 responsibility for the repatriation of the refugees transferred to the Local Government board and as a result the work of the local war refugee committees ceased.
You can only imagine the frustration felt by the refugees some of whom had been in Britain for over 4 years as plans to go home dragged on. Hopes were raised when an official announcement declared that arrangements were being made to run a special train for refugees to go from Exeter to Tilbury Docks and on to Belgium. These hopes were dashed as the arrangements had to be postponed due to a lack of available boats.
At last on February 22nd 1919, 232 Belgian refugees started arriving from 7.00 am at Teignmouth station to catch the 8.20 train to Exeter and on to Tilbury Docks. The trains conveyed 1298 refugees from Devon but left an estimated 1000 in poor health behind, 50 of these in Teignmouth and Shaldon.
The recently disbanded War Refugees Committee presented its final report to the TUDC March meeting, with a sort of balance sheet covering the previous 4 years. The total amount of money distributed over the 4 years came to £37,366 distributed to 61 local lodging houses and tradesmen. A total of 1331 individual refugees and Belgian soldiers had been dealt with by the committee. Police Superintendent E.C. Carey explained the Belgian Refugees had given no trouble during their stay. The Committee gave its thanks to the matron and staff of the local hospital and to the station master and his staff for their unfailing courtesy and help during the past four years.
The stone urn presented by the Belgian Refugees sits proudly on the Den a permanent reminder of an extraordinary event caused by the First World War. Restoration of the urn was undertaken in 2018.
Malcolm Tipper
October 2018
