On Wednesday 21st October 1914 a Mr. Croydon and others had organised a concert which took place in the Assembly Rooms, a sum of £23 was raised and paid into the bank to form the nucleus of a local Belgian relief fund. Following the concert Mr Bonner announced a meeting would be held at his restaurant on Saturday 24th October to discover what other help could be offered. This meeting was “well attended and enthusiastic” and donations amounting to £5 a week were promised. Teignmouth Steam laundry employees are contributing 5 shillings weekly to the Belgian relief fund and the ladies of Notre Dame School “have kindly offered to educate all Belgian children who arrive in the town, free of charge”.
On Wednesday 3rd November “a dance arranged by the local Belgian Fund Entertainment Committee was held in the Assembly rooms. Messrs. C.Scagell and C.Dyer were M.C.’s to a large company”, from a Western Times report of 06.11.1914.
In January 1915 Teignmouth Post readers discovered that "over 6 millions of people in Belgium are on the verge of starvation”. Fund raising continued with proceeds from a New Year’s Eve ball held at the Assembly Rooms going toward the Belgians at home.
Teignmouth Swimming Club raised £2.9s.6d and for the forthcoming weeks every Sunday evening at the Cinema collections were made for the local Belgian Relief fund. The cinema had raised £26 before ending the arrangement in February.
Early in March a concert by the officers of the East Lancashire Regiment held in Shaldon devoted the funds raised to supporting Belgian refugees in Shaldon. “The selections given by Mons. E.D’Haut (the Belgian accordionist) were much appreciated”. Later in March “several more Belgian families arrived in Teignmouth”.
Princess Marie-Jose's Children's book cover
Local child Arthur Hague remembers that in November 1916 as a present for his 4th birthday he was given a copy of Princess Marie-Joses chidren’s book. The book was published to raise funds to provide milk for Belgian babies behind the Allied front line in Flanders.
The 21st July 1917 saw Belgium’s national day of independence and the refugees organised a collection which raised £24.9s.7d. this sum was divided between the Belgian Red Cross Fund (two-thirds) with the remainder going to the Lord Kitchener Memorial Fund.
