An extract from the writings of George Bond, presented to the society by Mary Bond.
George Bond was born in Morleigh on 6th June 1899 and wrote a brief account of his life when in his late eighties. This account is of the time he worked as a Farmers’ boy at Lupton farm, Churston.
Summer evenings were very enjoyable as the farmers son and myself used to go out with a gun rabbit shooting, we also had a football, a gold club and a couple of golf balls. He was very keen on shooting, being a member of the Brixham miniature (not sure this is the word in my fathers’ manuscript) rifle club where he won a miniature (again not sure) rifle as a prize and 10 rounds of ammunition. One day the boss went to Newton market and his son sent me out into the copse where all the rubbish was thrown;- with a basket to pick up all the bottles and tins I could find. In the afternoon we fixed them up on branches and bushes in the quarry and spent the afternoon using nearly all the ammunition. There were questions Asked the next day but, we got out of it alright.
It was 1914 the year that Tagalie had won the Derby. Then came the declaration of war. My young boss was a sergeant in the Devon Yeomanry and was called up. I was the only one out to see him disappear up the line, riding his own mare, carrying all his equipment;- the equipment I had many times help[ed] him clean with saddle soap and burnisher. We never saw either of them again. It was a shame because he was a good man and would have made a good farmer and employer.
A sequel
In Churston Church, by the south door, is a brass plaque in memory of Reginald Wroth of the Devon Yeomanry. It is framed (I think in wood) and depicts a Devon hedgerow.
In the North aisle is the memorial to all those of the parish who perished in two world wars and each year it is honoured by an official tribute of poppies. The plaque by the south door for many years, received one solitary poppy. It came from the lapel of my Father’s jacket.