This is a new production of this local story which was first performed in the Parish Church as part of the Crediton festival 2019. We are indebted to the Congregational Church Crediton for the use of their premises for this show.
The Men Who Marched Away remembers and celebrates the contribution made by the people of Crediton and the surrounding villages during the First World War
The story loosely revolves around the Setter family, who sent nine sons off to war. All returned home, but unfortunately one died of wounds received at the battle of Ypres.
It is also the story of Edith Appleton a district nurse living in Crediton at the time.
Set against the background of this increasingly formidable war, people in towns and villages all over the country tried to keep some semblance of normality in their day to day lives. It was difficlut, but life went on. And it wasn’t only the daily routines that kept peoples spirits up. In Crediton there was the Kirton Fair for example. Even the world of Music Hall touched the town and briefly lightened peoples lives.
The so-called Christmas truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe, and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare.
It was never repeated. Future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers threats of disciplinary action. But it served as as heartening proof that, however brief, beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers’ essential humanity had endured.
At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the allied lines across no man’s land, calling out Merry Christmas in their enemies native tongue.
At first the allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed, they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings, and sang carols and songs.
There was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good natured game of football.
Our thanks go to our sponsors for this production. Charlesworth Nicholl, Devon County Council and Helmores.
Also thanks to Leala Watson of CODS and John Hill of Crediton Museum for their research work.
We would also like to remember the late Gillian Ponsford, four times mayor of Crediton. Gillian gave permission to write about her family in this production, and also our thanks go to Dick Robinson great grandson of Edith Appleton.
The Soldier : Rupert Brooke
If I should die, think only this of me
That there’s some corner of a foreign field
That is for ever England. There shall be
In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;
A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,
Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,
A body of England’s, breathing English air,
Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,
A pulse in the eternal mind, no less
Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;
Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;
And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,
In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.
