Helping at the operating theatre during wartime
Volunteering with Toc H in Exeter and St. Thomas
By Dennis Till
During World War Two, the Exeter branch of Toc H - a nationwide Christian community organisation - provided extra hands at a local hospital and offered facilities for servicemen and women at its meeting house up the hill from the train station. Dennis Till interviewed his older brother about his involvement with the group. Dennis, who was roped in to help, too. when he was on leave from the Navy, said in a letter: "After the war, I became a member of the Toc H at Branches in Launceston, Bridport and Chard, where I found employment after leaving the Navy."
Later, Mr Till was very active with the St. Thomas branch of Toc H, and is donating his collection of documents about those days to the Devon Record Office. Page transcribed by Ruth Gidley
Here are the memories of W.E.M. Till, recorded by his brother:
The early years
The branch at Exeter was one of the first to be formed in 1922. I joined in November 1935 when it was 60 strong with half under 20 years old and Arthur Nichols (headmaster of Hele School) was chairman. Other prominent members were Henry Michelmore and Godwin Michelmore, both becoming Mayor of the City, and also the governor of Exeter prison who's name escapes me. And Jack Chudley (head of a local printing firm). The Rev. Marcus Knight was a member when priest/vicar of Exeter Cathedral and subsequently became Dean of Exeter.
We met weekly at 42 St. David's Hill and once a month had a short service in St. Martin's Church in the Cathedral Yard, followed by a cooked meal at number 42. There were about 60 members. 42 St. David's Hill also housed the SW area officers of TOC H.
Weekend outings
We used to conduct a Sunday service at the Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Hospital. We used to give a weekly film show for the patients and took them out on Saturday afternoons, in spinal carriages or wheelchairs. This was to Exeter City football matches or down to the river at Salmon Pool Lane.
Just before the 2nd World War several members living in the St. Thomas and Wonford areas hived off to form separate branches but unfortunately numbers became reduced when many were called up. Several lost their lives including Alfred Lovell (mayor's secretary). However we managed to keep going with our work at the Orthopaedic Hospital and were trained to unload ambulances. Also to help in the operating theatre (which at that time had no male staff).
After Dunkirk
We had just finished training when Dunkirk occurred and we were called upon to unload the ambulances for about 70 casualties in 1 night. We helped in the operating theatre for which we were highly commended by Mr Norman Capener (the senior surgeon).
We managed to continue our efforts at the Orthopaedic Hospital and provided staff for the canteen at St. David's Station and sleeping accommodation for servicemen waiting for trains at 42 St. David's Hill.
The branch celebrated their 21st birthday with a large gathering in Exeter Guildhall in 1943. I left Exeter for Plympton in 1947 joining the Plympton, Plymstock and Burraton branches until 2008.