There is a fine picture of rain
That I look at again and again.
For the artist, I’ve found,
Was a hero renowned
For a courage you could call insane.
'Rainy Day' is an attractive
oil painting of Budleigh Salterton
High Street by George Ellis Carpenter. The painting, part of Fairlynch Museum’s art collection, is interesting
as a historical record. A twin picture of Rolle Street in Exmouth was painted by
the artist, but its whereabouts are currently unknown.
The antiques shop on the right, currently a barber’s
shop, was run by David Thorn, who took it over from his father in the 1960s.
The business had originated in the previous decade. A strongroom, one of the
features in the antiques shop was a relic from the time when the building had
belonged to the Westminster Bank.
Opposite the antiques shop at No 1 High
Street was Milne's, a chemist's shop. I
was told, however, that the painter was criticised for his artistic licence in
adding a non-existent pedestrian crossing to this scene of Budleigh.
Rain is a popular subject for artists. I like the
way in which Carpenter has combined the distorting effect of water with the
effects of light. He has transformed Budleigh High Street into a floating
liquid world; the darker depiction of some of the distant figures - things as
well as people - makes them less
important than their reflections in the flooded street, while the rain-soaked
far distance envelops buildings in greyness. It’s almost as if the street is
turning into a mad and misty torrent, heading westward.
Yet this seems to be
the end of a rainy day. The sun is breaking through from the south, giving
colour to the nearer figures and buildings; even the orange globe of the
Belisha beacon plays its part in the process.
One of the two girls in the foreground, without an umbrella, is holding
out a hand as if to tell us that the rain is stopping. The lighter sky in the
west is a hopeful sign.
George Carpenter was very
much an amateur painter. Originally from Yarmouth,
Suffolk, he
served in World War One on the Western Front. He was commissioned as a
Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers and gained an MC for exemplary gallantry in
January 1918 at the age of 27.
The story of his bravery deserves telling even though
he was not born in the Lower
Otter Valley.
Originally from Yarmouth, Suffolk,
he had started out as a Private
in the Civil Service Rifles, otherwise known as the 15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment
(Prince of Wales's Own Civil Service Rifles).
By January 1915, he is recorded in the London Gazette of 15
January 1915 [p.495] as being seconded as a Second Lieutenant in The
Post Office Rifles, or to give it its full title, the 8th (City of London) Battalion of The
London Regiment.
Today, it has been said, the Post Office Rifles are
best remembered for their involvement as infantry on the Western Front in the
First World War, distinguished by their bravery, tenacity and character in the
grim conditions of the trenches.
Two years later, on 26 September 1917, George
Carpenter’s appointment as acting Captain with the Royal Engineers was
announced in the London Gazette.
Men of
R. E. Signals, 1st Corps, burying cable along trench in wooden cases. © IWM (Q 27152)
His role was in the specialist area of communications
on the front line rather than in combat.
As trench warfare came to characterise much of the conflict on the
Western Front, the opposing armies relied on traditional techniques of
communication such as semaphore and lamps, but also on the widespread use of
wires for messaging between the front lines and command HQs.
It’s been estimated that tens of thousands of miles
of copper-core cables were laid for both Morse telegraphy and for voice
telephony. In many cases, wires were laid on the ground or on low poles, or
buried in the ground down to 30 cm deep. Even at that depth they could be
destroyed by artillery fire or explosions; a depth of at least 130 cm was
needed to afford suitable protection.
Three men
of the Royal Engineers Cable Section carry drums of cable Image credit: http://worldwar42.blogspot.co.uk
When attacks were planned, brave technicians like
George Carpenter were expected to venture out into no-man’s land in order to
lay communication lines, risking their lives while facing the threat of snipers
and artillery shells. Only towards the
end of the war did wireless communication become more common, with sets being
made small enough to be carried by troops.
On 8 January 1918, the London Gazette announced the
award of a Military Cross to acting Captain George Ellis Carpenter.
The citation read as follows:
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty on numerous occasions. He has continually shown absolute fearlessness and
the greatest ability in the execution of his work, on at least two occasions
going forward under heavy shell fire and making a personal and successful
reconnaissance for the laying out of lines which were urgently needed. His
splendid personal example and utter disregard of danger have on all occasions
set a very high standard to the linesmen in his company.”
Having moved to Budleigh as Manager of the town's Gas
Works he took up art as a hobby and was a founder member of the Exmouth Art
Group, acting as its part-time Secretary.
George Carpenter, standing, third from the left, with members of Budleigh Salterton Drama Club.
Image from Fairlynch Museum archives
He also became involved in
amateur dramatics, particularly with pantomime. He took the occasional acting
role. In 1930, one of a cast of 14, he played the part of Horace, the Court
Physician, in a production of The Sleeping Beauty in the Public Hall. A document in Fairlynch Museum dated December 1937 lists him as one of the founder members of Budleigh Salterton Drama Club. He was also responsible for the lighting in
many productions, and his scenery painting skills were much
valued.
He obviously demanded high
standards. Friend of Fairlynch Museum Anita Jennings recalled an incident
involving fellow Drama Club member Ron Cox, who told her the story of how he
was apprenticed to George Carpenter.
“For one play he was allowed
to paint the scenery,” she said. “Less experienced than the master, but keen to
make his mark Ron worked at it for hours.... only to discover that at
some unearthly hour George Carpenter had been to the Club and painted over all
of Ron's work.”
‘The Great War at Fairlynch’ 2015 exhibition at Budleigh Salterton’s very special museum! Reviews included: “Wonderful display on WW1, informative, bright and relevant. Well done!!
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