The film about the great American Military leader, General McArthur, was shown again recently. It told the story of his forced evacuation of the Philippines and his famous declaration “I shall return,” which he did, a conquering hero. Later with high ranking representatives of other countries he took the surrender of the Japanese in Tokyo Bay. There was a link with Bradworthy in this historic ceremony, when the man representing the Australian Army was General Sir Frank Berryman, member of a second generation of Bradworthy emigrants. His grandfather, John Berryman, was a labourer, a “Servant Chap” as such workers were called “living in” with the Bucklers on West Greadon Farm. He married Elizabeth Ann Martin at St. James' Church, Kilkhampton, and emigrated to Australia in 1851. A long stride from them to the General in just two generations! After a number of high military appointments General Berryman retired from the active list in 1954. Perhaps there was still something of the old farming background in his nature, as he became Chief Executive of the Royal Agricultural Society of Sydney. When he died there was a large and detailed obituary in the London “Times”.
Writing of Army folk, Miss Ruth Dean, niece of the late Mr. Ryan John Dean has donated her Uncle's medals to go eventually to the proposed local Museum. They have been beautifully mounted and framed. John Dean, as he was known, died at Langdon Road. He joined the Territorial Army from which he was transferred to the King's Own Royal Regiment and posted to the 8th (Pioneer) Battalion. His first overseas service was to North Africa(Western Dessert) and then to Italy. In November 1943 he was reported missing and later it was confirmed that he was a Prisoner of War. With the retreat of his POW Unit when the War ended he was in Poland. After repatriation and attachment to the 2/6th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, he was discharged in November 1945. John's father, William John Dean, served on the North West Frontier (India), in the Boer War and the 1914-18 War as a Royal Marine.
A book “Grylls and Grills,” with subtitle “The History of a Cornish Clan” has just been published. Richard Grylls, who lives in Tring, Hertfordshire, has been working on research of this family for twenty-five years and seven years on preparation. The work is in two volumes and includes the North Cornwall and North Devon branches. The first Bradworthy Grills was Richard who came into the Parish from neighbouring Morwenstow circa 1680. The family farmed at Waterlands for nearly 200 years and came to an end when so many emigrated to Australia and Canada. My father was the last in Bradworthy bearing the forenames Richard Grills, his mother having belonged to the family. The Grills' residing at Bradworthy and Putford at present are from the Hartland branch, which also went out from Morwenstow.