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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
March 18th 1941
My
dear Lads,
This is my mothering Sunday letter. I was blessed with a good home
and so I know what it means. And as you all agree I know what good
homes you all have. This is something to value. Sunday is also the
day appointed by the King for united intercession to Almighty God
on behalf of our country and our empire. You will, I know, do your
best to go to the Father's House on this day and ,join with us at
home in our united prayers. Ask your Chaplain to arrange a service
of Holy Communion at a convenient time in the morning and remember
your dear ones at home who will be kneeling at the village Altar
asking God to bless you. With this letter l am sending the Mothering
Sunday card and the letter I have sent to your parents in Tarleton.
This year we are especially honoured with the visit of the Bishop
of Blackburn who will preach at Evensong. You know what a complete
family we have always been in our village and I would not like to
think that the old ties which bound us so close together were broken
merely because distance has separated us. In our love we are still
one and Love is found at its very highest in the Holy Communion
which is a perpetual memorial of the Sacrifice of Christ our Redeemer
willingly made because He loved us all so intensely. And then too,
all our brethren should be found pleading with the Father to bless
our Empire, our Country, our Village and our Home and give us Victory
and Peace and a safe return to our dear ones. May God, of His goodness
and mercy bless you all
Ever y our very loving brother, L.N. FORSE.
Extracts
from Letters.
Sign. Thomas Fazackerley writes a very good letter "in his
gas mask." Says he will miss the canal this summer but means
to go bathing in the town baths. Hopes to be on leave in April.
Sapper Dick Johnson has been fitted out with tropical outfit and
hopes to get 48 hours' leave, but doubts if he will. Says the weather
is quite warm where he is and asks for the addresses of any Tarleton
lads who may be billeted near. Corpl. Ernie Ball is now training
the "36'" class. Brought a draught up north last week
but could not manage to get home. Corpl. Jimmy Leacy is billeted
in a College and his Company played the students at football and
won. The students are very good to them and supply then with games
etc. Sends his kind regards to all his friends in Tarleton and the
lads away. Sapper George Barker writes to say he and his Company
are working very hard in the building line, but they all want to
go back to bomb disposal work. Has been home on 48 hours leave.
Aircraftsman Robert Moss has now been attached to the permanent
staff. Says he now gets better food and more of it. His job is to
receive the messages sent down from aeroplanes flown by the young
trainees, and, we suppose, to send replies and instructions back
to them. Sergeant, Instructor George Hardcastle (Rector's nephew,
known to many Tarleton lads) , says he has been wondering where
all his money goes to - as his weekly pay, "just disappears”
adds that the life he is now living, large bed room, carpet on floor,
easy chairs, hot and cold water in room etc, might be called "soldiering
de luxe" . Pte. Ken Ogden also says he has a good billet, but
that the snag of the out-door life he is living is that he never
seems to get enough to eat. He is always hungry. Bomb blew up the
Church his lot attended so they now go to a private Chapel. Leave
has now started with his lot but he does not know when his turn
will come. Trooper Alec Barnish says his C.O. asked one of the troopers
"What were you in civil life my lad?" and the answer was
"Happy and contented, sir“. Alec is a bit too modest
for he says "I am not such a crack hand at writing letters",
and then proceeds to write an excellent one. Is expecting his 7
days' leave this month. Pte. Ronnie Sergeant has now returned to
England after having traversed roads over a foot deep in snow with
drifts well over six feet deep. Says that the scenery where his
lot are now is finer than any he has seen in Scotland, but says
"I would much rather have the people in Scotland. Like all
other lads who write from N.B. he praises the Scots for their liberality
and great kindness. All indignantly deny that they are stingy or
mean. L/Cpl. Harry Price was sent on a bomb disposal job, had got
within a mile of his destination when a terrific explosion lifted
the lorry off the road. It was the bomb going off before its time.
Adds "Phew!“ It doesn't stand thinking about." Says
George Burns is billeted about 400 yds. down the road so they have
many a chin wag. Also says “Mr. Brown of Southport, our C.
of E. padre, wishes to be remembered to you, and says that he will
see that I keep smiling, and all the other boys as well." Sends
best wishes to his brother Bert, Bill Sutton, Hubert and John Tindsley,
also Tom. Has joined the Methodist Church Choir in place where he
is now billeted. Gdsn. Aubrey Smith on return from his sick leave
has been in a few air raids.
Village
Talk.
Mr. P.C. Timperley, Nurley House, Hesketh Lane, died suddenly in
his office at Leyland Bleach works on Friday morning. He was buried
in the family grave at Leyland on Monday, the first part of the
funeral service being taken in Tarleton Parish Church. The Rector
conducted the service and went with the cortege to Leyland. Frank
arrived home for a few days compassionate leave. He returns to his
Unit on Thursday. Mr. Sutton, the Postmaster at Croston, also died
suddenly on Friday. Billy Parkinson (Lund and Parkinson) joined
the R.A.S.C. on Thursday. He is billeted very close to Corpl. Ernie
Ball. His father has sold the carrier business but still retains
the haulage. L/Cpl. Frank Foster has left for the middle east. He
applied to be sent to a unit going abroad, so that meant leaving
the R.A.N.C. to which he was attached. He is still in the R.A.S.C.
and is to be promoted Corporal almost immediately. He is probably
one by now. No letters have been received from Herbert Nutter for
the last six weeks and his people are getting very anxious. When
he last wrote home he was in a p.o.w. camp near Czechoslovakia.
Leslie Hodson joins the Marines on Thursday. He has now quite recovered
from his accident. Home
Guard L/Cpl. Hugh Latham still has his foot in plaster of paris.
He injured it while on H.G. duty last Sunday; X-Ray examination
has shewn that it is not broken, but badly bent. He will be laid
up for at least a fortnight yet. Last week the Rector stated that
Monday was "Divi" day at the Co-op; the Mothers inform
me that he was wrong. It was the day for handing in the checks.
Divi. Day is in April, so don't expect a bonus from home until then.
Home Guard are now
busy on their firing course, also practising bayonet fighting with
sacks stuffed with straw on the top lawn. Mr Ralph Whitehead’s
horse fell into a shell hole not far from his house. The Rector
will try and get a list of all the 21 class girls who are registering.
Lettuce were selling at 3/9 to 4/6 per doz. last week. Home Guard
say that onions will be the chief crop this year. Corpl. Jack Bourn
(Rufford) is in hospital.
On
Leave.
Very few this week. As stated elsewhere Frank Timperly on few days
compassionate leave. Frank Foster on embarkation leave. Frank McKean
on few hours (48) from Royal Navy. Corpl-Instructor Ernie Ball for
long 24 hours at week-end.
The
Prayer The Vow
Thou who art our Captain ever.
I will not cease from mental fight
Lead us on to great endeavour;
Nor
shall my sword sleep in my hand
May Thy Church the world deliver,
Till we have built Jerusalem
Give us wisdom, courage, might.
In England's green and pleasant land.
Letters!
As will be seen, this week we have received a goodly array of letters
from the lads. But there are still some who never write, or at any
rate rarely write. Will these, please, make a special effort? Perhaps
the fact that next Sunday is Mothering Sunday will help them to
remember the old home and their many comrades of the village now
scattered far afield. All these want to hear from them, and the
N.L. does help to keep us all in touch with each other. So please
sit down and send a few lines.
Auxiliary
fire service.
The old Co-op. buildings at the end of Coe Lane have now been made
very "posh" and are used as the Fire Station. The Rector
looked in the other night and was surprised at the amount of equipment
that is kept there. The little house attached where Miss Miller
used to live, is used as the A.F.S. Guard Room and has been made
very comfortable. Harry Hodge is in command and has a good team
of firemen. They are on duty from the time the siren goes until
the all-clear is sounded.
Mothering
Sunday Prayer.
Blessed Lord Jesus, who didst Thyself condescend to become a member
of an earthly family to know its joys, its sorrows and its ties,
bless my home and all who belong to it and keep us safe within thy
sacred heart now and evermore. |
