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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
April 1st 1941
My
dear Lads,
Next week, as you will know, is called Holy Week, and contains within
it that most solemn day known as Good Friday. It has been set aside
from earliest days to commemorate the greatest of all sacrifices
made for the redemption of the world. Had men ever truly appreciated
all that the first Good Friday meant, the world would not now be
in the sorry state it is in to-day. Good Friday commemorates the
tremendous sacrifice that GOD Himself was prepared to make that
the world might have the power to overcome the forces of evil. It
was the culminating expression of that almost incomprehensible Love
that God has for us, His children. To-day we are being called upon
to emulate, in our humble way, that expression of love for the human
race. To understand it and to obtain in the full the benefit of
it, we must associate ourselves most closely with the sacrifice
of Christ upon the Cross. We should all try and find the time. and
the opportunity to attend Church on Good Friday and think, and hear,
about these things. We are out to bring back righteousness to a
world that has largely forgotten God. It is a glorious cause, and
we have a glorious opportunity. Let us make the most of it, and
on Easter Day we shall appreciate the worth of sacrifice to obtain
the ultimate triumph. And let these holy words run continually in
your minds. "Apart from Me, ye can do nothing". With my
love and my Blessing,
L. N.FORSE.
Extracts from Letters.
Gunner John Rimmer (Hesketh Lane) has been on a Divisional scheme
and says that his battery ration waggon driver was killed so they
were without food for 48 hours. Eventually they had a good meal
in a Churchyard overlooking the sea. He wants the addresses of any
Tarleton boys near him and wishes to be remembered to Tommy Walsh
and Fred Tiffen. Has got a new Padre but has not spoken to him yet.
Hopes to be home on leave in about a fortnight. Pte. Ronnie Sergeant
hopes to be home a week on Tuesday, is going to see his cousin Frank
Hewitson who is only 17 miles away. Says he could not get to Church
on Sunday as he had to take a batch of R. C, s to a Church 8 miles
away. The weather where he is, is very good. Sig. Thomas Fazackerly
writes while on guard at night with a good fire in front of him.
Is on an interesting job. When one of his pals saw the Mothering
Sunday card he said "Gosh: that reminds me, I have not written
to my mother for a week". So he sat down and wrote at once.
"So you can see", adds Thomas, "that even a small
thing like a card can bring happiness to some worried mother“.
He finishes his letter at 3.15 a. m. and signs himself "One
of your lads, Thomas". Gunner Dan Stazicker writes as he always
does, a very thoughtful letter. Made his Communion at the village
Church where there is no Choir and the parson plays the organ. Says
he often recalls the Rector's sermons and one in particular in which
he said "We cannot expect to win this war without the help
of God, and if we rely on our own strength it will be touch and
go". Has been on night operations, sleeping two nights in the
open, washing and shaving in a ditch, looking at the stars all night
with ground sheet thick with frost. Recruit William Parkinson R.A.S.C.
says he did not receive last week's N. L. Has been innoculated again
- with a double dose - and it has given him more pain than the last
time. Hopes that he will be within range of home at Easter so that
he "can help to fill the family pew". A.C.2 Billy Molyneux
wishes to express his thanks to the Women's Section, British Legion
for the gift of 10./-. Says a member of the Admiralty came to camp
and told them all that the Navy is doing to win the war, which he
found very interesting. Wishes to be remembered to all his friends
in Tarleton and remarks that he is glad to see that the Home Guard
now walk out with bayonets by their side. Adds that he is still
quite happy and hopes to be home in about seven weeks. Pte. James
Latham says they have "good friends, good food and plenty of
places to enjoy yourself". Adds "will you please (thank
the B. L. Ladies and the M. U. for their kind thoughts on my behalf)"
Also wishes to be remembered to all friends and says "God bless
them, every one". A. C. Robert Moss (Sparks in R.A.F.) says
he is kept very busy with his work though when the weather is really
bad it stops flying, "and this is where we get a chance of
an easier time". Adds that he likes to be kept busy as it makes
the days pass by very quickly. Says the recent excavations at Hesketh
Bank must have caused a lot of excitement; also says he knew young
Wareing who was killed at Crossens and sends his sympathy to his
parents. Adds that he should get seven days leave about April 12th
and is looking forward to it.
Local Gossip.
Harry Iddon, Hesketh Lane, has passed A. l. for the Navy and is
waiting to be called up. Fred Forshaw (L./Cpl. R.A.S.C.) has now
returned to his Unit from seven days embarkation leave, is going
east. Gdsn. Aubrey Smith returned to his Unit on Thursday last from
seven days leave. Arthur Harrison (married Dollie Iddon, Sollom)
home for a month to work on the Farm. Mrs. Richard Iddon, Gorse
Lane, has had to return to Preston Infirmary and undergo another
operation. This she has had and is doing very well. Dvr. Joe Wait
R.A.S.C. has been in hospital as the result of a motor accident.
Is now out again and hopes get some leave soon. Dvr. Jack Robinson
hopes to be home for seven days leave for Easter. Pte. Harry Latham
arrived at Preston Station at 11.45 p.m. last Wednesday night, telephoned
the Rector to fetch him, Rector's car was out of order, so the Rector
telephoned the H.Q. Lancashire Constabulary and they sent a Police
car to Preston at midnight, picked Harry up and brought him home.
We thank the Police H.Q. for their kindness. Engineer Hague has
had a nasty experience:- His ship was sunk by enemy action; he and
some more of the crew were rescued and landed on an island in the
far north; but he lost all his belongings. He sent a telegram to
his mother stating that he was safe and well. He should be home
any day now and we will give further details when he arrives. Mr
Nutter, New Road, has received a post card from his son Herbert
now P.O.W. in Germany, dated November last year and wishing them
a happy Christmas. This is the first news received from him for
eight weeks. Tomatoes are fetching 8/6 to 10/- per lb in the wholesale
market. Not many on sale yet though H.B. are already supplying some.
Lettuce still up to 3/- to 3/6 per doz. Several million lettuce
planted out last week in Tarleton. Coe Lane has 250,000 bedded out,
and when the Rector was on the Moss last week he visited three market
gardeners who had planted over 1,000,000 between them. Where do
they all go to? Hugh Latham who was severely injured on Home Guard
manoeuvres a fortnight ago is doing well although he still has his
foot in plaster of paris and gets about on crutches. Mr. Thomas
Taylor, Blackgate Lane died on Friday and is to be buried on Tuesday;
the first part of service in Wesleyan Chapel. Fred Carr is home
for a month to help on the Farm. Tom Rigby (Toll Bar) is home for
seven days leave.
On Leave.
L/Cpl Fred Forshaw seven days embarkation. Will Sutton for week-end.
Gerry Pendlebury for 48 hrs. Norman Barron for seven days. Harry
Rigby for week-end. Harry Latham for seven days. Tom Harrison for
seven days. Ken Sumpter (Longton) for seven days. George West for
seven days. Charlie Wright (Mere Brow) for seven days.
Photographs.
The Rector now possess 63 photographs of lads serving with the Forces,
but there are still a good many more that he wants. Will those lads
who, so far, have not given him one, please do so. Every photograph
has been put in a separate frame and placed in the Lady Chapel in
Church. There they will remain until the end of the war. And it
is nice to see all the familiar faces around us on Wednesday morning
when we make the Special intention at the Holy Communion for all
our lads away.
Like the days of old.
When the Rector has got just so far with his letter the door opens
and in walks Corpl. Ernie Ball, dressed in Civilian attire just
as if he were going a walk down Lord Street, Southport. He is home
on seven days leave, and told no-one until he got here. He tells
the Rector that he is in charge of six three ton lorries, and has
a motor bike to run about the country and do his work. He is at
present stationed on a well-known race course. Jack Robinson is
expected home next week, so, after quite a long period of loneliness
the Rectory for the past fortnight and for another week is a hive
of activity. Aubrey Smith, Fred Forshaw, Ernie Ball and Jack Robinson
all coming in and out make it quite like old times, and very nice
and homely.
May God bless you all and keep you safe wherever you may be and
may we never forget each other, and pray continuously that the day
may soon come when once again we shall be united as a complete and
happy family in our little village of Tarleton. |
