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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
April 7th 1941
My dear Lads,
Red ink! Yes, because this is my Easter letter containing my Easter
message to you all and I want it to appear as bright and as joyous
as possible in spite of all the world may do to darken things. The
beauty of the Easter Message is that it assures us that behind even
the darkest cloud there is the bright sunshine which will assuredly
break through in time. Therefore it gives us the courage to persevere
and refuse to give in until we have won through. If God is with
us who can be against us? I know that you will all try and find
the opportunity to make Communion on Easter Day. We shall all be
at our village Altar thinking of and praying for you, and we know
that, wherever you are, you will be at your Altar doing the same
for us. The sacred service of Holy Communion does bring us all so
very close together, however far apart we may be in body. I pray
that your Easter may be a happy one and that before another one
comes round we may all be kneeling together at our own village Altar.
As I have said before, the Easter Message does give us the assurance
that Right will eventually always prevail over Might, although often
to gain the Victory we have to pass through Calvary. In this respect
the spiritual and material worlds are very much alike; in fact they
converge.
With my Easter Blessing and my love,
Ever your affectionate brother, L. N. FORSE.
Extracts from Letters.
Pte Ken Ogden (Hoole) says that he has had a day in London as a
rest after doing a lot of training. Writes while on Fire Picket
when off duty for a couple of hours. Seems very contented and cheerful.
Gdsn George Burns sends an interesting four page letter. On St.
Patrick’s Day all the Battn were given a new suit of battle
dress and presented with shamrock by the Princess Royal, and given
the day off. Has not seen Harry Price lately but sends him this
message "I shall come rolling round one of these days and surprise
you, Harry." George is billeted in the South not far from Harry
so this message comes up North to go back South. Also wishes to
be remembered to Harry Cookson. Has a good dart team composed of
3 lads from Liverpool, 1 from Ormskirk, 1 from Chorley, 2 from Churchtown
and himself from Tarleton. Gunner Harry Harrison says that when
he gets up at 6.45 a.m. he has to run across a field to the wash
bowls and break the ice in them before he can get a wash. Had his
first taste of real artillery fire last week when his lot had a
“shoot". He is now an officer's batman. Finishes his
letter thus "Asking you the kindness of remembering me to my
cousins and pals, including Dick and Tom Harrison, Harry Cookson,
Bill Sutton and Bert Price whom I would very much like to see, also
James and Harry Latham; Good luck Boys". Sapper Ronnie Melling
sends a very excellent poem entitled. "The Bomb Disposers"
which is too long to print here. It was written by one of his mates.
Spends his time now digging out bombs. Is in H. Q. Section and has
to do 24 hrs fire-watching for a week as well as go out on working
parties. Spent an excellent week near a very well-known South Coast
watering place and thoroughly enjoyed the entertainments. Sign.
Thomas Fazackerley says he expects to be home this week on seven
days leave. Says he also has good fun stitching his friends in bed
and playing other pranks. Adds that it will be a grand day when
all the lads come back to Baybutt’s corner and talk of the
days that are past. Also says that when he gets home he is able
to tell his people more local news than they know, thanks to the
N.L. Gdns Aubrey Smith just returned from leave says that passing
through London he called at a Y.M.C.A. and got a very good supper,
bacon, egg, mashed potatoes sausage, bread, butter and tea, all
for 8d. Is thinking of transferring to R.A.F. as a rear gunner.
Jimmy Burns writes home to say that he is keeping well although
where he is it is very hot. He is somewhere in the near east. Is
looking out for any other Tarleton lads who may be on the same free
sightseeing trip.
Local Talk.
Ronnie Morris left his car in a Southport street last Sunday evening
and it was stolen. So far there has been no trace of it. It was
covered against theft by insurance. Martha West went to Liverpool
on Thursday to join the A. T. S. and passed A.1. She is to be stationed
in a town north of Preston. Frank McKean home on leave for a few
hours, rejoined his ship on Sunday. The Rector sent him in his car
at 5.30 in the morning. At the beginning of the week there was not
a cigarette to be found in any Tarleton shop. Things are better
now. Mr. Marsden, Moss Lane, Father of Gilbert, Clement and Vincent,
died on Sunday morning. He was 69. He is to be buried at Tarleton.
The Home Guard had a very interesting lecture on Thursday evening
by an Army Captain who had been in the Dunkirk retreat. He gave
his experiences. So far Johnny Hague has not arrived home from the
Arctic port at which he was landed when his ship went down. Billy
Harrison, Kearsley Avenue, goes for his medical on Monday. On Palm
Sunday afternoon the children conducted their own Service in Church.
Billy Johnson (Blackgate Lane) read Ist lesson, Donald Mackenzie
(Liverpool evacuee) read 2nd lesson and Richard Blackstone (Kearsley
Ave) read the prayers. Quite a good Churchful of adults.
The Home guard have now all been issued with Battle dress and have
handed in their Denim. Present events make it interesting to note
that the Rector’ s sister, Miss Audrey Forse M. M.,M. A.,
still possesses a medal personally pinned on her by the young King
Peter’s grandfather, who was at that time King Peter of Serbia.
She won it in 1918 for gallantry in looking after the wounded Serbians
during the last war. She won the Military Medal for devotion to
duty while serving in France, She also possesses the Red Cross medal
which was pinned on her by Queen Alexandra. Inspector Nick Rigby,
uncle to Harry Cookson, Chapel Cottages, is to be buried on Monday.
He was an old Tarleton lad. Hugh Latham still has his foot in plaster
of paris and goes about on crutches. Agnes Rigby is being married
on Saturday at Church to Jimmy Swift of Newburgh, and on the same
day Peggy Harrison is marrying George Cryer, also in Church. First
reception at Garlick’s; second in the C. E. Schools. Harry
Taylor; Ronnie Iddon, and Jack Robinson are all expected home on
leave this week; also Stanley Johnson (Hesketh Bank). Ronnie Iddon
has been in hospital but is now out. Levi Halstead is now Chairman
of the Tarleton and District Ambulance Committee. It still has its
H. Q. at the Mission Church in Hesketh Lane. Last week Tarleton
C. E. School children collected 793 hen eggs, 11 duck and 1 goose
egg for Southport Infirmary.. Total value £8.7.1.Not so bad
considering.
On
Leave.
Corpl Ernie Ball for seven days, Aircraftsman Bert Barron for seven
days. Rfn Charlie Wright for seven days. Harry Rigby and John Pickervance,
both R.A.F. for few hours. Frank McKean for few hours.
Second
Visit.
All being well, the Rector hopes to be able to make a second visit
of all the Camps and see those of his lads who are still in England
at the time. He is trying to start on April 30th. and will probably
be away from Tarleton for about three weeks. He will arrange for
the N.L to be sent just as usual. So do not be surprised if you
see him walk in any day.
Easter
Communion.
From the very earliest days it has been regarded as the duty of
every Christian to make his Communion on Easter Day. "Do This"
said our Saviour, on the first Maundy Thursday, "in remembrance
of Me", and it is only right and seemly that on so great a
day as Easter we should hasten to obey his command. Also remember
that it was on the very first Easter day that our Lord Himself was
revealed to his disciples "in the breaking of Bread".
Read the Gospel of St. Luke, chapter 24., verses 13 to 35.
The helping Hand.
The Rector wonders how many lads have offered to help the Chaplain.
He remembers how greatly he appreciated the help of his comrades
when he was in the Army. Most Chaplains are very approachable and
easy to talk to. Some are a wee bit shy about making the first approach.
Remember they are just as human as you are, have the same temptations
and spiritual battles to fight, and some even regard you with the
same awe with which you regard them. Once you get to know them you
will find that they are really good companions and friends - and
very human indeed. Go straight up to your Chaplain and volunteer
your help. He well certainly be most grateful to you if you do.
Easter
Greetangs.
The Rector cannot finish this letter without once again wishing
one and all a very blessed Easter. Hard times lie before us all
but remember the words of the Lord "In the world ye shall have
tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world"
St. John chapter 16. verse 17. |
