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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
April 15th 1941
My dear lads,
As you will see I have had quite a lot of letters this week. I am
very pleased to receive them for it does give you all some little
opportunity of keeping in touch with your old friends and to know
something of what they are doing. There are, however some - very
few I must admit - who never write. Yet I am sure that these like
to receive the News Letter and read about their village friends.
And without these extracts the N.L. would be very tame. The N.L.
is sent free every week to all the lads away wherever they may be.
Might I ask you to regard your letters to me as your contribution
towards its production? If you only write once a month it would
help although, of course, I like to get letters more frequently.
May I then look forward to letters from those who so far have not
sent any, or who have not sent for a long time? While on this subject
I should like to thank those many lads who have done me the courtesy
of a call at the Rectory when on leave. I appreciate this little
act of courtesy very much indeed. Also it does let me know that
they are at home and so gives me just another line for the N.L.
although, of course, in this small village, I know when a lad has
come home almost as soon as his mother or wife does. Changes of
address will occur very frequently now things are on the move so
be sure and notify me so that your N.L. can be sent to the new address.
This will save a lot of bother for everyone. You will probably think
that this is a sermon of a very different sort to the ones I usually
give you, but never mind. With my best love and all my prayers for
you all in the days that lie ahead,
Ever your affectionate friend, L. N. FORSE
Extracts
from Letters.
Quite a batch of letters this week owing to the fact that last weeks
N.L. was compiled two days earlier than usual in order that readers
might get their Easter Message in good time. Aircraftsman Roger
Watson is kept busy in a place where "there are no trees, trains
or trams, and only two buses and the nearest town thirty miles away
- 30 miles of desolation!" Goes on "We've no pictures,
theatres, newspapers or wireless and electricity only arrived three
weeks ago. No chairs or tables in the billets. Weather varies between
boiling hot sunshine, snow and howling gales so rapidly that we
don't know where we are". But he adds "The N. L. s are
arriving quite regularly, and I do thank you for them." Received
10/- from Women' s Section, B.L. and thanks them for it. He is somewhere
near the North Pole. Pte. Billy Parkinson, R.A.S.C. had a "close
up" view of the King and Queen when they visited his camp.
He was in the front row so saw them very plainly". Went to
Church which was packed and a military band played the hymns. Has
only a fortnight more before he finishes his training. Recruit Martha
West, A. T. S. is at a Reception Depot, undergoing strenuous training.
She promises the Rector a photo as soon as possible. Says the life
is hard but she is determined to stick it. Aircraftsman Billy Sutton
sends a photo with a very cheerful letter. Saw one of our night
fighters bring down a Jerry bomber. Fighter gave him a couple of
bursts and Jerry burst into flames. After flying about for five
minutes he came down in a real death dive, and when he hit the ground
the tanks burst and 'Gee' what a burst of flames shot up. The noise
when he was in the dive was terrific. Gdsn Harry Crook says he went
to see Tottenham v Arsenal and "the people there never bothered
about the war, or forgot there was any at all.". Also adds
"Believe me it is grand to see the spirit of the London people.
They certainly deserve all the praise for the way they can take
it." Wishes to be remembered to all the lads especially Bill
Sutton, Hubert Tindsley, Ted Barnish and Frank Timperley, to whom
he sends his deepest sympathy. Dvr. Bert Price reminds us that he
left Tarleton to join up just a year ago on April 3rd. Had a chat
with the Padre and gave him the Rector's kind regards which the
Padre asked him to return, and as he (the Padre) is coming on leave
next week the Rector hopes to see him. Says he hopes his brother
Harry’s foot is now better. Adds "Our football team is
still going strong and yesterday we had our revenge on the only
Army team which had beaten us. We won 3 to 2, so you can see we
did a bit of smiling, although it was one of the hardest and cleanest
games we have had in the Army so far." Aircraftsman Wireless
operator Robert Moss hopes to be home on April 14th. Had a "full
day of snow” last-week, followed by big showers. Sends a very
good photo to add to the Rector’s gallery. Hopes to call on
the Rector when he gets his leave: Submarine Detector John Coulton
(Hesketh Bank) writes "Perhaps you will be surprised to have
a letter from me an utter stranger; but I have been getting your
N.L. regularly". Says he has to thank Aunt Jane Rigby (Toll
Bar) for this weekly information. Says he has just returned from
leave which was quite unexpected. Adds "I arrived back to find
I have been awarded the Palestine General Service Medal for service
in the Mediterranean before the War. I also served in the patrols
during the Spanish War landing refugees etc., although no one at
home was interested in the Fighting Services at that time."
Is sending the Rector a photo to add to the gallery. Aircraftsman
Walter Rawsthorne is only three miles from Tom Rigby (Toll Bar).
He came home for the week -end and on his return found himself landed
twenty miles from his camp at midnight, hungry, cold and homeless.
However he met a soldier who like the good Samaritan took him to
his billet, gave him blankets from his own bed, and in the morning
sent him on his way with a free breakfast. Says he likes the Service
better every day. Trooper George West writes from a hospital in
the South. Thought that the doctor was going to choke him on Friday
when he put a rubber tube nearly a yard long down his throat and
kept it there about 30 mins.. Says he is a bit better now. Wishes
to be remembered to Jack Robinson, Tommy Burns, and all the other
lads. Corporal Ernie Ball is now billeted in a racing Stables that
cost £200,000 to build and situated in a wood full of pheasants
as big as turkeys. Is keeping well and is as cheerful as ever.
On
leave.
The following each for seven days;- Kenneth Robshaw, Ernie Nicholson,
Harry Taylor, Jack Robinson, Tom Fazackerley, Stanley Johnson, Tom
Burns, Jack Parker (Liverpool). Also Jimmy Swift (Burscough) for
his wedding to Agnes Rigby, and Tom Rigby (Toll Bar) who was home
just in time to attend his uncle's funeral. As we are writing this
in walks Tommy Burns to say that Harry Price has just come home
on convalescent leave. He will be coming round later. Tom Harrison
also came home on Friday for his sister's wedding ,which was on
Saturday and went back on Monday. William Fletcher, who used to
live at Rufford and now resides in Blackgate Lane also home for
seven days leave. The Rector did not know that the last named was
even living in his Parish let alone in the Army, so he has received
no N.L. We will call on his wife and get more particulars.
Local
Talk.
Chief topic of conversation at beginning of week the German bomber
which was shot down by one of our night fighters. As all the papers
have now announced that it fell in flames on Banks marsh, we can
say that it was so. One German occupant caught, all others killed.
No material damage was done and no one was damaged by falling bombs
and flares. Home Guard watched a pyrotechnic display over Th'edge
o' Leet. Letter arrived last week from Johnny Hague, landed in an
Arctic port from his ship which was sunk: Says he lost everything
except what he was wearing. Is coming home straightway. Harry Price
has been in hospital but is now out. Has rejoined his Unit but expects
to get convalescent leave immediately. Church crowded for both weddings
on Saturday. Peggy Harrison married to George Cryer at 2.15. Reception
afterwards at C. E. Schools. Agnes Rigby married to James Swift
at 3.15. Reception in the Methodist School. Rector looked in at
both these functions. Between them they entertained over 300 guests.
Home Guard have had three days “Leave“, which merely
consisted of no parades. The Guard was on duty each night as usual.
Easter Day was well kept by Tarleton Churchpeople; over 400 Communicants
at early Services. David Hanson (Kearsley Ave) joins the R. A. F.
on Wednesday as a volunteer. Major General Carton de Wiart, V. C.,who
has been reported as having fallen into the hands of the enemy while
on his way to the Middle East, was, in the last war, attached for
same time to the Rector's Battalion. He was then a Captain and a
very fine soldier; and had already lost his left eye and his left
arm in the war, but he could still ride a horse with anyone. Richard
Dawson of Hundred End was killed last week by his horse while carting
manure. It shied at Fred Brockley's motor wagon.
Rufford
News
Mr. Bert Marsden supplies us with the following Rufford News:-
Jack Griffin, R. A. F. home on leave for seven days. His brother
Bill came home on leave at the same time. Raymond Caunce M.G.C.
has left the Bishop's Palace in which he was billeted and has gone
north. Bob Townsley R. A. is now driving an army lorry and says
he likes it better than footslogging, sends kind regards to Tarleton
lads. Bert adds "No christenings, no weddings, no funerals
and nobody come into a fortune. We are sorry to hear that Corpl.
Jack Bourn has been in hospital and hope that he is now better and
out and about again. |
