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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
February 10th 1942
My
dear Lads,
Well! here I am back at work, but only just. I am still feeling
pretty groggy and a funeral this afternoon quite knocked me up.
We are all very anxious about John Tindsley and Eric Hind, both
of whom are in Singapore. Do not forget to remember them, and their
parents, in your prayers. We are also, of course, very anxious about
the very large number of local lads who are in Lybia.
Lent begins next week and I would ask you, one and all, to approach
your Padre and ask him to fix up some kind of reading circle, say
on one night each week, so that even in the midst of all the turmoil
of war, your minds may be directed towards the real facts of life.
To me it really is terrible to think of us going into this war without
even a thought of Him Who said "apart from Me, ye can do nothing."
And we cannot possibly pray to a God Whom we do not know. The strength
of our religion is that it is a rational one, and we have a God
who has revealed Himself to us step by step until He gave us the
fullest revelation of His Mind in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So form a reading circle, try and find out God's purpose for man.
"Apart from Me", says God, "ye can do nothing."
And if we want to win the War we must have God on our side. Plain,
blunt words, but very true. I have no space to explain more fully.
Show this letter to your Padre and ask him to explain at length.
With my love and my Blessing,
Ever your sincere Friend, L. N. FORSE.
Extracts
from Letters.
Pride of place this week goes to a letter from A.B. Seaman Frank
McKean R.N., who had the honour, and responsibility, of taking Churchill
safely to New York in the Duke of York. Says of the P.M. "I
think I can safely say that he enjoyed the trip; I was very lucky
to see him a number of times while we were going over. I can heartily
say that the Americans, with whom we mixed freely, were all of one
mind, and that was that Mr. Churchill is a great MAN. I was lucky
to be in a theatre when they showed him speaking at Washington.
When he had spoken great bursts of cheering and shouts of “Good
Old Winney” very nearly raised the roof. The Americans could
not do enough for us. My chum and I were invited to the house of
a gentleman and his wife for dinner and social evening. We had a
very happy time. We could not have done otherwise for they made
us one of themselves as soon as we crossed the doorstep. I showed
them the N.L. and they wished me to tell you they deemed themselves
highly honoured to have read only a small portion of the work you
do for the fighting veterans of our village. I asked them the reason
for calling us veterans, explaining that I and others like me, had
only been in the Forces for two years. The answer I got was the
young men of England have already been through more than the American
people and fighting men had experienced in a lifetime. Believe me,
sir, I could fill a writing pad of the thoughts and sayings of the
American people about England. Christmas morning's Service I am
sorry to say, I missed, as I was working on an urgent job: I should
very much have liked to be there." Corpl. Hubert Tindsley sends
a long typewritten Airgraph from the Middle East dated Jan.7th.
Says "I am now getting my N.L. regularly. There was a lull
owing to those things called moves. However, this did not prevent
me from keeping up-to-date with them for my brother-in-law (George
Almond of Croston who is also in the M.E.) saw to it that I did
not miss the thrill of receiving them, for he forwarded his copies
on to me until communications were opened up again with home. After
paying high tribute to the rector he says: "The N.L. seems
to be the only one of its kind in the whole of the British Isles,
and we are proud of it.” Says that he came across a Padre
named Mr.Day, who came from Southport and knows the rector. He took
the Services on Christmas Day. Adds that he has just received a
letter from a Missionary whom he met when he was camped right in
the heart of the jungle in West Africa "and made it possible
for us to receive Holy Communion on Christmas Day 1940 right in
the heart of that colony" (British West Africa). When writing
was in a good station enjoying the privileges of civilisation, cinemas,
good cheap food, “and above all we are able to worship God
in a delightful little Church." He is in the football team
which is itself in a competition. But as he and his brother John
played rugger the whole time they were at Hutton Grammer School
he is wondering whether his rugger is good enough for the team.
Has had two letters from John who is at Singapore, both “Written
before the fun started out there." Cpl. Harry Forrest sends
an Airoraph from the M.E. in which he says "I can honestly
say that I am still enjoying the Army life despite all its hardships
and difficulties." Adds that the land (Lybia) may be desolate
but is ever so interesting to the lads. Says of the places he is
now visiting "I have often heard you refer to these places,
sir, when we have met on a Sunday night at Tarleton” Pte.
J Power, R.A.O.C., whose calligraphy passes understanding; it really
is so very good, says I have just been showing your last week's
N.L. to my O.C., and his remarks were "You deserve full credit
for your trouble and expense, and the least everyone of the regular
receivers can do is to write every few weeks and show some encouragement
to you and news for our Comrades who are abroad" He has now
been in the Army two years and says it only seems a short time.
Is in a most interesting place, but owing to the nature of his work
we cannot reveal where he is, or even give a hint. Trooper Harry
Devitt has changed his address to a Place where he will find John
Harrison, of Holmes. Says that his lot are expecting to go abroad
very soon. Last Sunday went to Church with a pal. Says "We
were astonished at the size of the Garrison Church and what a lovely
building it was. We stayed to Communion. While the men were filing
out I tried to estimate the number, and as near as matters there
were a thousand." Harry will be interested to know that the
rector has often preached in this Garrison Church as when he was
in the Army he was stationed in these Barracks, both in Jelalabad
and Lucknow. Says he met Roger Watson, and also says that Matt Forshaw
of Moss Lane has been on a tank course where he is but he did not
see him. The rector's nephew, the Rev.E.J.Forse, who is now an Army
Chaplain, well known to most Tarleton lads, writes: "I thought
you would like to know that I am shortly going abroad. I am all
ready with tropical kit waiting for the word go. Quite a number
of Chaplains here at the moment are going to various destinations
abroad though we don't know where." Dvr. Harley McKean begins
his letter, "No doubt you will gather by the address that I
am due to change climate very soon. I am going overseas shortly,
having got all my tropical kit. I can assure you that I have not
volunteered for this, but I am quite prepared to take my chance
along with all the other boys. We are confident that we shall see
this thing through for you people at home." Sergt. Ernie Ball
Says "It has either rained or snowed or frozen every day. This
morning we are paddling about in approx. 8" of snow and more
to come." L/Cpl. George Barker says he should have been on
the briny by now but for some reason which he does not know, his
lot 'missed the bus' so they gave than five days leave to make up
for it. Wishes to apologise to Mr.Bert Marsden for not seeing him
at the wedding of his wife’s twin sister, but he had to return
to his Unit immediately after the ceremony and so missed the breakfast
and Bert. Gunner Tom Fazackerley says that he had a rotten journey
back from leave and all the trains were late. However, he arrived
back with five minutes to spare. Pte.Ken Ogden says the rector’s
Christmas Card has just reached him 4 2 42. No fault of the rector
but owing to Ken being on the move.
News
from the Home Front.
Mrs. Welsh, a comparative newcomer, who lived at White House, Sollom,
where Mr. Henry Bridge used to live, died on Thursday and is to
be buried at Tarleton on Monday. Mr. John Trafford, (not our own
John Trafford from Doctor's Lane, Sollom), who lodged at Rigby's
in Coe Lane, died on Friday aged 37 years. His mother was a Hunter
from Rufford and he is to be buried there on Tuesday. He was twice
married and leaves a widow who has a shop in Preston. He has been
ill a long time. The Home Guard had a Whist Drive and Dance in the
Schools on Friday night. The Fire service is having a Hot pot and
Social evening in the Schools on Monday night. Mr. Worth, the new
Verger and School caretaker, is still in the Liverpool Hospital
where he has gone for eye treatment. The John Edmondson, the baby
son of Mr. & Mrs. John Edmondson, of Fermor Road, who died last
week, was one of twins. The other twin is doing well. Mary Baybutt,
Oak Farm and Martha Sutton, Sollom, were both "highly commended"
in a painting Competition run by the Ormskirk Advertiser. Both Mr.
& Mrs. Nutter and Mr. & Mrs. Hambilton have received letters
this week from their sons, Herbert and Clifford respectively, saying
they are well. Mr. Charles Southworth, Blackgate Lane, who has been
playing the organ at Church during Mr. Penn’s indisposition,
was taken ill last week. He had been sterilising his greenhouses
and it caused him to break out in a rash. Then it turned to congestion
of lungs. He is still in bed. Mrs. Hind is taking his place at the
organ. The infant son of Mr. Frank Marsden, late of Moss Lane, now
the Landlord of the Legh Arms, Mere Brow, is very ill. Mrs. William
Benjamin (nee Miss Margaret Rowland) has had a little girl. She
is with her husband in the Isle of Man. The local A.R.P. are having
a Hot Pot Supper on Wednesday in Garlick's Cafe. William Howard,
Coe Lane is being married on Saturday at Aughton, near Ormskirk,
to a Miss Rothwell of that village. It is strongly rumoured that
Dick Townsley is marrying Miss Alice Rowland within the next few
weeks. Mrs. Hind has received a cable from Eric who is at Singapore
to say that he is well. |
