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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 2nd 1942
My dear Lads,
Easter, the Queen of Feasts. As most of you know the Church has
always laid down the rule that everyone must make his or her Communion
on Easter Day. I ask you therefore to make sure of the times when
Holy Communion will be celebrated and to attend this Holy Service.
Whether you are billeted in town or village or camp you will, undoubtedly
find that this Service is being held. Ask the Vicar, or Rector or
Chaplain about the time and be sure and go. Remember that on the
very first Easter Day the two disciples recognised our Lord in ”the
breaking of Bread.” They had walked with Him, talked to Him,
but it was not until He broke the Bread that they know Him. So since
then, it has ever been. We get to know the Master best by frequent
attendance at "the breaking of Bread." We, at home will
be at the Altar on Easter Day, remembering you before the Throne,
join us, and be at your Altar remembering us and your village pals
wherever they may be. We can get very close to each other at this
Service. And don't forget to thank God for the resurrection and
all it implies, and also the inestimable gift of the Blessed Sacrament.
With every good Easter wish and prayer, and with every blessing
I am able to bestow,
ever your affectionate brother,
L. N. FORSE.
Home
Front News.
We regret having to record that Mrs. Latham has been officially
informed that her son Jimmy (Kearsly Ave.) is missing, and that
the parents of Sgt. Jack Bourn of Rufford have also received official
intimation that Jack is missing. Both were at Singapore. Mrs. Heywood
of Kearsley Ave., sister of Mrs. Pendlebury, has also been notified
that her eldest son, a regular soldier who has been at Singapore
for many years, and has never been to Tarleton, is also amongst
the missing. Mrs. John Bamford, Fermor Rd., had a son last week.
Harry Lathom has been home on embarkation leave. Jimmy Swift, R.
A.F.. (married Agnes Rigby) is also going overseas almost at once.
The rector went home by the first train on Monday morning and returned
to Tarleton on Wed. Night. Saw his aged father, and sister who is
ill; called on a Battalion of the Guards and saw Aubrey Smith. Agnes
Spencer, Mary Baybutt and Velma Sutton, got up a concert party with
several other little girls, and one very small boy, Robert Bridge,
of Sollom, and gave a really excellent entertainment in the Infant
Room at School on Saturday afternoon. All the mothers and their
children came, as a result they made £6.13.01/2d which they
very kindly gave to the rector towards the cost of the News Letter.
All the lads away ought to thank them for this. On the National
Day of Intercession last Sunday all the local National Services
attended the Parish Church at 10.30 a.m. Being Palm Sunday the Day
School children conducted their own service in the afternoon as
usual. Peter Pownall and Stanley Glover read the Lessons and Walter
Turner (Liverpool evacuee living with John Whittle) said the prayers.
The children sang the whole service beautifully. The rector has
now 8 weddings to take during Easter Week. The Doctor having forbidden
Mr. Worth our newly appointed Sexton, Verger and School caretaker,
to dig graves he has resigned and Mr. Harry Dickinson (Plox Brow)
has been appointed in his place. The Tarleton Football Team, composed
of youths, beat Longton on Sat. 2-1 on the Recreation Field. Mr.
Nicholson (Kearsley Ave.) who is now convalescent has gone to the
Willows, and Mr. Robert Iddon, (Hesketh Lane) has had his operation
and is doing well. Dick Blundell, Johnson’s Lane, has had
his medical and is waiting to be called up. Jimmy Swift, (see above),
has won the Heavy Weight Championship of his Squadron, for Boxing.
It was an inter Squadron competition. He was presented with a very
nice silver medal with Squadron crest in enamel. Mr. John Barron
is giving up the Post Office and it is being taken over by Mr. John
Hunter who is moving it to his house in Blackgate Lane. His son
George is being discharged from the Army owing to ill health and,
being used to clerical work, will help his father in the Post Office.
Dick Harrison went overseas 22 weeks ago and not a single word has
been heard of him or from him since.
Extracts
from Letters.
Cpl. Frank Foster sends an air Mail letter beginning "Thank
you for about half a dozen N.Ls and a couple of Magazines, all of
which arrived within the past fortnight." Goes on "Life
is absolutely deadly... Do I sound rather fed up? As a matter of
fact I am in the pink, still cheerful, still in good health (despite
the grub), life won't get me down, sir. Whoever heard of an old
soldier, even a simple one from the country, who could not look
after himself." Dvr. Harley McKean writes "Here I am on
the high seas. We have had a good trip so far and the weather by
the way is very hot. So far the trip has been very interesting,
and I believe we have actually seen nothing yet. I am hoping to
receive the N.Ls regularly, sir, I miss them a lot. Please remember
me to all the boys." Sapper Dick Johnson, who has been out
in the east a long time now, writes "At present we are living
under better conditions than when I last wrote to you, which makes
quite a welcome change. Though some of the Tarleton lads are in
this district I have not met any of them yet. This Christmas was
not spent under any too good conditions though it could not be avoided,
and, if I maybe permitted to say so Bully and Biscuits do not make
an ideal Christmas dinner. Looking through the N.Ls it looks as
though not many lads are left in Tarleton. I have received your
N.Ls up to date. "' Dvr. Dick Sephton (Rufford) writes from
the M.E.F. by Airgraph. Says "Just a few lines to thank you
for the N.Ls. Until today I thought that they must have been getting
lost, but I received six at once to day. The latest one was 3rd
Dec. I hope that you will remember me to Ernie Ball and William
Bridge and tell them not to get caught in a draft out here at any
rate. Well, sir, it is a long time since I went to a Church service
as we are very busy every day. A Chaplain did once try services
in camp at 6.30 on Sunday mornings, but as most of us were out well
before that time it fell through." Trooper Harry Devitt writes.
"I am now somewhere on the sea. This is a lovely boat and the
food is good so we have much to be thankful for. Many of the men
have been sea sick, and I have been so near it that I think it would
have been a relief, but now we have all got over that, and we are
enjoying life and developing enormous appetites. I suppose that
the N.Ls will catch us up some day together with letters from home,
and a welcome day that will be, I can assure you. Will you please
send my kind regards through the N.L. to all my friends and acquaintances
in the Forces and at home, who seem to be scattered now all over
the world. I will write again when I get the chance. L.A.C. Yorrie
Davies R.A.F. (Mr. Davies the schoolmaster the came to Tarleton
with the Liverpool evacuees), writes from Canada. "I take up
my pen to thank you for the N.Ls. They come with consistent regularity.
In your extracts from the lads I have often seen it quoted that
a local newspaper would not achieve better results and I heartily
re-echo these sentiments. At present I am on an Astro Navigation
course. This Astro course is a very comprehensive one, in which
we learn to navigate by the Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets. Whereas
of yore the stars were just twinkling lights in the heavens to me,
now they have assumed names, positions etc: It makes me marvel at
the minds of the mathematicians who have been able to arrive at
the many conclusions, tables etc. I have just two more weeks to
do here and then move on to for six weeks’ Bombing and Gunnery
course. We do quite a lot of night flying. I finished my first course
with an average of 80% so was quite satisfied. We have a Padre on
the station who takes an active interest in life in general. Tonight
I an going to a St. David’s Day Banquet in Hamilton. I am
going along with my friends who emigrated from my home town Abergele,
fourteen years ago. It will be quite a gathering of the clans.”
A.B. William Ball (Scoot) writes from his ship "I was sorry
to hear, from the N.L. of the death Mr. Fred Webster. He was a friend
of mine, I am sure his death will be a great loss to the village.
Sir, you certainly get all the local news, and we get more from
the N.L. than from our own folk. I suppose they think that small
events won't be of any interest to us boys, but to us it is home,
sweet home. It is nearly nine months since I was last home. I am
longing to get home once more and see the Old Village. At the moment
we are at sea under the tropical sun and it is very warm, too warm
at times. W.A.A.F. Eva Foulds, who is a cook and confectioner at
an R.A.F. Station, writes " I enjoy reading your N.Ls. To know
all the news of Tarleton and nearby villages is certainly grand.
I will send you my photo when my mother sends than to me. I won'
t get home for Easter as I expected, as all Easter leave is stopped.
We have Church Parades on Sunday mornings, but I have generally
to work as there are always new recruits coming in and they all
want feeding When you write to the boys please remember me to them,
and tell them that I hope that they are all well and not downhearted.”
Gunner Bob Barron (Hesketh Lane) who joined up 10 days ago writes.
"Please accept this short letter to let you know my address
for the N.L. which I shall be very grateful to receive. I am getting
along with a good spirit in my New Army Life. I would like you to
remember me to the Home Guards as I find it a pleasure to remember
the platoon of which I was a member, for I realise how much it has
helped me on joining the Army. A.C.L. Fred Pollard says, amongst
other items of interest, We have had some quite marvellous food
lately. They have put up a big notice in the Cookhouse which says
"If you want more, ask for more, but don't waste it."
so you can see that they are looking after us pretty well. They
are sending a good many chaps overseas now, I went for a medical
for that last Sunday, but I did not pass. My mate who has been with
me since I joined up has to go. I do appreciate the N.L. which I
get regularly. I don't know how we should get all the local news
without it. Last night I went to a concert given by the W.A.A.F's
and thoroughly enjoyed it. |
