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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 23rd 1942
25 4 42.
My dear Lads,
Here is the prayer that we say every day in our Intercession at
the Parish Church. I thought that you might like to learn it by
heart and use it yourselves.
''O Blessed Lord JESUS, who by thy most holy Incarnation didst condescend
to become a member of an earthy family, to know its joys, its sorrows
and its ties, look, we beseech thee, with thy Love and thy Blessing,
upon all our lads now gone forth on sea, on land, and in the air,
to save and defend the homes they love. Thou knowest, Lord, where
each one of them may be. Keep them safe from all harm to body and
to soul and grant that they may return to those who love them to
praise and glorify thy Holy Name. Amen!" I feel sure that many
of you will be pleased to have a short prayer like this and will
soon learn it, and say it daily, You would also be doing a good
turn if you showed it to your friends who are like minded and let
them learn it also. It is nice to think that you, away, are saying
the same prayers as those at home. It brings us all closer together.
And don't forget to pray for those who are missing, and their anxious
ones at home. Also for those who are prisoners of war. Another week
I will send a short prayer you might share to say for these.
With my love and my Blessing,
ever your affectionate brother, L. N. FORCE.
Home
Front News.
Mr. And Mrs Robert Iddon, Sutton Lane, parents of Mrs. Ernest Ball,
celebrated their Golden wedding on Saturday. Both are in good health.
Pte Harry Cookson, South Lancashire Regt. (P.W.V.), was married
on Saturday in the Parish Church to Sarah Harrison. The rector took
the wedding, and Mr. Harold Webster was at the organ. Daphne Wright
and Nellie Cookson were bridesmaids. Sergt. Nick Dewhurst (Scots
Cards) got forty eight hrs leave to attend. It was the fourth anniversary
of his wedding day. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Iddon above also attended
so it was quite a weddingy wedding - two anniversaries and one actual
day. Reception and wedding Breakfast at Garlicks. Guild of Players
gave an entertainment in the Schools on Friday evening. Children
gave a small entertainment in Infant room on Saturday afternoon
on behalf, of N.L., and raised £4 This was the boys effort
and we all owe them our thanks. Mrs. Blakemore, mother of Gerry
Blakemore, of the Rams Head, died on Tuesday and was buried at Tarleton.
She was 61. Mrs. O'Keeffe, late of Kearsley Avenue, mother of Billy
O’Keeffe, who is member of the Southport Police, died at Southport
on Tuesday and was buried at Tarleton. She was 58. Mr. William Suttton
who works at Ulnes Walton with Ike Clark, was filling his motor
with petrol on Saturday when it caught fire and he was badly burned.
He was brought home (next to Price's, Blackgate Lane) and is still
in bed. Doing nicely. Dr. Herbert Croft has kindly consented to
act in a voluntary capacity as the Medical Officer to the A.T.C.
Flight which is being formed in Tarleton. Harry Latham, Tom Rigby
(Toll Bar) and Peter Guy (Moss Lane) are all now somewhere on the
high seas. Mrs. William Lund’s house, one of Briery Villas
in Blackgate Lane, was sold on Saturday, by auction. It was bought
by Mr. Capstick, who used to farm Hallsall’s Farm in Carr
Lane, and now farms at Scorton, for £607. The furniture was
sold as well. Charlie Wright, of Mere Brow, who lived at Mrs. Sutton’s
and who is in the Cameroons, is on leave and has brought his fiancee
with him. She is a Scotch loss. Last Sunday at the Chapel was "Organ
Sunday", with collections for the organist. Mrs. Oliver Wignall,
Madame Turnbull and Mr. Harry Hodge were the vocalists and Rev.
F. Taylor, who used to be the minister at Croston was the preacher.
The furniture belonging to Mrs. Artmstrong, who lived at the small
bungalow at Sunnyside Nurseries in Blackgate Lane, was sold for
fabulous prices on Wednesday. Frank Foster, in middle east, writes
home to say he left his old Unit and has joined the Motor Transport.
On
Leave.
Fred Forshaw, R.A.S.C.; Dick Burns, R.N.; Ronnie Iddon, RASC; John
Rowland, R.A.F.; Nick Dewhurst, Scots Guards John Moss, Scots Guards;
Bert Barron, R.A.F.; Harold. Aspey, R.A.; William Parkinson, R.A.S.C.;
Bob Parkinson, R.A.S.C.; Tom Spencer, R.N.; Will Ball, R.N.; Harry
Taylor, R.A.F.; Charlie Wright, Cameroons; Harry Cookson, P.W.V.;
Frank Cairns, R.A.F.; (Mere Brow), Eva Foulds, W.A.A.F.; Joe Wait,
R.A.S.C.; Tom Burns, R.A.S.C., Arthur Harrison Welsh Regt.; Alf
Rowland, R.A.F.
Extracts
from Letters.
Corpl. Hubert Tindsley sends an airgraph from the middle east dated
March 19th. Says “My former Unit has (blacked out by censor)
and consequently I have been reposted. This is a good Unit for sport,
soccer, hockey and cricket, and it can boast of an excellent Concert
Party. Change of my address has not interfered with the delivery
of the N.L. I have heard no news of my brother John (reported missing
at Singapore). There is a hut across the camp called Wesley Hut.
Each evening at 9.15 they have family prayers." A/C Harry Rigby
R.A.F. sends a closely type-written airgraph from the middle east:
Says "I have not as yet had the good fortune of meeting any
local lads who are out here, but have had a very cheery letter from
Hubert Tindsley. He tells me that he was stationed not far from
me although at the time neither he nor I knew it. Please remember
me to Mr. Davies, Ronnie Iddon, Nick Forshaw and Stan Baldwin. Also
convey my thanks to the M.U., British Legion ladies, and Conservative
ladies for their Christmas gifts." Dvr. Dick Sephton, R.A.S.C.
also sends an airgraph from the middle east. Says "Only yesterday
I was speaking to Jimmy Burns, in fact he invited me to dinner as
I was working at his place, and he was saying that the N.Ls are
better than a newspaper for him and me, but he is like me and doesn’t
like to read of all those on leave and us stuck here. Trusting you
will remember me to all the young men, including Ernie Ball, Will
Bridge and Mr. and Mrs. Ball (Gorse Lane)." Trooper Tom Rigby
(Toll Bar); writes, "As you will see from the above address
it has changed somewhat. Instead of Private I am now called Trooper.
Just over a week ago we were inspected by the Prime Minister and
three days later we had the honour of being inspected by the King.
I should be very grateful if you would remember me to Walter Rawsthorne
in Canada and tell him I hope he received my letter. I will write
again when I get to the other side of the water." Trooper Harry
Latham writes "Well, rector, I will not be able to write again
for some time as I am going for a sail. Will you call on mother
and tell her that I am alright. And don't forget to send the N.L.
There is always nearly a fight as to who is to read it first. I
am in the best of health and will let you know when I get to my
destination. Cheerio, I cannot write again till I get there."
A/C2 Fred Coupe says "I pass through my course in 12 weeks
time. We have to do 12 words a minute in Morse and also have to
pass in musketry. I have a good billet with 13 other lads. We start
duty at 7.15 a.m. and finish at 6 p.m." A/C2 Jack Edmondson
writes a long, interesting and very informative letter. Says "I
am writing this on the balcony of our hotel overlooking the Bay.
The view from our window is like a painting. We are situated on
a rising and a mist rests on the Bay and other high points protrude
above the mist a most delightful scene. I am writing this letter
after Church parade by the Padre. After he had been introduced to
the Choir the next hymn to be sung began "Lord have mercy upon
us”. We had a very thorough medical examination when in London.
We were vaccinated, innoculated, and blood grouped, all at the same
time. It was like a skittle alley when we were outside. First one
fainted, then another but I managed to stand on my feet. Tarletonians
must be tough. But really the life is grand and we are all like
one family." A/C1 Tom Smith says “This situation has
many good points and many bad ones, The food and accommodation are
really first class and I think we do as well, if not better, than
the average civilian. Its chief disadvantage is that there is a
great deal of ceremonial, leave is regular, but rare, and weekends
are useless partly because of distance partly by rural inaccessibility.
Working hours are long 7a.m. to 7p.m. Flying goes on for 24 hrs.
a day, 7 days a week. We get one day off a week, but as we are on
guard the previous night we spend most of the day off in bed."
Pte Ronnie Johnson says “ I went to Communion on Easter Sunday
at the village Church. I had to ask to go as we were not allowed
out without permission. I was the only one to go from our camp as
the others had service in camp but there was no Communion in camp.
It is very quiet here as we are right in the country." Dvr
Bert Price writes "I feel sure that if your N.L. could be read
and appreciated by the Minister of Supply, as much as by us Servicemen,
he would surely grant you extra petrol coupons. I am getting used
to sleeping out in the open air; in fact I think that I shall turn
tramp when this war is over. My thoughts will be with my pal Harry
Cookson on his wedding day and I hope that my wishes for many years
of happiness will be conveyed to him through the N.L. Also I send
the best wishes to all the lads and lasses from our home town, and
may the Lord guide and guard us all during these troublous times.”
L/Cpl George Barker writes "Just a few lines to let you know
that we have made a move at last after fifteen months in desolation.
I don’t expect that we shall be here much more than 10days.
Just our luck." Trooper George West says "Thank you for
the N.L. which comes regularly and also for the old ones I am receiving
from the middle east. We are very busy down here with these 18 ½
hrs coming again. I thought that the Sergeant's voice had left us
for good, but it is just as loud as ever!“ |
