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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
February 4th 1943
My
dear Boys and Girls,
You yourselves are now seeing, as I myself saw during the last war,
the terrible havoc that war brings to all who participate in it.
I know what you are saying "This must never happen again; our
children must never be subjected to this" As a matter of fact
we, from 1914 to 1918, were saying exactly the same. Why then this
war? The answer is because we, while occupied with war, took no
steps to prepare ourselves to administer the peace when it should
come. You, with our bad example before you, should not make the
same mistake. And there is only one ultimate Teacher, the Prince
of Peace, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. "I am the Way",
said the master, "The Truth and the Life". So follow the
Way, seek the Truth, and gain the Life. It means thought, study,
prayer and Sacrament. Talk to your Chaplain about it. He will be
pleased to discuss it with you.
With my love and my Blessing,
Ever your fellow pilgrim,
L.N. FORSE.
HOME
FRONT NEWS.
On Monday Mr. and Mrs.Frank Foster received official notice from
the War Office that young Frank, at present in hospital in Ceylon
with a cracked skull, has been transferred from the "seriously
ill" list, the worst there is, to the ''dangerously ill"
category, the next worse. On Friday they were notified that he had
been removed from the "dangerously ill" list, which means
that he is well on the way to complete recovery.
Mrs. Tom Tindsley, Church Road, has received an airgraph in the
form of a double News Letter. A line was drawn down the middle and
on one side Hubert Tindsley wrote his news and on the other side
George Almond, Croston, (husband of Sally Tindsley) wrote his news.
They met on Christmas Eve while chasing Rommel across the African
desert, and celebrated the occasion in this way. Henry Baldwin,
of Burscough, aged 31 years, who married Mary Coulton of Chapel
Road, H.B. last December, was found drowned on Martin Mere last
Sunday. Verdict at Inquest "found drowned". Mary Coulton
(Mrs. Baldwin) is one of the twin sisters well known in Tarleton.
Jimmy Southern, Hesketh Lane, joined up last week and has already
gone overseas. Tom Sutton, Holmeswood Hall, joins up this week.
Mrs. Swift (Agnes Rigby) has passed all her tests for the W.R.N.S.
and is to be called up in about five weeks time. Annie Rimmer, Green
Lane Farm, Holmes, has announced her engagaaent to Dan Harrisonn,
also of Holmes. Congratulations to Flying Officer Harry Taylor on
obtaining Commissioned rank in the R.A.F. He is at present on leave
at home. Alf Rowland writes to his mother from Canada to say that
he is training for a Pilot Officer. Frank Marsden, landlord of the
Legh Arms Mere Brow, shot a wild goose an Saturday, on Martin Mere,
weighing 23 lbs. Rabbit Show at Edward Ascroft's, Coe Lane, on Jan.
20th, run by Tarleton and District Domestic Rabbit Clubs. Mr. Hodge,
of Chorley was the judge. There were 113 entries. The profit on
the Show for the Club was 35/- and a collection, plus the judge's
fees which he generously gave, came to 21/- and was given to the
Red Cross Fund. After the show the Judge bought the following prize
rabbits. A Chinchilla Buck, from Henry Harrison, Kearsley Avenue,
for £11: A Chinchilla Doe from George Taylor, Kearsley Avenue,
for £7.10. 0.: A Dutch Doe from William Harrison, Church Road
for £3.10. 0. Doris Barron, Carr Lane, won both the children's
entries, for children under 15. Best in Show was won by a Mr. Crabtree,
of Banks. The men of Tarleton going round collecting for the draining
of the new portion of the Churchyard have already collected over
£250, and have not yet finished. O/Tel. John Webster on leave
for 8 days. Sapper Ronnie Melling also on leave. Gdsn. Frank Timperly
on leave with his wife ACW Margaret Timperley, who also obtained
leave to be with her husband. Muriel Iddon is "much the same",
Sub.Lieut. Johnny Hague, R.N.R, on leave.
EXTRACTS
FROM LETTERS.
An airgraph comes from Dvr. John Iddon, who has been chasing Rommel
out of Libya, saying "Just a few lines to let you know that
I am in the best of health. I got four N.Ls yesterday and I see
that they have called a lot more up from Tarleton which will mean
more writing for you. We have just had a Church Service this morning,
the first for seven weeks. Please give my best wishes to my brother
Harry, Jack Moss (M.E.F.) Dick Gabbott (M.E.F.) and James Harrison,
through the N.L."
Artificer Billy Parkinson, who is also in the M.E.F., in the mechanical
workshops, also chasing Rommel and doing "running " repairs
to mechanical vehicles as the chase goes on, sends an airgraph to
say "I occasionally received a News Letter from you, and I
must say that they are very welcome out in these desolate parts.
We had a very nice service on Christmas morning which I enjoyed
very much. I have not had much time to write just recently, but
I hope to have more time when we get into Tripoli". Well, now
he's got there, workshops and all. From Ceylon comes an airgraph
from LAC Roger Watson (Moss Lane), saying "Once again I must
thank you for a more or less regular supply of N.Ls. Their order
gets somewhat mixed up, but that is a mere detail; the news which
they bring is always so very welcome. Please convey my thanks to
the people of Tarleton who make your task a little easier by subscribing
money to the N.L. I am sure all the boys join me in thanking them.
I've just returned from spending a week in India, but more than
that I cannot say; censorship, though sometimes necessary, certainly
does put a damper on letter writing." Pte. Jack Parker (Liverpool)
writes from Assam to say "Above is my new address. It is a
fine place, 5,000 feet above sea level; climate like Blighty; no
snow yet! I wear serge battle dress, and need it. No mail at all
yet, but I can't expect any for a week or two. But I shall welcome
it, I want to know if all my girls still love me! I went to the
English Church here tonight, just like a typical Parish Church at
home; singing on an octave (I think they call it that) that I could
easily manage." AC/2 Alf Rowland wrote a letter to the rector
on 19/11/42 from Canada, and another on 27/12/42 from N. Dakota,
U.S.A., and they both arrived together this week. No. one says "I
still get the N.L. regularly and it is very nice to hear all about
home and the others in the Services. Remember me through the N.L.
to Ralph Whitehead, Frank and Harley McKean, Bill Wright and all
other pals in the Services. We have good food, plenty of fruit,
eggs sweets etc." No. 2 says "As you will see from the
address I am spending Christmas leave in America with some people
I met out here some time ago. We arrived on the 23rd Dec. and are
staying five days. I went to midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in a
small Church, all done up with Christmas trimmings, and there was
a very nice sermon. We had a lovely turkey for dinner and a Christmas
tree after. I think these people out here are swell. I haven't come
across Walter Rawsthorne yet, but I have met a boy from Croston
who is stationed at my camp and we have some nice times together
talking about old times." AC/1 Edwin Barron writes "This
place is something like Dartmoor, unless Dartmoor boasts a tree.
We have grass, sheep and stone walls as far as the eye can see,
the only change being right on the spot in the form of mud, ankle
deep in most places. I came here with several of my pals and we
share a hut. This is my seventh station and I have not met anybody
I knew before I was called up. I read of so many chance meetings
in the N.L.. I always look forward to the N.L. and it has quite
a circulation before I send it home. But apart from your N.L., which
stands alone, I think our village is far outstanding in the interest
and help it gives to the lads in the Forces. I have not writtten
to the various organisations individually, but I think they will
realise how much we all appreciate their kindness." Another
letter comes from the rector's nephew Sergt./Instructor George Hardcastle
saying "Last week I was quite close to you but unfortunately
could not get to see you. I heard from the Royal Geographical Society
this morning that I had been elected a Fellow, I am now working
with the Home Guard and Army Cadets. I have a motor cycle and travel
all over ----". Dvr. Fred Taylor (Hesketh Lane) writes from
abroad to say "I received a N.L. this morning and was more
than glad to get it. You can understand how pleased I was to read
all the local news. I have passed it round to some of the lads and
they enjoy reading it as much as I do. We had a Church Service in
the camp this morning and very nice it was. Please remember me to
all in the Forces from Tarleton and H.B." Dvr. John Caunce
writes "I write so many letters to you that you will be able
to write an extra N.L. headed 'From our special correspondent in
----' When I come home I shall be able to put the car engine in
shape because I am now on a course on motor engines. We are having
a cross country run in another week or so and they asked for volunteers;
but the course is six miles and I have put on so much weight, or
fat, whichever it may be, that I could not stay a mile. Mr. Arthur
Worth (Hesketh Lane) is one of the Instructors here and when he
went out with me he said I was doing fine." O/S. R.Iddon writes
from a Naval Barracks to say "I shall soon be leaving this
country, probably for the duration of the war. I am looking forward
to this very much, since I am going to a country which I have always
wanted to see. It is a grand opportunity for a chap of my age, but
unfortunately it won't be well received at home. My mother and father
will naturally worry quite a lot and I must say that I am very sorry
indeed for them." |
