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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 1st 1943
My dear Boys and Girls,
I hope that you liked the Mothering Sunday card I sent last week.
I did not design it myself, not being an artist, but I did suggest
what form it should take and what pictures I would like. As a matter
of fact it turned out better than I expected.
Also I hope you liked the verses about the N.L. which were composed
by Mrs. Harry Sutton, Church Road.
Seventy of our lads are at present in the actual fighting zone,
and I know that all will have our prayers for their safety. With
my love and my Blessing,
Ever your affectionate friend,
L.N. FORSE.
HOME
FRONT NEWS.
Mrs. Ann Ascroft, of Broughton, Preston, who was a Wilson, and sister
of Mrs. Harold Webster's mother, died on Friday and was buried at
Tarleton on Monday. She was 81 years old.
Mrs. Dobson, used to live at Sollom, but moved to the Windgate,
fainted while writing a letter on Wednesday, fell into the fire
and was very badly burned. She was taken to Preston Infirmary and
died as soon as she reached there. She was buried on Saturday at
Tarleton. She was 51 years old. She was living with her daughter
Mrs. Roberts, who was Violet Dobson and who married Corpl. William
Dobson R.A.F. nearly three years ago.
Mr. Robert Iddon, (Luckster Bob) of Taylor's Lane, Holmes, died
on Wednesday and was buried at Tarleton on Saturday. He was 76 years
old.
Mrs. Hugh Twist, Fermor Road, mother of Rosie, is very seriously
ill in a Liverpool Hospital. Mr. John Fazackerly, farmer, Blackgate
Lane, who has been ill for some time, was removed to Southport Infirmary
on Sunday.
Dvrs. Sidney Ball and John Caunce are both home on embarkation leave.
Also on ordinary leave Pilot Officer John Taylor, Sapper Norman
Barron; Dvr. Instr. Arthur Worth; E.R.N. Dick Burns, R.N.; Gunner
Harry Woosey; Dvr. Dick Townsley: Dvr. Ronnie Sergeant.
The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Hankin was christened on Sunday
at Tarleton Parish Church. He was given the name of Ernest. W.R.N.
Mrs. Swift (Agnes Rigby) is a Writer in the Paymaster's Dept. in
a nearby town and gets home every night.
Listen in to the B.B.C. on Sunday next, April 4th, at 1.15 p.m.
(13.15 hrs) Mr. Herbert Parkinson (Moss Lane) and Mr. W.W. Stansfield,
the dog breeder who used to live at "Laund", Hesketh Lane,
are talking in the "Country Magazine" series. They will
be talking from London. Mr. David Carr, Moss Lane, father of Leslie
Carr, was found drowned on Saturday afternoon in a pond at the back
of his farm. He had been very unwell for sometime and Leslie was
at home having been given two months leave from the Army to look
after the Farm.
Stoker Thomas Bretherton, R.N. (Station Road, Hoole) was married
on Tuesday to Beatrice Dandy, Longton, at Longton Parish Church.
Mrs. Knight, owner of Tarleton Cinema, underwent an operation at
Southport Infirmary on Monday and is doing well. The Macmarns, who
have been living at the old Smithy house next to the Cock and Bottle
since they came from Liverpool, returned to Liverpool this week.
Hutton Grammar School Speech Day last Wednesday. The Bishop of Blackburn
presented the certificates. No book prizes during the war.
EXTRACTS
FROM LETTERS:
Dvr. Dick Gabbot writes from the M. E.F. saying "Thanks for
the N.Ls and Parish Magazines which I receive regularly. I am writing
this letter on the floor with only an oil lamp. I was sorry not
to get down to see Dick Johnson when he was in Alexandria, but as
you know duty always comes first. We were within a few miles of
each other. Although there are many Tarleton lads out here I have
only met Leslie Hodson, as you know. But I did meet a lad from Croston.
I should just have liked my pal Tom Burns to have seen the rickshaws.
I bet he would never have stopped laughing. For the first six months
I was out here I had to sleep in my wagon and live on bully and
biscuits, but now we have tents and good food. Remember me to all
the lads from home, especially my old pals Dick Johnson, Tom Burns,
Ronnie Pilkington and Jack Moss. (You may meet them all soon, Dick,
as they are all "somewhere in Africa.")
Sapper Dick Johnson sends a long letter from M.E.F. saying "At
long last I have been discharged from hospital and am now in a convalescent
camp right on the edge of the Mediterranean Sea, quite nice for
swimming now that the weather is so warm. Wherever I move a N.L.
seems to turn up in a few days. A few days ago I received a letter
from Dick Gabbot."
Dvr. Billy Parkinson, who is still on Rommel' s heels; writes "I
think I told you that I would write again when we arrived in .....Well,
all I saw of..... was in a day's leave I spent there which I quite
enjoyed. I have now left behind the orchards and fields and we are
back again amongst the sand and flies. Anyhow, we are making our
way nearer home and I'm hoping to pay you a visit in the near future."
LAC Jack Edmondson sends an airgraph from Canada, saying "The
course I am on is truly a tough one and I shall have to read all
the time I can get. I shall be here about 20 weeks. At present it
is warm weather but everywhere the ground is thickly covered with
snow. The crossing was calm, no signs of Jerry (bad propaganda for
him) . I have seen Quebec, the St. Lawrence, Montreal, Toronto and
New York. And please hurry with the N.L. It's nearly as essential
as breathing."
Marine Sandy Laing, in his first letter says 'My life in the R.M.
up to now has been grand. There is quite a lot of spit and polish,
but from my way of looking at it, well, its worth it. By the time
we are ready for parade we are perfect. They even look behind the
buckles of our belts to see if they are as clean as the outsides.
I have reason to believe that they will open your tunics to see
if your shirt is cleaan"
Corpl. J.H. Sutton, (Signals, Guards Brigade) writes from the M.E.F.
saying "I am on leave and am staying here in the Hotel Metropole,
run by the Y.M.C.A. It is a lovely place with every convenience.
I met Leslie Hodson here a few months ago. We are doing plenty of
swimming and sunbathing. Yesterday we visited the American University,
a very beautiful place. Here are a few of the places I have visited.
Egypt, Port Said, Cairo, Alexandria, Alamien, Palestine, Tel Aviv,
Haifa, Syria, Beirut, Damascus, Lake of Galilee etc. Thanks for
N.Ls. I certainly enjoy reading them. Since I last wrote I have
done very well for myself. I have been promoted Corporal Fitter
and am now in charge of Drivers, Mechanics and vehicles."
O /S Ken Dandy, Bank Bridge, writes "I have not written before
because the first week in the Navy is always a busy one for recruits.
I want to thank you for your pleasant company on the way to London,
and for seeing Hugh Sutton and me right for Liverpool Street Station.
One day last week about 75 of us went for a hair cut. We waited
all the morning, and it was just like mass production."
Gunner Harold Aspey, writes "If we have to stay at this side
while others go abroad, we are still with them in our thoughts and
prayers. It is not often that they move a mixed Battery, such as
mine is, for we are not a mobile unit. Remember me to Nick Forshaw,
Ronnie Iddon, Dick Burns, Arthur Harrison, Dick Seddon, Bert Barron
and all the lads away, and may God be with them."
L.A.C.W. Margaret Timperley (nee Garlick), writes "I took my
second trade board the other week, and I'm pleased to say passed
L.A.C.W. with 84.3%. I receive the N.L. every week and look forward
to reading the village news."
A/C Tom Southworth says "It is very quiet and far away from
anywhere here, and there does not appear to be much to do in one's
spare time, except to read, write or sleep. I have not much material
for putting in the N.L. alongside the latest despatches from Africa.
All my stories would be of fruit growing, market gardening, or sheep
farming, all of them, no doubt, much pleasanter occupations than
chasing Rommel but, at the same time, not the sort of story an Editor
would expect from his War Correspondent."
A/C Charlie Wright (Tabby Nook), writes "I am on a motor mechanic's
course, and am very busy at night, so I have neglected sending my
new address, but I have been getting the N.Ls from my old unit each
week. We have our Church Parade on Sunday mornings. We get a C.O's
inspection with it, that's the worst. Remember me through the N.L.
to Hugh Melling as it is quite a while since I heard from him and
I have lost his address."
O/S Tom Dickinson says "I am going to move again on Friday,
and will let you know my new address. I have put in for an A.A.3
gunner's course, and that will last about a month, and if I pass
it will mean a bit extra a day. My mother tells me that Ken Dandy
has gone to my old ship. We have Church Parade every Sunday morning,
Remember me to John Caunce and all the lads away.
Gunner Tom Fazackerly writes "We had four Jerries over last
night and they gave us a lively time. They dropped quite a few bombs
but four of them were shot down, so we did not do so badly. I don't
think we shall be bothered with them tonight. I get the N.Ls every
week and I must say that nobody in our camp gets anything like it,
or have even heard of anything to touch it. It really is the goods.
Remember me to all the lads at home and abroad."
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes from the extreme North to say "When
I got back from leave I found two N.Ls waiting for me. It seemed
strange to read my name amongst those on leave. I am lucky to be
able to get home on leave, some of our boys have to have theirs
in foreign parts. Remember me through the N.L. to Harold Aspey (I
seem to have forgotten what he looks like), also to my sister in
law Vera Iddon, and my very best wishes to my brother in law Nick
Forshaw." |
