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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 15th 1943
My dear Boys and Girls,
As I write it is a lovely Spring day in Tarleton, and you know what
that means. I would that you were all back again to enjoy it with
me. Yet here you are scattered to every corner of the earth. But
memories of the past do bring us all close together as we muse upon
them our days at school; our going from School every Friday afternoon
in Lent to the children's Service in Church; our walks on Sunday
afternoons to the Tollbar or the carriage drive; our attendance
at Church and especially our early Communions. All these and many
more of our village custom must be very pleasant to think back upon.
They are our treasures stored away in our hearts to be brought out
from time to time to give us pleasure and to inspire us. Such treasures
are the Gift of God and I pray that we may always keep them untarnished
so that, the war being over, we may share them with our children.
With my love and my Blessing,
ever your affectionate friend,
L. N. FORSE.
HOME
FRONT NEWS.
William Ashcroft of Scarisbrick, died Sunday, April 4th, was buried
in Tarleton Churchyard on April 7th. He was 63 years of age. Mrs.
Harry Monk, who is a Twist and lives on the Moss, has received official
notice from the War Office that her husband, Harry Monk, is a prisoner
of war in Japanese hands. He was last heard of in Malaya.
Mrs. Jimmy Shepherd. has presented her husband with a son.
Jack Twist (Tarleton Moss) joins the Navy on Tuesday.
Mrs. Barker of Hoole, the mother of William who married Edie Iddon
and Jack who married Phyllis Whittle, died on Wednesday and was
buried at Hoole on Saturday.
Chief Petty Officer John
Hornby, B.E.M., after passing some pretty stiff exams, has been
promoted to Commissioned rank in the Royal Navy. He will now be
known as Mr. Hornby, and as such he will appear in the future in
the N.L. We congratulate him most sincerely upon his promotion,
which, as all know, is well deserved.
Pilot Officer I.T. Peters has been officially informed that arrangements
have been made for the local A.T.C. Cadets to be taken flights in
R.A.F. aeroplane..
On Monday last the following appeared before the Youth Registration
Committee, of which the rector is Chairman and Miss Alty, Hon.Sec.
George Caunce, Albert Ascroft, Arnold Bailey, Walter Briggs (works
for Mr. Arthur Balshaw at Plox Brow), John Sutton (Jackie, Hesketh
Lane), and Ellen Sutton, Mount Pleasant, Sollom.
On
Leave:
Jimmy Latham (Moss Lane); Tom Southworth compassionate leave on
the death of his mother. Arthur Worth, campassionate leave on death
of Mrs. Holdcroft. Mr. John Hornby, B.E.M., R.N., on promotion and
before being posted to new station.
William Ashcroft, reported above as dead, was the grandfather of
James Reed Ashcroft, Mere Brow. He was blown off his bicycle and
was killed.
We regret to have to report that Pilot Observer Yorrie Davies, the
evacuee schoolmaster from Liverpool, who made himself very popular
in Tarleton, has been officially reported missing after a raid on
Germany. He was staying with John Melling last week end and came
to Church on Sunday morning.
Last Friday, April 9th, was the 25th. anniversary of the rector's
being taken prisoner of war by the Germans at Givenchy. He spent
eight months behind German barbed wire.
EXTRACTS
FROM LETTERS.
Gunner Philip Rigby (Fermor Rd.) writes from India saying "I
have been receiving the N.L.s regularly even if they do come in
twos and threes. I would sooner receive an N.L. than a pound note.
We get bags of monkey nuts and bananas to eat. My pal and myself
have just had leave. We went to a very cool place. I was shivering
and when I looked at the thermometer it was 70°. Remember me
to the Home Guard boys." Corpl. Jimmy Sutton writes from the
8th Army to say "I have travelled a long way since I last wrote
to you. I have seen plenty of places including Tobruck, Derma, Tripoli,
etc. And what a journey! It is a lovely day as I write this letter,
even the birds are singing. The country-side is very beautiful here,
olive groves, fig trees, date palms, and brilliant wild flowers
growing in profusion. I often think of the lads who write to you
saying they are stationed in desolate spots about 5 miles from the
nearest village. They certainly would find plenty of really desolate
spots out here 500 miles from a town. Please wish all the best to
all in the Forces, and a safe return. P.S. Your N.Ls have followed
me all the way." Nurse Nora Pearson (Hesketh Lane) writes from
India on Christmas Eve to say "Eating one's Christmas dinner
in the heat will be a new experience. The boys are doing quite well
with the decorations, and the people outside have been extremely
good to us and are entertaining the patients during Christmas week".
Chief Petty Officer John
Hornby B.E.M writes "I was pleased to see in the N.Ls that
you have had some news from the Tarleton boys in the Middle East.
It is nice to know that they are alright in the midst of so great
an offensive." Sapper Dick Johnson writes from a convalescent
camp in the M.E.F. saying "Life here is very pleasant only
an hour's physical training in the morning at 7.30, and an occasional
duty. I have only a few more days here (his letter is dated 8.2.43.
) and then I shall be returned to the Base Depot. I hope the last
letter I wrote from my last camp reached you alright. The only way
of knowing is to see it in the N.L. In the same tent with me is
a lad from Leyland, so we have plenty of things to talk about seeing
he knows our own particular parish fairly well."
Stoker Bill Abram (Fermor Rd.) writes "I should be very pleased
if you would remember me through the N.L. to my brothers in law
Frank McKean R.N, Dick McKean R.A.F., and Harley McKean R.A.S.C.
Your N.Ls are passed round the Mess after I have read them and now
the lads from all round Lancashire all look forward to them, I cannot
tell you what I am doing or what I have seen lately because the
censor would cut out things like that. Many thanks for the N.Ls."
E.R.M. Harry Alty, R.N. (Hesketh Lane) writes "I am having
quite a good look round now that I am down here on my course for
Motor Mechanic. I think I remember you saying that your home town
is not far from here. Although I find it very nice I don't think
it is as good as Tarleton anyway. I expect when you receive this
letter you will get a surprise to see who it is from, but, as I
told you, I am not very good at writing but I want to thank you
for the N.Ls which I receive regularly." Stoker W Melling R.N.
(H.B.) writes from many thousands of miles away saying "It
is quite interesting to read all the news you send in the N.Ls,
one of which I received this morning. I suppose you will know what
the climate is like in this part of the world. The people are very
kind to the lads and when we go into port we go to their houses
just the same as going home; it is quite a change to see a few hills
instead of endless water. I am glad to see that Bill Wright and
Les Hodson are seeing each other. I only wish that I was with them."
Sapper Eric Edmondson sends a cheerful letter saying "To night
I drew my pay; so I've a bit of a jingle in my pocket but I shall
have to be careful not to strain myself trying to hear it, shan't
I?. But I manage to make both ends meet. As you are aware I may
be going abroad, but I have no knowledge when or where. I enjoyed
reading those verses by Mrs. Harry Sutton you sent with the N.L.
Pte. Robert Barron (Hesketh Lane) says."Just a few lines to
let you know my new address because we are so often on the move
these days. I am now on intensive training and find it pretty rough
at times. For instance, we are doing Commando stunts, jumping off
the pier in full battle order about 14' high, and all sorts of daredevil
stunts. The other day we went to a Battle school. That's a stiff
test; you are supposed to be in actual warfare with live munition
flying through the air and just grazing your heads. Before I close
I would like you to remember me to my cousin Bert Barron, who is
somewhere in N. Africa and also to my pal Walter Rawsthorne who
is still in Canada." LAC/W Eva Foulds writes "I have been
in hospital for three weeks, but they will not tell me what is wrong
with me. I am feeling better but as yet have not been out of bed.
Please send my love to the boys abroad, and also to Jack Marsden,
Tom Spencer and Evelyn Taylor A.T.S., and tell Tom Walsh I would
very much like to see him before he goes abroad. I shall be very
diappointed if I don't. The Padre here read my N. Ls and thinks
them swell, and very interesting." Dvr. Dick Taylor writes
"I think myself very fortunate to have been in this country
so long. I daresay we shall all have to do our bit when the real
show down comes, so I say, roll on the day and let's get the job
over. Most of my old mates are in N. Africa. I notice from the N.L.
that Fred Taylor is out there. I was very much impressed with the
card you sent out for Mothering Sunday. I was very shocked to hear
about Mrs. Dobson's tragic death. I always thought her one of the
bravest persons I had ever met." Pte. Will Seddon says "I
have received the N.Ls quite regularly. You will see from my address
that I have moved from Yorkshire to Devonshire. Please remember
me to Harold Aspey and Dick Burns, through the N.L." |
