Weekly News 02-03-1944

The Lancashire villages of Hesketh Bank, Becconsall & Tarleton

My dear Boys and Girls,
Another very short letter this week so that I can get a few more 'Extracts from Letters' in. However I must, of course, remind you that it is Lent, and although I know that, as you are now situated, you cannot observe it as you should, yet you might, perhaps, make a point of going to Holy Communion a little more often. Think it over.
With my love, my Blessing and my prayers,
ever your affectionate friend,
L.N.FORSE.

HOME FRONT NEWS.
We regret to have to report that Gdsn. Harold Wignall, The Green, Hesketh Bank, has been killed while fighting in Italy.
Arthur Barron, Hesketh Lane, is in Garlands Hospital, Carlisle, suffering from pneumonia. His father and mother went to see him on Thursday. He is slightly better.
Arthur Worth is also in Garlands Hospiital, but is leavinig this week.
Mr. Peters has left Tarleton to take up his new appointment at Knutsford, The Managers,Teachers, and scholars of the Tarleton Church School, and the A.T.C. joined together and raised a considerable sum of money which the rector presented to Mr. Peters as a parting gift from all concerned.
Mrs. Dickinson, L.E.P. electricians wife, presented her husband with a baby girl on Monday.
Tom Hurst has been wounded in both legs during the fighting in Italy.
Tom and Ken Dandy are both on leave together this week.
David Rimmer, Horace Hornby R.N., Len Ball, Jimmy Harrison, Walter Ascroft, Jack Hodge and Leslie Tiffen, also on leave.
Gdsn Matt. Farrington has been promoted Corporal.
Usual last dance of the season in the Schools on Shrove Tuesday.
Josephine Keene, from the Tarleton Hotel, has been called up to the W.R.N.S .

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
Lt. Stanley Baldwin writes from C.M.F., saying "Now we are really doing our job, things are going well, and personally I am surprised to find myself so well situated. My job, that of G.P.O., I consider to be the best in the R.A., and I think our troop one of the best ones going. Am glad to say that my family are in the best of health and spirits. Kind regards to all my friends."
Gunner Dan Stazicker also writes from C.M.F. saying "It is now Sunday afternoon, and the conditions under which we are living at present make it far from being anything like Sunday - no Church or Chapel, no bells ringing, no Sunday School, no people wending their way to and from Holy Communion. I am at a disadvantage; we have a Scots padre, and as you know they only partake of Holy Communion once a year. I have only once received Holy Communion since coming into Italy last Sept. but I hope sincerely that I may come across a C. of E. padre."
Petty Officer Nick Forshaw R.N., writes from G.C. island to say "I was on one of the craft that took in the first landing parties at the Salerno beaches. I have heard since that my pal, Ronnie Iddon, was one of the first there. You can imagine how I felt when I knew that we had been in the same place at the same time without meeting; and then I read in the N.L. that three Tarleton people had met in a small place like India! Things are more or less back to normal now, except the price of goods in the shops. Remember me to all in the Forces, and to my friends in the Home Guard."
Sapper Eric Edmondson writes from C.M.F. saying "I promised you I would send you a photograph for your collection, so you will find one enclosed. I am writing this in my billet at night, I am keeping in the best of health."
Gunner Ronnie Whiteside also writes from the C.M.F. to say "The weather here is sunny and warmer, but at night there is a hard frost. I am afraid I shall have to keep you guessing for a while as to whether we are in the line or not. Please give my kind regards to the Carr brothers who are in the Forces, and to Ruby, who is in the A.T.S."
Gunner Philip Rigby writes from the Indian jungle and sends a long poem detailing his actual experiences. We will print this poem in our next double number. In the prose part of his airmail he says "After two months of the jungle I have come back into camp and am doing batman. Quite a change from limber gunner. The weather is changing from hot to something beyond that."
AC1 Tom Parkinson writes from M.E.F. "To-day I received the second Christmas number and the Card which I have filled up and returned to you. I have now lost my weekly visit to the Church I have told you about, and am miles from anywhere, but one can always find time and place to thank God for his never failing help to us."
Dvr. Sid Ball writes from B.N.A.F. "I am afraid that I have nothing much to tell you because nothing ever happens in this country. I see by the N.L. that a lot of the younger lads are in the Forces, and I should imagine that Tarleton seems dead at present, and the Rectory will certainly be one of my first visits. Please remember me to my pal Jack Marsden and my brother Ernie."
Pte. Jack Ashcroft (Hesketh Lane) writes "The training here is not too bad, and it makes it all the easier having been in the Home Guard. We had an uncomfortable time last night when we were wakened by gun-fire about 12.30. Then the internal alarm bell went, which means that we have to dress, put on our tin hats, take our gas masks and rifles and go to the shelters if we are not on duty. It was quite confusing finding things in the dark with the bell ringing and the terrific din of guns. However we got back to bed within the hour. We are a very nice crowd here and I have made many friends."
A.B.Tom Dickinson R.N., writes from his ship to say "I start off my first spell of Foreign Service tonight, but you can still send my N.Ls here until you get my next address. There are five of our old crew going together, so I shall have plenty of company. I went to see the Chaplain the other day. He is quite a decent chap to talk to. They have built a new chapel at this port and have called it "St. Peter of the little ships". It is quite nice inside. Remember me to Bob Howard, and tell him its about time he wrote, also to Ken Dandy, and Tom Bolton, and all the other ' appo's' in the Services.
Stoker William Melling R.N. (H.B.) sends an airgraph from his ship saying "I am keeping in the best of health and always looking forward to the arrival of the N.L. One of the first things that I shall do when I get back home is to visit you at the Rectory. I would like to be remembered to Joe Power and all the lads in the Forces, and let's hope that all this trouble will be over."
Pte. Joe Power writes "I would like to give you an account of what we have done on a fortnight's course from which we have just returned. But all I can say at the present is, our special job will come into action when the new Battle Front opens. I hope this isn't telling too much, but we are all interested, and I think capable of doing our stuff when the occasion arises. Am just going to have kit inspection, then hoping to get down to Church. Please remember me to all I know at home and abroad."
Pte. Harry Woosey says "Discipline here is very strict - all spit and polish. But it is O.K. It is only a matter of keeping all buttons, badges and billets clean, and never walking about with our hands in our pockets. The old Colonel is very strict on these things. Its the only way to get on in the Army. The Sgt. Major says it is good for leave here; you get it right on the dot. Remember me to all the lads and lassies in the Forces."
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes "It doesn't seem nearly four years since I put uniform on. I have now received 200 N.Ls from you for which I wish to say from the bottom of my heart 'Thank you.' They have certainly brought sunshine each week. This is a residential place and the people are all well to do. To-day the sun has been shining and the birds singing. Spring is coming. It made me think of walking down the carriage drive."
Gunner Tom Fazackerly says "I am still keeping my hand in at farming; I go once a week, on my day off, down to a farm in the village. I went down this morning, improperly dressed, in a cloth (civvy) cap, and a pair of clogs, and reported 'fit for aught.' The first job was carting muck which lasted till dinner-time. Then the farmer decided to go ferreting, which was just to my liking. Will you please tell Tom Wright, Kearsley Avenue, that we finished the afternoon sport with a bag of twelve nice rabbits."
A.B. William Ball, R.N. says "The censorship is rather strict at the moment, still we have permission to say that we have just taken part in thae landings south of Rome, and, that we have spent a few days in Naples. Jackie Hague was there as well, but we were unable to see each other, worse luck."
Cpl. Jim Burns says "I saw in last week's N.L. that Dvr. Dick Sephton of Rufford was asking how I managed to get home. Tell him it was a stroke of luck, and I hope that he does not give up heart. I suggest that Mr. Sewell of Blackgate Lane writes a few words in the N.L. as he seems quite keen on keeping the British Legion Club open until the boys return. Please remember me to all the boys, Jim Leacy, Harry Crook. Bert Price, and all the boys and girls."

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