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RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
April 13th 1944
No. 210 - Issued weekly since May 1940

My dear Boys and Girls,
As I sit and write I look back twenty six years. On April 9th 1918 I was taken prisoner by the Germans at Givenchy and spent the next eight months behind barbed wire in various p-o-w camps. I was taken in the most "bloody hand to hand battle in the last war. Yet here I am, spared to be of some service to you and yours during this war. You can imaginie my feelings, both when I was in the very centre of this terrible battle and also when I found myself a lonely p-o-w. Still, here am I on the other side of it all, as I have said, and thoroughly happy and contented. This should give you all great hope. The way may be long and dreary, but the end is now well within sight. A long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether and we shall enter into the reward of our effort. But it will all have been in vain unless we determine to make the world a better place afterwards, and that depends entirely upon ourselves. Begin now to look to the other side when Peace will be restored, and you will all be home, and make your plans for the future.
With my love, my prayers and my blessing, ever your affectionate friend,
L. N. FORSE

HOME FRONT NEWS
Nancy Bridge, Sollom was married on Saturday last to Sapper Charles Henry Evans of Attercliffe. Sheffield, in Tarleton Parish Church.
Helen Chadwick, of Hoole, was married on Monday, at Hoole Parish Church to Sergt. Emrys Evans, of Bank Hall and Wales.
Banns of Marriage called out for the first time at Tarleton Parish Church between Fred Banks, Drumacre Lane, Longton and Margaret Gabbot, Hesketh Lane.
Mrs. Johnson (nee Lottie Wright, of the Moss) who now lives at Hundred End, has presented her husband with a son.
Mrs. Harry Bridge (nee Lucy Iddon) Mount Pleasant, Sollom has presented her husband with a son.
Mrs. Philip Hill, Bank Hall Farm, (nee Eleanor Lee of H.B.) has presented her husband with a son.
The rector's dog, accompanied by the dog of his neighbour Will Asoroft, went across the fields the other morning to the Windgate and worried 17 of Tom Melling's chickens.
Tom Forshaw made a really fine chocolate Easter Egg and raffled it for the N.L. Fund. He made 25/- for which we all thank him.
L/Cpl. Michael McLoughlin of Ormskirk, sent a letter to the Editor of the "Ormskirk Advertiser" from C.M,F., containiing a piece cut out of the 'Union Jack' with the account of the Tarleton N.L. in it. In the accompanying letter he says "The article about the Tarleton N.L. was good to read. Long live Tarleton and its Magazine.
Alice Mayor, of Tabby Nook, Mere Brow, was married on Saturday in the Methodist Church, Mere Brow, to Jack Lyons of Burscough. Reception and wedding Breakfast afterwards in the Mere Brow Schools which the rector had lent them for the occasion.
356 people made their Communion at Tarleton Parish Church on Easter Day. All the Services were well attended. The infant son of Richard and Florence Gladys Ball (Florrie Johnson was christened on Easter Day in Tarleton Parish Church with the names Robert Henry.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
L/Cpl Harley McKean airmails from M.E.F. "I have been receiving the N.L.s most regularly for the past few months. You will appreciate that a great deal of the news of the present times seems to be incredible, after being away from Tarleton for so long. People are getting married who seem to have been at school only yesterday".
Dvr. Dick Sephton airgraphs from M.E.F. "Please give my kindest regards to Jimmy Burns and tell him I'm still with the (it looks like Marlish and Bardin) people. I'll bet he wasnt very sorry to leave them. We had a service in camp last Sunday, and the padre in his sermon spoke of all the beautiful flowers that are now in bloom, thousands and thousands of many different colours scattered about the countryside. But when summer comes they will
all be burnt up with the heat. My kindest regards to all the boys."
L/Cpl Frank Hewitson. airgraphs from B.N.A.F. "'While the worst of the weather was with us I made a trip to one of the large towns in N Africa, and while on the way we were snowed up for a couple of days in the mountains, when I saw the uncommon sight of a camel plodding through its knee-depth of snow. I don't suppose I shall ever see that sight again. When we arrived we went on a 'Cook's Tour.' One of the best items was a visit to a mosque. Our guide introduced us to the Muezzin who calls the faithful to prayer and asked if we had any chewing gum we could give him, saying that the old boy would he delighted with it. 'Its the new system' remarked the guide, humorously."
Pte. Jack Parker (Liverpool) airgraphs from India "Note the change of address. This is a warmer station than my last, but that is not worrying me at all. There are plenty of mosquitoes, but the civvy population don't seem to worry about then at all. My greetings to all."
L.A.C. Tom Smith writes "The rain does not worry us too much and we do our work just the same, swathed in oilskins and protected by rubber boots. I should not be surprised if the Germans collapsed as they did in 1918 - without any preliminary cracks or warnings. History has such a way of repeating itself - uncanny and strange as it may seem." (Tom Smith in his letter, also puts his finger right on the snag in the "Mathematical Teaser No. 2." in the Easter Double Number, The two sides have no connection whatsoever. Try it out with any other figures and you will soon see. The figures given were especially chosen because the slight difference of 1/- made it appear as though both sets should correspond. But then Tom is a Schoolmaster. Who else twigged it?)
Dvr. Dick Taylor (Mere Brow) writes "Thanks for Prayer card and the double number for Easter. I am writing this in the cab of my waggon during a break for dinner. I managed to get a night at home a few weeks ago when our convoy stayed on P.N.E. ground. I was interested to see in the N.L. that they manage to sleep on their camouflage nets in Italy, yet here we are playing at soldiers having to screen up every time we come in."
C/p Bert Price begins his letter "Dear Rector and friends" and says "Here again is your old pal Bert Price thanking you once again for your ever popular and very interesting N.Ls. which arrive regularly each week. I was very pleased, indeed to see the different friends of all of us who have had the privilege of sending their messages of good will and cheerfulness through the N.L. One item which will interest my pals, and maybe cause a smile:- On Saturday morning I played in a Rugby match, N.C.Os v Troopers. There was no prize for the winners, but the losers had to peel the spuds and carrots after dinner on Saturday. Well, I'm sorry to say that the N.C.Os lost, and at 2 p.m. you would have laughed, to see the Sergeants and Corporals bashing spuds while the lads got dressed up and had the afternoon off. Of course a lot of wisecracking went on and we caught it in the neck good and proper, but we took it all in good part and got the job done; but, believe me, it was really funny. I'll finish by saying "keep smiling" to all the lads and lassies, and the best of luck to all including Harry."
Corpl Tom Tindsley writes "I noticed recently that you included news of my promotion in the N.L. to full corporal, I was surprised seeing that I hadn't told you personally. Still I imagine you have developed a keener nose for news than even a newspaper reporter. The 'Home Front' news is always interesting and contains just that spice that we all enjoy; intimate, and
close-up snapshots of our friends and acquaintances. Please convey best wishes to Hubert, George Almond, and all the Tarleton boys and girls in the Forces. Some time ago in the N.L. Sam Iddon wished to be remembered to the Tindsleys. Will you, please, give him my very kindest regards in return, and tell him that although we did not dig ourselves in very deeply we still enjoyed our cricket. I am looking forward to the day when cricket will be one of our pleasant interests again. Best of luck Sam."
Pte. George Farrington "When I was on leave and called to see you, you asked me if I had any news from Bill Harrison, of Kearsley Ave., Well, I have not yet heard from him and I have not seen his name in the N.L. I am still driving round, also some days I am in the garage as a motor mechanic. Remember me to all my friends in the Forces especially Bill Harrison and Eric Booth, and tell the latter that I hope we get home together for it seems ages since I last saw him."
P/Sb. A. Edward Farrell R.N. (Tarleton Lock Houses) writes "I have had a bad dose of Pneumonia but I am getting very well again now, thank God. Give my regards to Jim Lathom (R.N.) Dvr. Fred. Taylor (Hesketh Lane) Ann Barron (Nurse), and Nick Taylor (Crash) I was very glad to see that Nick Taylor had been home on leave. I knew Nick very well as we worked together at the Brickcroft."