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No:279
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
August 9th 1945

My dear Boys and Girls,
As administrator of my late brother's estate I have had to come to Bournemouth on business, but I never allow anything to interfere with the publication of the N.L. so here it is once again. On Sunday I had the pleasure of preaching in the Church of which my brother was Vicar for 25 years. I am still worrying about getting suitable houses for those of you who want them when you are demobbed. I am calling another meeting of all mothers, wives and sweethearts of Serving men and women next week, in order to see exactly what is wanted and then to stake a claim for you all. We must insist on those who have served in H.M. Forces having priority in the allotment of all houses ta be built. You are not here to make your voices heard, so we must do it for you, and you can rest assured that we shall do it. You know, without telling, that you are always in my thoughts and in my prayers, and what I can do for you, I will do. With my love and my Blessing, ever your affectionate friend,
L. N. FORSE.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
Sapper Ronnie Melling writes from C.M.F. "I have just received, an N.L. in which you say that now we have nothing to do but look spick and span we should have time to drop you a line. I only wish that that was the case with this company. As it is we are working the equivalent of 7 days a week getting a Transit Camp and a railway station ready for the leave to England.We are lucky as regards our billets. We are in two large modem houses, with everything laid on including two Bella Signorina to wait on us at the dining room tables. In the billets we run our own Bar and one night a week we run a dance in the dining room. On Monday morning the first train left Milan station for England." A.B. Ken Dandy R.N. writes from Trieste. "I have been drafted off my mine-sweeper and have a job on a small boat running around Trieste harbour doing odd jobs. If any local lads should visit Trieste anyone in the R.N. Barracks will know where I am. Most of the lads spend their time sharpening up their Italian with the local girls. In the evening - and the evenings are always beautiful - the girls will climb the hill of San Guisto park and wait under the castle walls. The lads will then take the girls for a walk to admire the crimson sunset over the bay; or, perhaps sit on the Roman columns to discuss things, and everything is 'va Bene' , as the Itos say. Now you aee why I have not written to you for so long. Remember me to all my friends." Cpl. Harley McKean writes from M.E.F. "I have recently been promoted full Corporal. My brother and his pal were here last week to spend a few days' leave with me. On one or two occasions we wont down to see E.R.M. Dick Burns, so the gathering of the 'Clan' was Dick Gabbott, Dick Burns, my brother Richard and myself. Tarleton out in great strength. I am due to come home myself again in about 5 months." ( Will M.E.F. lads please note that the rector's nephew the Rev. E.J. Forse, is the padre at Toe H. at Alexandria, and will be most pleased to welcome any Tarleton lads who are in the neighbourhood. So pay him a call). Dvr. Tom Sutton writes from B.L.A. "I have been moving all over the place and have now finished up in Germany. It is not a place I like either, and I would sooner be back in Antwerp. I was down the Rhine and passed through the Rhur. I haven't seen any place like it. I don't think that there's a place or a house that is worth going into. My present Coy is the best I've been in - cinema shows, swimming, in fact every kind of sport - its smashing. We have plenty of work, we always do in the R.E.M.E. and now we have a crowd of Jerries working for us, so we're living like millionaires The food is good, couldn't be better and plenty of it. So I'll ring off wishing all the girls and boys in the forces a speedy demob." Dvr. John Iddon writes from M.E.F. "I am stationed in Cairo now, so if anyone sees 2295 on the waggons they will know where I am - if they ask. I was on leave the other week and went to Alexandria and had a good time. While at Alex. I met Dick Gabbott, Dick Burns, and Harley McKean, who are stationed there. We are very busy owing to so many going home on leave and for demobbing. There is not much in this country to talk about, but give my kind regards to Dick Blundell, Dick Gabbott and my brother Harry." ( Again, will Padre Forse look up the lads in Alex. mentioned by John Iddon. They will be very pleased to see him.) Dvr. John Caunce writes from C.M.F. "I am browned off with the Coy I am now in, it could not be any worse if it were a prison camp. It is a Coy that has been with the 6th Armd. Div. and has just come from Austria. I see in the N.L. that you are looking out for another car. Do not forget that when I get home I am looking forward to being your chaffeur again. In this new Coy I do not know how I stand for leave, but as they came out at the same time that we did it may not be long before you see me. Kind regards to all my friends." Petty Officer Sydney Fleet (Husband of Mary Pye), writes from his ship somewhere in the Pacific "I am Group No. 12, and now July is half over I really have hopes of seeing a Relief arriving soon, or else the ship will come to the U.K. and then I should be free, Now that I am happily married I intend to give up seafaring, having been at it since 1929, and settle down. The enclosed cutting will not be of much interest in itself, but the fact that it is 'Front Page' news in a city paper out here in the far east, and Banks such an out of the way place, makes it interesting. The city I speak of is at Ieast 12,000 miles from Banks." (Sydney's cutting from the City paper is headed 'Village to go all wet', and refers to the squabbling over the Licence obtained to sell beer at the agricultural show.) Leading Seaman John Coulton R.N. (H.B.) writes from Scotland "I am here with a view to being invalided out of the Service. I am having X-ray, blood tests, culture tests, and, I believe, a course of penicillin injections later on, when they have discovered the particular germ which is causing all the trouble," Pte. Harry Woosey writes "Life out here is very quiet, the fruit picking season is in full swing, and what a crop there is too! It has been very interesting going for walks with two of my pals to see fields and fields of strawberries, raspberries, black currant, plums, apples, pears and even tomatoes. I have bought six nine weeks old pullets for 28/- in Maidstone market, and shall send them home the same week that I get my leave. I can get any amount of food for them here. My best wishes to all in the Forces, especially those in the far east, including my brother-in-law Dick Harrison". LAC Alan Jay writes from Blackpool "As you may know I have been home on 14 days embarkation leave, and am now stationed at Blackpool."

WIT AND HUMOUR.
>From Scotland.
Young Georgie McTavey T. wrote home to his father in Auchter-muchty:- "Dear Dad, London is a richt guid city. Every time I go into a cafe I find twopence under the plate,"
Logic.
Traveller: "What's the use of having a timetable if your trains don't run on time."
Station-Master: "How would you know they were running late if you didn't have a timetable."
Sarcastic.
Wasn't your wife tired after the party last night?
Very, she could hardly keep her mouth open,
Going Sick.
M.O.: "And what's tho matter with you., my lad?"
Recruit: "I find it difficult to breathe, sir."
M.O. "Right excused breathing for seven days."
Mrs. Hunter: "Well dear, did you manage to shoot anything today?"
Mr. Hunter: "Oh, yes, dear,"
Mrs. Hunter: "Well, what have you done with them? Did you leave them in the kitchen?"
Mr. Hunter: "No, in the hospital, dear."
Scotsman: "It may seem a small matter to you, young man, but when you saved my son from drowning why didn' t you save his hat as well?"