Web Transcript © 2004 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.

Hesketh Rectory
Hesketh Bank
July 1945

My dear Friends,
I have noticed, in your letters this last month, how several writers have expressed the hope that this Monthly Newsletter to the Forces will continue. I write now to assure you all that this is certainly the case. The end of the war with Germany makes no difference to the N.L. It goes on. And the prayers go on, too.
As Samuel said to the Israelites’ nation “God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you.”
So we want you all to realise, and especially you in the Far East, and on the Seas everywhere, not forgetting your difficult tasks in Europe, too, that you are still and will be remembered.
Your very sincerely,
A. P. THORNE.

POINTS FROM LETTERS.
Wm. Melling (May 28) writes that he is still in Inverary, West Scotland. He sends his regards to his cousins Stacey Gautry and Joe Eastham, and all the lads in S.E.A.C. At present, he says, the heat is terrific, no relaxation, continually sweating, changing their clothes three or four times a day. One of the biggest things in this war is the immense distance our armies have covered during the last twelve months out East, and the sooner the folks at home get to know about these things the better. Letters like Joe’s only show the necessity of carrying on our N.L. to the very end of the Japanese War.
Lieut. N. T. Wright (June 6) was particularly interested in George Taylor’s parade in Bremerhaven. He only just missed seeing him in Nijmegon. Some of Nicholas’ lorries took the first food into Utrecht, and on VE Day they were very busy driving Germans and carrying food for the Dutch people. He himself was in the Victory parade in Utrecht, and again at the Hague. He has also been to Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Now he is in Germany. There was no VE Day for him and his Unit. He concludes by saying that many more months of service lie ahead for him, so he hopes we will keep up the N.L.
Leslie Bramwell tells us that on VE. Day in his hospital they did not know the war in Europe was over as casualties came in as fast as ever. They got casualties through mines. Leslie says his release group is 25, which leads him to hope for Christmas or early New Year in England again.
We thank Kenneth Sunter very much for his letter posted from Liverpool on June 7th, sending his thanks and appreciation of the N.L. He desires to thank particularly the Bowling Club, Douglas Iddon, and the W.V.S. for all they have done for the troops. Kenneth has been on convoy duty and has seen a good bit of the world, Singapore, India, Ceylon, North Africa, Russia, U.S.A. and Canada ( and on D Day) France. He would like to be remembered to Kenneth Baxter, and Leonard (?) Ball, and hopes they are both home soon. He concludes by expressing the hope, in which we all join, that the spirit of our war-time service at home will live on after the war is ended.
Clarence Iddon (June 6) says that from the day they landed on the beaches in Normandy he knew that they could not be beaten, as everyone put their backs into it. Referring to the men who have fallen in the struggle, he says he saw these words on the cross over the grave of one soldier “Will his reward be as great as his sacrifice?”
Joe Iddon (H. M. S. Devonshire June 7) writes to say that his first visit to the liberated countries took him to Oslo when they took the Crown prince of Norway home, then to Copenhagen whence they escorted the two German Cruisers Prinz Eugen and Nuremborg to a German port. At the time of writing they are now on their way back to Oslo taking the king of Norway home.
Tom Bond (June 10) sends his special ‘Good Luck’ to W. Ainscough in Germany. He has had plenty of ‘guards’ lately, more than they had in action.
Willie Rimmer (June 12) writes from Canada, and the rector thanks him very much for the most interesting pictures of Trinity Church, new York and the prayer cards. It was very kind of him to send them. He has evidently had a very enjoyable fortnight’s leave in new York, Albany, Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Toronto before returning to Montreal. He has met with wonderful hospitality especially from the Americans. He sends his kind regards to all.
Arthur Taylor (H.M.S. Upright. May 16) reports that he has been going long cycle rides where everything is dry and dusty. He longs for the Hesketh fields and the river bank. He particularly liked the ‘Townsman’s visit to Hesketh’, and he concludes “Keep the N.L. coming”.

NEWS FROM THE VILLAGE.
The following have been home on leave since our last N.L. - Bert Miller, Tom Iddon, Doris Whiteside, Harry Buck, Joe Power, Jack Baxter, Herbert Wignall, Gordon Iddon, Leslie Goring, and Bert Checkley. We met Bert Checkley on June 20th on Station Road, with his wife, and were pleased to see him looking so well. Especially after the long period in which he was ’missing’.
Bert Miller is now in the Isle of Man so if any of you want a few kippers, just drop him a line. (Alas! Macfisheries had none last week!)
Tom Miller is in the Far East, and reports great heat.
Nellie Baybutt (Tarleton) was married on June 16th, to a U.S.A. Sergeant.
A sad accident occurred near Bank Bridge Tarleton on Sat. night June 9, when a soldier and an A.T.S. girl were killed returning from a dance at Walmer Bridge. No trace of the motorist who ran them down has been found, though the police have called on everybody with a car in this area.
The Chapel Sunday School Tea Party and Procession took place on May 26, with the band. There were the usual ‘stations’ for singing. Tea was served in the School followed by sports on the field.
They were favoured by fine weather, although it looked distinctly bad in the morning. The Rev. B. Oliver was present.
Arthur Parkinson of Moss Lane took part in the ‘Country Magazine’ broadcast on Sunday June 17. The Rector was very pleased to see Malcolm Parkinson, who called on him at the Rectory when he was on leave this last month. He looked very well and cheerful.
Mrs. Thorne has been very ill lately, but is now on the mend. Tho’ she will have to go slow for some time to come. It was very unfortunate that her illness should come just at the period of the distribution of the new Ration Books. But, through the very capable help of her band of W.V.S. workers, this exacting business of receiving the old Ration Books, and distributing the new ones (population 1700) and checking of same was carried out without a hitch. The Hesketh Bank folks and the West Lancs. Food office owe a debt of gratitude to these W.V.S. friends for their entirely voluntary service to the community.
Miss Iddon, Post Office Row, has been very poorly but is progressing. Old Mrs. Wignall has had more than one heart attack, but lingers on.
Mr. Wm. Buck is still confined to his room, but is cheerful and patient.
Mr. Bridge, of Hesketh Lane, passed away suddenly, early in May. He was a very regular worshipper at Hesketh Church, and a quiet unassuming Christian. He was a great lover of his garden. He and his wife, who died before him, were a really good couple who will be missed.

WORSHIP.
Our worship is of tremendous importance in our lives because we tend to become like the Object we worship. Worship has that transforming power. Hence the importance of our having correct ideas of the character of god. That we might know God, Jesus Christ came and lived a life on earth, expressing in human terms the character of god, so that we could understand. As we read the story of Jesus in the Gospels our love and admiration for Him deepen, and as we behold that figure we are slowly changed being conformed to the image of the Son. Worship is twofold - conscious, as when adoringly we sing the praises of God, and unconscious, as in the action in our ordinary daily life. We show forth the praise of God not only with our lips but in our lives by giving up ourselves to His service, and by walking before Him in holiness all our days. Worship is not something we can afford to miss or set lightly aside; it is our response to God, and on it our character depends. A LAYMAN.

THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
1940 - 1945. Some of us who are not party politicians are a bit puzzled and somewhat disappointed at the ending of the national Government. Nevertheless, it is fitting that we should pay tribute to the splendid work the members have accomplished. In the dark days of 1940 when our fortunes were at a low ebb, men and women put aside their party differences, and under the inspiring leadership of Mr. Churchill, rallied to the nation’s defence in one united body, and worked harmoniously together until the Germans were forced to surrender unconditionally. This has been the greatest Coalition Government in history and the country owes its members a large debt of gratitude. Their efforts have been crowned with glorious achievement; They thought not of themselves, nor of their party, but of their country, its safety and its welfare, and they laboured resolutely for their country’s good. For that we honour them.
If in the immediate future there should be bickering among the political parties as the Election draws near, let us remember with charity, that these same men and women worked splendidly together for five years and have a grand record of a job well done.

Prepared for web viewing by Mere Brow Local History Society