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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S
WEEKLY LETTER
14-08-1940
From
the Rector to the Reader.
I,
with many a comrade, many now living, some now dead, had the privilege
of helping to win the last war. We were given that job to do and
we did it. We had been well trained. Then came the grandest opportunity
ever granted to any generation, that of remoulding the outlook of
the whole world. But for this job both we soldiers and also those
at home were entirely untrained. God had given us a glorious task
and we were quite unprepared to tackle it. So we all made a mess
of it, and this war is the result. We must not let it happen gain.
We must begin now and learn how to use the Peace when it comes.
And as God made the world we must look to him to teach us how to
run it. But we must begin at once if we wish our children to be
spared the same disaster. This is not a sermon but merely a matter
of fact talk about realities. Say to yourself: "If peace came
today should we know to do with it?" Even Peace, beautiful
as it is, is a very dangerous gift to be entrusted to those who
do not know how to use it. And God alone can teach us this lesson
for both Peace and the world belong to Him and Him alone.
Extracts
from Letters.
Sigmn. John T. Tindsley sends, through the News Letter, his best
and fraternal greetings to his cousin Pilot Dick Rimmer. A/C.2.
Billy Benjamin is now settling down in the R.A.F. and sends best
wishes to all his friends. Says up-hill route marches with full
kit and pack make him sweat. Pte. Ronnie Sergeant is still in the
far north learning Gaelic; wears Balmoral cap, but no kilt, also
sends best wishes to all friends. Pte. Eric Nicholson has gone still
farther north and has volunteered for signalling. Pte. J.T Power
(H.B.) is in a "Flying Mobile Column"; says that although
he moves to and from places 100 miles apart the "News Letter"
is equally mobile and flies after him. Pte. Harry Latham asks for
the addresses of Dick Johnson and Tommy Burns. Dr. Abram Wright
says of the place where he is stationed: "How on earth the
War Office had the nerve to put us here is a problem we can't solve.
The other day we had a real bust up, the guard at the gate fainting
and everybody running to the hedge just because someone shouted
'There's a girl going past', so you can imagine the sort of place
I am in. Also asks us to send his kind regards to all the lads;
and adds, "Joe Wait is about five miles from here". Driver
Walter Moss writes: "I would rather not disclose the nature
of my work, for if we want to win this war we must learn to keep
our mouths shut, and leave discussions until the war is over. I
wish you would write that in your next "News-Letter".
Also adds, "France had to lay down arms all because the enemy
knew every move we were going to make and got there before us"
- and as he was in France from the beginning he ought to know. Says
too, "there is not another place that looks after its young
men who are away as Tarleton does". George Barker (married
Nick Dandy's daughter), says he is with Norman Barron and Jack Gidlow
in the South West. Tom Fazackerley says he shews his N.L. to the
other lads and they say he must live in a good village. Thanks the
M.U. for gifts, says he and a pal went for a walk and saw a deer
(yes, that is the correct spelling!) Dr. Jack Robinson wishes to
be remembered to Harry Cookson and Bert Price. Has a Dance Band
in his company. Says he has now driven all round Ireland, has done
over 1,000 since he landed. L/Cpl. Ernie Ball writes to say he expects
to be on leave in about a fortnight's time, hopes that Adolph will
keep quiet till it is over. Dr Ronnie Pilkington wishes to thank
the Mothers' Union for the many
gifts they have sent him.
Odds
and Ends.
Mrs. Paddy Baldwin (Sollom Lock) was buried on Saturday. Mollie
Burns was married
to Harry Forrest of Much Hoole in the Parish Church on Saturday.
He only had 48 hours' leave but Mollie has gone back with him for
a week. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Harrison (Kearsley) spent the week-end
just opposite Tom' s camp. Last week we stated that the Mill hands
drew out £1,000 from the holiday camp. It should have been
£1,100. In spite of ceaseless snooping we have been unable
to obtain any more local news. Everyone on holiday.
Home
Guard Notes.
All guards on duty as usual this week. Both guard rooms have been
made very comfortable. All the lads when they come on leave think
that they can teach their elders at home a few tricks, but the elders
think otherwise. When the war is over we might have a competition
- the Old Guard v the Young Guard.
Ernie
Ball's Joke.
Here
is this week's winning joke, sent in by Ernie Ball to whom P.O.
for 2/6d has been sent.
Two Scotsmen both in need of a pint have only 6d between them.
Jock: - Put it on the railway line, Mac, and when train comes along
it will flatten it out to look like a bob.
Half an hour later the train goes by. Mac rushes up to Jock and
shouts: "The tanner's gone!"
"Aye", says Jock, "It was the Scotch Express".
Youth
Sunday.
This, at the request of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Roman
Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, the Moderators of the Free Churches
and the chief Jewish Rabbi, was observed last Sunday. Good congregations
at the parish Church, but we missed the lads away.
On
Leave.
Tommy Burns home for 48 hours' for his sister's wedding. Sergt.
Stanley Baldwin home for 7 days. Billy Benjamin, Harry Taylor and
Bert Barron home for Sunday afternoon.
Have
you heard it?
A
detachment of the Blankshire Regt. was stationed in a village and
the Squire and his Wife though they would ask the Officer in Command
to dinner. So the Lady wrote "Sir Tom and Lady Noddy request
the pleasure of Captain Perkin's company to dinner on Friday at
8 p.m.
This is the answer she received: "With the exception of three
men who are confined to barracks, Captain Perkin's Company has great
pleasure in accepting Sir Tom and Lady Noddy's kind invitation".
Have
they Landed?
Half crowns have been sent to Harry Price, Bert Price and Harry Latham as winners of the
Joke Competition, but so far we have not heard whether they have
received them. A p.c. would oblige.
Gone
East.
Jimmy
Burns (Tarleton and Hoole), Hubert Tindsley, and Jack Orrit (Hoole),
have gone east. Engineer Officer Johnny Hague is also somewhere
on the high seas in the same direction.
Hesketh
Bank News.
Bert Miller and John Iddon Ascroft have joined up. Joe Moore, who
is in the Navy is home on leave. Tom Miller was home on leave last
week.
When
coming home.
As leave has now started again we would remind those who arrive
at Preston or Southport after the last train or 'bus has left that
if they ring up the Rector, 230 Hesketh Bank, a car will come to
meet them. |
