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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
January 14th 1941
Rector'
s Letter.
Here I get back, I am glad to say, to a letter to begin the News-Sheet.
As I write I am thinking of each one individually and I always feel
as though I were writing to each separate lad. This Christmastide
I have been pleased to have so many lads home and last week I had
five call upon me at the same time. I greatly appreciate your courtesy
in making these calls, for I know from my own experience in the
last war how very valuable is each minute of one's leave. And what
pleases me still more is to find so many coming to the early Communion
Service even when on a four days' leave. I think that you will agree
that no one knows the majority of you better than I do, not even
your parents, and I do know how good and true and loyal you all
are to the teaching you have received. Now you are away I pray continually
that you may have the grace to persevere in spite of all temptations.
And being an old Army man myself I know how great they are. But
God, I know, will give you the strength to remain loyal to all that
is good within you, and I look forward the time when Victory is
assured and you and I together, if God spares me, will fulfil in
our own small village the high purpose of God.
I send you, one and all, my love and my Blessing, and ask that even
as you are never forgotten in my prayers so may I never be forgotten
in yours.
Ever your affectionate brother.
L.N. FORSE.
Extracts from Letters.
Gunner Harry Harrison wishes to be remembered to all his Cousins,
Jimmy Latham and his brother Jack, and Harry away, Tom Harrison,
Harry Cookson, Dick Harrison, Tom Rigby (Toll Bar) and also to his
friend A.C.2 William Benjamin "Whom I should like to see very much."
Also desires us to thank Miss Altys Bible Class for gift of 2/6.
Marine Ken Nicholson is still waiting orders for going abroad. Says
things are quiet where he is and then adds "They brought a Bomber
down loaded with land mines and it nearly wrecked the whole town."
Wishes all the lads the best they can make of the New Year under
the conditions now prevailing. Gdsn. Aubrey Smith (Longridge) says
he has had terrible night with the Huns, incendiary bombs came down
by the hundred and a torpedo bomb was dropped in the garden of his
billet. Says he does not want to spend another Christmas in the
Army. Dvr. Jack Robinson says he has had a very good Christmas,
"Talk about eating, we did, we finished the pig alright." Also says
he gets very well looked after and likes his job as batman to the
padre. Adds "Sunday is a very big day for me; our first service
is at 7-45 a.m. and our last at 4-0 p.m. and in between we have
four more services; it is just what I like going from one camp to
another with the Chaplain." He thanks the M.U. and the Bible
Class for gifts received and wishes all at home and the lads away
all the best for the New Year. Gdsn. George Burns says he is back
in the M.T. Says he has been given a Flying Standard to take Officers
to London every day. He and three mates were invited out on Christmas
Day to dinner with a millionaire and says "talk about a good time
we had; it was very nearly as good as being at home." A.C. Robert
Moss writes a long and cheerful letter to explain how he eventually
got home last Sunday. He hitchhiked from Bristol to Chorley, rang
the Rector up at 2-0 a.m, car was sent to meet him but froze up,
he then rang up Johnson's Butchers, Hesketh Lane, they sent car.
It froze up but they thawed it at the Rectory, then pushed on and
found Robert made very comfortable at Police Station, Chorley. Says
"Police stations are not as bad as one thinks." Adds that he is
expecting a long leave very soon. Corpl. Ernie Ball writes that
he got back to barracks in nine hours compared with the 16 hours
it took him to get home. Says the weather is fairly cold and regrets
that where he is there is nowhere fit for skating. Pte. Hubert Tindsley,
R.A.M.C., has now moved farther into the interior of Africa and
when dispatching his last letter was very near the equator. He still
receives the N.L. regularly. Trooper Ted Barnish has now gone East
and says that no letters are likely to be received from him for
some time. Dvr. Wm. Bridge (Rufford) is billeted in an old house,
very large, in Dorsetshire, with no hot water or electric light,
but lovely spring beds. Says he still drives the ambulance with
a Preston lad as his mate. Wishes to be remembered to Ernie Ball
and wants his address.
Village
Talk.
Mr. James Dobson, of Hundred End, sat down to tea last Saturday
and died in his chair. He was 84 years old. He was buried at Hesketh
Bank, the Rector taking the funeral as Mr. Thorne was away. His
wife aged 90 was too ill to be present. Mr. Thomas Latham, Chapel
Cottages, died quite suddenly on Wednesday. He is to be buried with
his first wife at Salmsbury, the rector is taking the funeral. Leslie
Hodson, Church Road, who works for Walter Williams was coming up
Hesketh Lane on Monday night in the lorry with Walter driving when
they ran into the back of Ronnie Tongue's lorry. Walter escaped
with a shaking but Leslie bit his tongue nearly off and was badly
bruised on legs. Dr. Herbert Croft put four stitches in his tongue
and he is now doing well. Leslie was joining the Marines on Wednesday,
but has now had to register with the twenties. He still hopes to
get to the Marines with his friend Will Wright. Mrs. Richard Iddon
was buried on 'Wednesday, Ronnie being home for the funeral. Dan
Stazicker is being married to Isabella Ball on January 18th; i.e.
if nothing stops him getting leave. William Hull (Hoole and Tarleton)
is being married to Alice Sutton, Hesketh Lane on February 15th.
Tarleton A.F.S. have taken the co-op. stables next to Miss Miller's
old house at the end of Coe Lane for a Fire Station. Have put in
great sliding doors painted bright red. They have bought a motor
car, and pull Fire Engine as trailer. The Rector had his usual Epiphany
party for the Altar Servers at the Rectory on Monday night after
the service in Church. The Tarleton
Home Guard are at last being fully equipped with Khaki overcoats.
They are also being supplied with bayonets. 2nd Lieut. Eric Hind
has now gone East. Those who know him will be interested to learn
that the Rector's Nephew, 'the Rev.E.J.Forse, Vicar of Cowplain,
Portsmouth, has been appointed an Army Chaplain. Mr. Pye, Bank Bridge,
County Council mole catcher, had a stroke while at Rufford last
Sunday. Was found in a ditch, brought home and. is now doing well
though still in bed. British Legion Annual Meeting took place on
Monday night. Rector again elected Chairman, Mr. Burt, Secretary
Mr. Bailey, Treasurer. So many lads being away the Club may have
to be closed during summer months. The Bishop of Blackburn has promised
to preach in Tarleton Parish Church at Evensong on Mothering Sunday,
March 23rd. All the assistants at the Co-op. have volunteered for
firewatching duty. Arrangements are also being made for fire watchers
for Church and schools. The Mill is sending its fire-watchers f
or a special training course. Miss Elizabeth Latham, Hesketh lane,
is now teaching at Tarleton C.E. Schools in the place of Mr. Davies.
Mr. Freeman, the assistant master at the Council Schools, has been
called up to the R. A. F. (Medical Section) and goes on Wednesday.
Mr. Waterhouse is the only master left in the Council School now.
Home
on Leave.
Marine William Wright for 7 days. Dvr. Tom Burns, R.A.M.C. for 7
days. Pte. Kenneth Robshaw for 7 days. A.C.2 William Molyneux for
a few hours on Sunday, with a friend from Newcastle. Sign. Tom Fazackerley
for 7 days. Engineer A.C. Roger Watson still on his 14 days. Pilot
Officer Dick Rymer for weekend. A.C. 2 Harry Taylor for 7 days.
Letters.
There are several lads from whom we have not heard for a long time.
Will these please send at least a few lines? They should remember
that they like reading about the doings of other lads in the N.L.,
and these other lads who do write would also like to read about
their doings. It makes the N.L. more interesting for everyone, and
it certainly makes the Rector's work in compiling it much more easy.
So get paper pen or pencil, and WRITE.
Our
Thanks.
The £2. 0. 6d which we stated in our last week's issue came
from the M.U. really came from Mrs.Robinson of Plox Brow. Mrs. Robinson
embroidered a really magnificent cushion and raffled it, making
as we have said, over two pounds. This she most generously handed
to the Rector towards the cost of the News Letter. The M.U. also
gave the Rector £1 for the same purpose, and Mrs. Tatham (Post
Office, Hesketh Lane), Mrs. Wareing, Mrs. Alfred Rowland and two
friends who wish to remain anonymous have also given the Rector
donations for the same purpose.
Parish
Magazines.
As we said a few weeks ago we are ceasing sending the Magazine to
lads away owing to the great cost. We hope that parents will send
theirs on after having read them. However we do know how lads like
to get it, so if there are any whose parents or friends do not send
it will these please send a p.c. to the Rector AT ONCE and he will
see that they receive a copy regularly each month. And do not be
afraid to ask.
Addresses.
The Rector has the addresses of all lads away and will send on any
address in confidence if he is asked for it. |
