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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
March 4th 1941
My
dear Lads,
This week, as you will see, I have had several more letters, and
just as I am writing this, five more have come, but I must leave
the extracts from these for next week as I have already done my
extracts for this week.
Things
are going on very much as usual here, and with Lent being on us
all the dances etc, are closed down. However even Lent does not
mean that we should go about with long faces for we are told to
"rend our hearts and, not our garments". But I do hope,
and pray, that each one of you will try to find time to give some
attention to the more serious things of life. Might I suggest that
you go more regularly to Church and certainly be more regular at
Holy Communion. As I am never tired of saying a complete man with
a strong and well nourished soul in a well nourished and strong
body is the most joyous and happy being it is possible to conceive,
for he knows both his spiritual and physical strength. When we start
a new life or in fact anything new, we always have to give much
thought to what we are setting out to do: Lent affords us six good
weeks to think things out and to make a really good beginning. Well,
this is more or less a serious letter, as you would expect from
me as the first one I am writing this Lent, but you know me, and
you know how anxious I am both for your bodily and spiritual welfare.
With my love and my Blessing
Ever your affectionate brother,
L. N. FORSE.
Extracts from Letters.
Very nice letter from Sigh. Tom Harrison full of news. He has moved
and his lot took three days treking from one side of this island
to the other. On the way slept in a Town Hall, a large College and
in a deserted town. While the cook was away has been trying his
hand at his job. Dvr. Dick Sephton, still chasing Musso's ice-cream
merchants across the desert writes that he is now in a different
country from the one from which he last wrote though still in the
middle east. His letter dated Jan. 5th reached the Rector on March
3rd. Says he does not receive all the letters sent him but his mother
sends him letters by air mail and sometimes cablegrams. But he still
receives the N. L. but "although they are two or three months
old when I receive them, I find them very interesting indeed and
I look forward to them coming." Says he has written several
letters to Corpl. Ernie Ball. Says he greatly enjoyed his Christmas
dinner. Finishes "by looking at the N. L. you don't seem to
have many young men left in Tarleton now. I will close now trusting
you to remember me to all my mates." Corpl. Instructor Ernie
Ball says that his O.C. said they had worked so hard that he would
give them a day off. Is of the opinion that the 19's make far better
soldiers than the 35's, and goes on "I think that most people
will agree with me that the "cream" of the country was
called up in the first 6 or 8 months of the war". Is anxious
to know what his brother Sid has registered for R.A.M.C. John Parker
(Liverpool) has again changed his address and says that he would
like the Parish Magazine every month. The Rector knows the place
where he is billeted very well indeed, but Jack says of it "this
place is a bit of a mud bound dump." Says a couple of hundred
sleep in double tier beds in one huge room. The Parish Church holds
about 80 persons. Says the Rector of the place usually spends part
of the evening with the lads in the N.A.A.F.I. Adds that he will
have to borrow a bicycle to go to Holy Communion as the Church is
more than a mile away. Adds as P. S. Bill Faulkner has been promoted
to Sergeant. Dvr. Matt Sutton is taking a fitter course at a Technical
College in a large city, and says all the tools and equipment are
first class. Says "My billet here is just about the next best
thing to being at home; we have every comfort and really good food".
Adds what with his college training with civilian instructors and
his excellent home from home "we hardly know that we are in
the Army now". Saw Ernie Ball at the place where he did his
Infantry training. Is sending his photograph when he has had it
taken.
Local Talk.
The Banns of marriage between George Cryer and Peggy Harrison are
to be called for the first time next Sunday. They are being married
at Easter and will live at Caton. On Tuesday evening eight of our
Home Guard are playing Bank Hall at Darts and the Rector is giving
both teams a Hot-pot supper, The Ambulance brigade are being supplied
with battle dress dyed blue. The Rector can now assure you that
every item of the rhymes on "Gas" in last weeks issue
is absolutely correct. He went to a Lecture in the Barracks on Saturday
and the young Lieut. who was lecturing gave the same gases and the
same smells to identify them and gave them all in the same order
although he had never seen this rhyme. William Ascroft, (Higher
Lane, Holmes) died on Monday, aged 67. Henry Cookson, Mere Brow,
died on Monday, aged 83. Janie Waring, Chapel Road, Hesketh Bank
had her 21st Birthday Party in H.B. School on Wednesday last. Tarleton
Methodist young women raised £18 for their comforts fund at
their Gipsy concert. The Committee of the British Legion Club have
decided to open the club room all day for members of H.M Forces,
and to reduce the charge for billiards to the same to 6d. per hour.
This will apply to all lads home on leave as well as to any soldiers
who may be billeted in the neighbourhood. Reading Room, Writing
Room, supply of paper, darts and cards etc. will be free to all
in uniform. Women's Section B. L. had a jumble sale on Saturday
to raise money for the Comforts Fund. James Swift (L.A.C., R.A.F.)
of Newburgh is to be married to Agnes Rigby at Easter; the Banns
are to be called for the first time on Sunday. L/Cpl Nick Taylor
has been promoted to the rank of Corporal in the Home Guard. Magazines
for March are now ready and, if possible, will be sent with this
issue, but we should appreciate it if those who receive Magazines
direct from home as it would save quite a lot of overlapping. A
few weeks ago we reported that Jimmy Burns who is in the middle
east, had been in hospital. He has now had to go back to hospital
to have his tonsils removed. As his letter was sent in January and
has only just reached England we expect that he is now back with
his Unit. On Saturday afternoon the ladies of the British Legion
asked Miss Evelyn Webster to call at the Club room, and, after thanking
her for the valuable work she is doing in sending out the Rector's
News Letter every week, presented her with a very charming little
dish as a mark of their appreciation. Mr. Wm. Ascroft and his son
Donald are ploughing up the field behind Abram's Smithy in the village.
They have bought a motor tractor, plough, harrow, etc.
On Leave
Sapper Ronnie Melling for 7 days. Gdsn. Corporal Nick Dewhurst for
7 days. Ralph Iddon, R.A.F. (Hesketh Bank) for 7 days,A.C.2 John
Pickervance for short leave.
Ploughing Up
Nearly all Tarleton is now under the plough. Mr. Balshaw is ploughing
up the low meadow field next to Lord Lilford's Cottages in Coe Lane.
James Howard is ploughing the Rector's Glebe field behind the Rectory
and almost everyone with a piece of land to spare is digging it
up for Victory. So far we have not many land girls but what will
happen when the 19's are called up remains to be seen.
Prayers in hymns.
Hymns can be songs of Praise, acts of worship and also acts of prayer.
There are many such in the Hymn Book, but perhaps the best, or at
any rate amongst the best is that well known one "Lead, kindly
Light amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.
I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou
Shouldst lead me on;
I loved to chose and see my path; but now
Lead Thou me on.
I loved the garish day, and spite of fears,
Pride rules my will; remember not past years;
So long thy power hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on,
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone;
And with the morn those Angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since and lost awhile."
This hymn used as a prayer is most suitable to say every evening
and exemplifies very concisely what is meant by putting one's hand
into the Hand of God and letting Him show us the way, for the way
that God leads us along is bound to be the best.? |
