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Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
March 11th 1941
My
dear Lads.
It is just as I thought. Since I wrote my little grumble which,
as you know was a very, very little one, I have been snowed up with
letters. Of course, having been soldiering myself in the last war
I know how very difficult it is to keep up with one' s letter writing.
All I am dreading now is that you will all think that the other
fellows are writing and so if everyone does that I shall have another
week with no letters arriving. May I suggest that you each write
one a fortnight or even once every three weeks so as to keep the
flow constant. I know that perhaps the most interesting section
of my weekly letter is that which tells you what the other lads
away are doing. Your news interests others just as their news interests
you. And without your letters I have little to pass on. I am the
clearing house keeping you all in touch with one another and this
makes the family spirit very real although we are all separated.
I think that you will all agree that there never was such a family
village as ours, all knowing each other, all hob-knobbing with each
other and, yes, all knowing each other's business. The Rectory has
always been an open house for every one to open the door and come
in, and you will certainly agree that there is not a soul from the
youngest baby to the oldest inhabitant who does not know me intimately
and whom I do not know personally. Well!: this is as it should be.
And I want to maintain that family spirit even though you are all
so separated one from another. I want still to be the link binding
each to other. It is a privilege I greatly value. Next week you
will all receive your Mothering Sunday Card together with the letter
I always send out with it.
With many thanks for your letters and with much love to you all,
Ever your affectionate brother, L. N. FORSE.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
Joe Wait writes for himself and Abraham Wright to say that they
are still together and that both enjoyed their leave. Hopes to be
home again on his 7 days' very shortly. Dvr. Tommy Burns has been
"seeing England" in his charabanc and appears to be enjoying
it. Has also been doing batman to his Officer for a week. Wishes
to be remembered to all his friends in Tarleton and surrounding
villages and thanks the Rector for the rhymes on "Gas"
in a recent issue of the N.L. Trooper R. A. Parker (Hesketh Lane),
has left the Infantry and joined the Gunners. Says that he has only
four days leave in eight months. Is in a Barracks well known to
the Rector who served as Chaplain there for some time . Adds "In
your next N. L. I would like you to remember me to George Barker
Hoole; and also give my congratulations to Dan Stazicker who married
my wife's cousin a few weeks ago. Gunner Harry Harrison says of
the place in Scotland in which he is billeted "I have never
seen anything so beautiful in my life, the scenery is marvellous":
Says that he was 27 hours in the train that took him up north and
actually passed through -- on the way and wished he could have jumped
out and seen his wife and daughter. Gdsn George Burns says he was
in his Y.M.C.A. when a lad came across and spoke to him. It was
Harry Price who is stationed about a quarter of a mile from George.
He also sees Arthur Molyneux who is also stationed in the vicinity.
Has been away on field manoeuvres for a few days and still thinks
Lancashire the best county in England. Pte Kenneth Robshaw has his
meals in a Picture House that has been closed. Says it is quite
a joke walking on the stage for his rations. Has very good billets,
but his lot have made them so with scrubbing them down from top
to bottom. Is looking forward to his next leave. Dvr. Jack Robinson
says that he really has landed in a good place. Hopes to be home
for Easter. In the meantime is thoroughly enjoying his job as batman
to the Padre. Takes him in car to Confirmation classes, serves him
at Holy Communion every Sunday and drives him about all the week.
Had a big "Do" on the other night; his mate, who comes
from Chorley was in a boxing contest. Wishes to be remembered to
all his friends in Tarleton and district. Dvr. Noel Clarke (Nobby),
writes from the very south to say that his lot are working seven
days a week, starting at 6 a.m. and finishing at 8 p.m. He is billeted
in a charming little village and says it is very warm where he is.
Still keeps up his boxing but finds little opportunity to do anything
else. Is having his photo taken and promises to send the Rector
one. Pte. Ernie Nicholson says he is enjoying the sea at a popular
watering place in the south, but is only allowed out one half day
per week owing to extra work. Is on duty as a Signaller from 0630
hrs to 2000 hrs 'but the job is very interesting'. Had a route march
over rough country, came back sweating, for the pace was fast, then
had a bath; adds 'Oh, what a joy is a good bath'. Thinks that his
brother Ken's letters will be few and far between now that he is
on the ocean wave.
HELD OVER.
Letters received from AC2 Robert Moss; Sapper George Barker; Thomas
Fazackerly; Sapper Dick Johnson; Corpl. Ernie Ball; Dvr. Harley
McKean; Gdsn. Aubrey Smith Sergt. George Hardcastle.
We will give extracts from all these letters in our next issue as
there is no space left in this one.
LOCAL
GOSSIP
L/cpl Hugh Latham (Home
Guard) who had only received his promotion for proficiency last
week, broke his ankle on Sunday while at Rufford on Home Guard Duty.
He was lifting a steel girder when he twisted his foot and broke
two bones in his ankle. He was taken to Preston Infirmary in the
Croston Ambulance. Dr. Hendron was called to him at Rufford and
gave first aid. He is doing well. Vincent Marsden's Ice-Cream motor
cart skidded in Hesketh Lane and ran into the radiator of Nick Latham'
s 20 ton wagon and smashed it up. Strange to say the ice-Cream cart
was not seriously damaged. The Rectory is now like an hotel, Two
Quartermaster Sergeants, three Staff Sergeants, two L/corporals
and four Privates sleep under its hospitable roof. They have the
whole of the back wing and so do not interfere with the rest of
the house at all. Ted Barnish has sent a cablegram home from somewhere
off the coast of Africa saying that he is O.K. Henry Whittle is
in bed because a piece of the bone of his leg, which was shattered
in the last war, is coming out. Mrs. Richard Iddon (next Co-op)
and her daughter Mrs. Thompson are both home from the Infirmary.
The Rector has just come down from the Guard Room where the Home
Guard picket are frying fish and chips on the fire. George Spencer
supplied the fish. Others on duty are Tom Wilson Nick Latham, Norman
Pearson, Philip Rigby, Perry Wright. We in Tarleton have more lads
serving with the Forces than any other village round about taking
our population into account.
The Rector visited Hugh Latham in Preston Infirmary this (Tuesday)
afternoon and found that he was be sent home on account of the shortage
of beds: Co-op Divi day yesterday.
Special Memorial Service for the late Henry Cookson in Mere Brow
mission Church next Sunday afternoon. The Tarleton Red Cross section
has just completed making its first thousand garments. Most of these
have been sent off but before doing so they had a display of many
of the articles made. Mrs. Croft, wife of Dr Lawrence Croft, is
the chairman of our Red Cross.
ON LEAVE
Mr. Davies, the Liverpool Assistant Master at the Tarleton Church
Schools, who is a Cadet in the R.A.F., home on leave on completing
his course of instruction. He is training for a Pilot Officer. On
leave for 14 days, seven spent in Tarleton and seven at Abergele,
Wales, which is his home town. - L/cpl Fred Forshaw for seven days
on completing a three month‘s course of instruction. Obtained
96 % of marks in his final exam, and is now about to be posted to
a unit. Sargt. Wait for 7 days. Sapper Ronnie Melling returned on
Friday to his unit, and Aubrey Smith (Sick Leave) on Tuesday. Dr.
Croft’s sons have been home for flying visits
HOME
GUARD NEWS
The result of the Darts Competition with Bank Hall was that the
Home Guard won all
games. Afterwards 24 competitors sat down to a Hot Pot supper in
the Rectory kitchen. Very intensive training is now in progress.
There is same talk of getting up a subscription for L/cpl Hugh Lalham
who is our first casualty.
THE WASTED LIFE
That man may last, but never lives,
Who much receives but never gives;
Whom non can love, whom none can thank,
Creation’s blot, creation's blank.
WHEN THE WAR IS OVER.
When the war is over and we have returned to our homes we shall
all have friends scattered all over the world. They are bound at
times to think of us. What will their thoughts be? Will they have
real cause to lift their voice on high and thank God for our friendship
because it gave them nobler thoughts and higher ideals; or will
they curse the day they knew us because we robbed them of the sight
of God?
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