| Web
Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S NEWS LETTER
March 25th 1941
My
dear Lads,
The large, very large, attendance at all the Services on Sunday
shewed that at any rate deep down in our hearts we still recognise
that "Our help is in the name of the Lord". This is what
our Saviour meant when He said "Apart from Me ye can do nothing."
But while it is true this undeniable fact it is a thousand pities
that it has to need a direct call from our earthly King to make
us acknowledge it publicly. Our young children are growing up and
they can only learn by the example set them by their elders. To
them you lads are heroes, strange though this may seem to you. But
it is true. Your influence at the present time is enormous. I say
again, to the boys of today you lads are the great ones whom they
desire to imitate. See to it that you give them something really
worth imitating. Remember that they, in their innocence, will copy
your bad points and mistake them for the general make-up of the
hero. Pray that you may not lead their little feet astray. Have
a good look over yourselves and make sure that you are worth imitating.
And start with a more regular outward and visible sign of your faith
by more regular attendance at Church. Remember these youngsters
cannot possibly know your inner thoughts; they have to go by your
outward acts and behaviour. It is a great responsibility. Prove
yourselves worthy of it.
With best love,
L.N. FORSE.
Day
of National Prayer.
This day, co-inciding with Mothering Sunday, was a big one at the
Parish Church. As stated elsewhere there were 250 Communicants at
the 8 a.m. Family Communion Service. Mattins was very well attended
and the Church was packed for Evensong. Home Guard attended in full
uniform and filled the whole south aisle. Procession round Church;
British Legion with Standard; full Choir and six Servers. The Bishop
should have preached but he was only just recovering from influenza
and had a Confirmation at Croston on the Saturday afternoon and
another at St. George's, Chorley on the Sunday afternoon neither
of which, of course, could be put off, so telephoned Rector and
asked to be excused as the strain was too great. So Rector took
the service and preached, much to the disappointment of those present.
However they could do, and did do, that for which they came, and
that was to intercede with Almighty God for His blessing on and
protection of our Empire, our Country, our Village and our Homes.
In
lighter vein.
Vicar (to widow putting up her banns): How old are you?
Widow: Thirty on Michaelmas Day.
Vicar: That cannot be; you gave me the same age when you came to
put your first banns up five years ago.
Widow: Certainly; I am not one of those who say one thing today
and another thing tomorrow.
"Sir",
said the witness to the judge who threw doubt upon his veracity.
"I have been wedded to the truth from my infancy."
"I don't doubt it", replied the judge, "but the question
is, how long have you been divorced?"
Looking
Back.
When the Rector heard on the Wireless the other night that Sir Pierre
Van Rhynveldt, the Chief of Staff of the South African Army, had
accompanied General Smuts to Cairo for a conference with Mr. Eden
and General Wavell it took him back 27 years when Sir Pierre was
a tall, slim, fair-haired lad and the Rector himself a young man
of 32. In those halcyon days they knew each other very intimately,
and walked and talked with each other every day. He then joined
the Air Force, returned to South Africa and today controls its Army.
But to the Rector he is still the tall, handsome and good companion
of 27 years ago.
Extracts
from Letters.
Trooper George West sends a very pleasant letter; says the reason
the lads write so rarely now is because they not have time as the
training is so strenuous. Writes his letter on Guard and says that
plenty of German planes are knocking about. Would like us to sing
Hymn 119 in Church on Sunday morning. Marine William Wright sends
quite a good photo of himself in a thoroughly nautical setting.
He is surrounded by lifebuoy, large naval guns, Union Jack, Royal
Crown with a Dreadnought in the background and a large "Forget-me-not”
in the foreground. Says his mates say that he "must come from
a very nice village, which is quite true." Says they have had
no bombs lately, although, if the papers speak truly, they had a
few the very night he wrote. Marine Leslie Hodson writes to say
he arrived at his depot safely last Thursday; says they have the
finest training in the world and are very strict; is in a very big
camp with its own cinema and canteen and is in a very beautiful
spot. Adds, I hope that everyone in Tarleton is alright. AC2 William
Sutton says that they have some good jokes when all the lads get
together "such as fixing beds to collapse when the lads get
into them". Has had his photo taken and is sending the Rector
one. Wishes to be remembered to the lads of Tarleton and especially
mentions Bert Price, Harry Price, Harry Crook and Harry Harrison.
Also add he is already looking forward to the N. L. every week "To
see what the other lads in the village are doing. A nice long letter
comes from William Parkinson R.A.S.C., saying that he went to the
8 o'clock Communion at the Garrison Church last Sunday. Being Mothering
Sunday, he says "I had you all in my thoughts all the time
and knowing that at Tarleton you would have a packed Church although
there would be plenty of familiar faces missing with so many of
the lads away." Adds that he has been getting plenty of bombs
lately. Is sending on the name of his chaplain directly he gets
to know it. The Chaplain only joined the Camp a few days before
he did. Corporal Ernie Ball has now been posted to a different part
of the country. He is now a Transport Corporal in charge of three
vehicles, says "it seems very strange after a Training Coy.,
but it is more interesting, and you do get a change now and again."
Says that it is almost like being at home after being at a place
like --- so long. Food is very good and there is a weekly dance
in the Drill Hall. Also he is only 10 minutes’ walk from the
centre of the town. The Rector would be grateful if those lads who
have not written to him for some time would now break their silence
and send him a few lines. Their Tarleton friends, now scattered
all over the world would be pleased to hear from them through the
N.L.
Local
Talk.
Gdsn. Arthur Molyneux has been sent home for a month to do work
on the land. He is working for George Sutton junior,and has already
had a fortnight of this "working holiday". Mrs. Matt Sutton
has been on a visit to her husband who is at a R. A.S.C. School
learning to be a fitter. She has now returned home. 2nd Lieut. Eric
Hind has sent a cablegram home saying that he has arrived safely
at his destination in the far east. Capt. Fred Croft has also gone
abroad. Jack Marsden, John Caunce and Robert Harrison went for their
Medical on Tuesday. All passed A.1. Jack Marsden has been accepted
for the Navy and John Caunce and Robert Harrison have been accepted
for the R.A.F. Corporal, Frank Foster has now gone abroad and we
do not expect any letters from him for at least a month. Regular
smash up just past Toll Barr on the Hoole side. One large lorry
was completely overturned and is still there with the wheels in
the air. Housewives smiling but market gardeners looking glum because
lettuce has dropped to 2/6 to 3/-per doz. Mr. Richard Tindsley the
tailor, came up to the Guard Room last night to shew Sergeant Nutter
how to measure the H.G. for battle dress. All are to be fully equipped
forthwith. Grand Gipsy at the Methodist Schools last Thursday to
raise money for the Methodists' Soldier Comforts Fund. Very large
audience. The Tarleton A.F.S. members have themselves put concrete
on the floor of the old Co-op stables at the end of Coe Lane which
is now our Fire Station. When we last heard Corporal Jack Bourn
was still in hospital in Scotland. We send him our very best wishes
for a speedy recovery. Gdsn. Aubrey Smith whose home at Longridge
has been broken up, has spent 3 days of his 7 days' leave at the
Rectory. Sign. Tom Harrison, home on leave, left his purse, with
his leave ticket and well over £1 in it, in the Liverpool
bus coming from Preston. Rector telephoned up the Police at Ormskirk;
they stopped the bus but no trace of purse was found. Later the
same evening, the Ormskirk Police 'phoned Rector purse found, so
Tom was pleased. |
