| Web
Transcript © 2003 Hubmaker. All rights reserved.
Reproduction by any means strictly prohibited.
RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
March 24th 1942
My dear Lads,
The Confirmation went off very well; but how I missed my elder Servers!
All things considered the younger ones did extremely well, especially
considering that this was the first big Service for most of them.
But I shall, indeed, be thankful when the older ones get back, for
they certainly did relieve me of so many responsibilities on such
occasions as this. The Bishop took as his text “Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?", spoken by St. Paul at the moment
of his conversion. A very good text for each one of us at the present
crisis. There must be a good many of you who have need to ask the
same question. It is obvious to all that after the War the whole
world outlook will have to be constructed, and every man will have
to play his part in that reconstruction. And God looks to the Christian
men to see that it is reconstructed on a Christian basis. What will
your part be in this great work? Ask God, again and again in your
prayers "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" and then
set about and prepare yourselves, and make yourselves efficient
to do that work. And remember, work for God means spiritual efficiency,
not necessarily mental, bodily, or business efficiency, but most
necessarily Spiritual efficiency.
Ever, as you know, your eager fellow worker, L.N.FORSE.
Home
Front News.
Mr. and Mrs. Hind have received a cablegram from Eric, who was at
Singapore when the garrison surrendered saying "Safe and well,
will send address later." Nothing more than that, but it is
obvious that he has escaped as cablegrams cannot be sent from enemy
occupied countries. There was no sign of the place from which the
cablegram was sent. John Tindsley has been officially reported missing
and so has Harry Monk, of Bretherton, who married May Twist, off
the Moss. Both were in Singapore. Also nothing has yet been heard
of Jimmy Latham who was also there. When last heard of Billy Stringfellow,
of H.B. was on the Exeter, which went down near Java. Malcolm Parkinson,
Moss Lane, has been home on embarkation leave. He is a Cadet in
the R A.F., training for a Pilot Officer, and is going to Canada
to complete his training. Harry Latham is also home on embarkation
leave. Lewis Clark joined up this week. Mr. George Mawdsley, Fulwood
Avenue, died on Tuesday, and was buried at Tarleton. He was 67 years
of age. Everyone on the Moss, and many elsewhere in the, village,
are busy planting lettuces. The Confirmation on Saturday went off
very well, and very reverently, there were 30 Candidates from Tarleton,
6 from H.B. and 11 from Hoole. Mr. Thorn and Mr. Watkins came with
their Candidates. We missed the elder servers, but the younger one
did their jobs very well, John Webster and Tom Dickinson were the
Bishop’s attendants, John Caunce carried the processional
Cross in the Bishop’s procession and John Spencer the Cross
in the Choir procession. Tom Forshaw and Arnold Bailey were the
rector's attendants and Mr. William Hind was the M.C. The Bishop
gave a most helpful address to the Children, and after the Service
came into the School and sat down with them to a cup of tea and
a bun. The Banns were published for the first time an Sunday of
the Marriage of Harry Cookson to Sarah Harrison. They are to be
married on April 18th. On Wednesday the rector attended a meeting
of Army Chaplains at Whalley Abbey. Both Army and R.A.F. Chaplains
were present and the Bishop of Blackburn presided over the Conference.
The D.A.C.G. and the corresponding brass hat of the R.A.F. were
also present. Sergeant Nick Dewhurst, Scots Guards, home on leave
looked very smart with crossed rifles on his sleeve to denote that
he is a qualified Instructor in the use of that weapon. He also
had the new short bayonet on his belt. His chief job now-a-days
is instructing new recruits. The rector had to rush home, to Windsor,
or near it, on Monday because his sister was ill, and she looks
after his father who is 92 years old. So he had to arrange for someone
else to be in charge of the house. So far none of the railings round
the Church or Schools, or the old Church gates have been taken.
The ladies of Tarleton registered at the Methodist Chapel on Saturday
in their age group. As one lady told the rector it was like having
her age writ in large letters on a placard on her back, as she walked
along Church road to the Chapel. Never again can she pretend she
is still in her twenties. We dare not even whisper who registered.
Extracts
from Letters.
Corpl Jimmy Burns, R. A. S. C., sends an airgraph from the middle
east. It begins: "Many thanks for the N.Ls. When I got in yesterday
I found six on my bed. They were all in order from Nov. to Dec.
Well by the N,Ls I see that the lads keep coming out from home to
the M.E. They could have a much worse place than this. I want to
stay here until they say 'Home James‘. I saw Dick Sephton
yesterday and had a good chat about old times in Tarleton. I wish
to be remembered to all the lads at home and away." Signs himself
"Old Jim". His airgaph was dated 21 2 42. Also comes an
airgraph from Pte George Almond, dated 19 2 42,and begins "Yesterday
I received five more of your very interesting N.Ls. Where we are,
and have been for some time, we do not get the services of a Chaplain,
but that does not deter us from holding our little Services each
Sunday. Several of us take it in turns in taking the Services and
we derive great spiritual help from them. You can be sure that what
you are doing for us lads is greatly appreciated. I am hoping to
go into the Delta on leave shortly and it will be a grand change
from desert life it is now some four months since I saw civilization.
It will be a joy to have a real bath instead of the petrol tin type".
Sends best wishes to all the lads. Provost Sergeant Jimmy Leacy
C.M.P. says "'My time has been taken up very much by instructional
work, much of this in addition to normal duties. I have also been
helping to run a number of indoor sports tournaments ,and other
entertainments. As soon as Easter is over I have to go on a three
weeks course. By the way I have still to come across another N.L.
like yours. I believe it is unique, and, if I may say so, does you
great credit," Says that he hoes that good news will soon arrive
about our friends who are in the Far East, and ends by saying "To
my pals, via the N.L. Good Luck". Pte Harry Cookson, who is
in the semi-arctic regions, not far from the North Pole writes:
It is very quiet here but we can get to Church almost every Sunday
and we look forward to it. You may have heard people talking about
me getting married in the near future, and I am glad to say that
they are quite correct." He asks the rector to make all arrangements
at this end. Ends his letter "I will thank you once again for
all you do for us, sir, while we are away, and will you please remember
me to Sergt. Jimmy Leacy and Sergt. Ernie Ball?". Dvr. Jack
Robinson, who is overseas, says he is very glad that his cousin
Vera (Iddon) is enjoying life in the W.A.A.Fs, and wishes to be
remembered to her. Goes on "I am having a night in tonight
and have done nothing else only write letters since six o’clock.
Well, sir, we have a Toc H. here and the padre has been chosen as
Toc H. Padre. We have some very good nights. The A.C.G. gave us
a very good talk on the history of Toc H. and where it was first
started and all about Woodbine Willie. I was very sorry to hear
about Mrs. Whittle and send my deepest sympathy to all those who
will miss her. I am enjoying Army life, and the friends that I have
made over here are very good to me. Just remember me to all the
lads away from home, and especially those in the Far East. Gunner
John Ball writes: As you will see by my address, I am now back on
the gun-site. We only get half a day off every eight days. I get
the N.L. every week and all my mates here want to read it. Last
Monday our Division was on the Wireless in the Broadcast called
Ac.Ac.; Beer,Beer, but we did not hear it as our set has gone away
to be repaired. There are rumours that we are moving again shortly.
Ends his letter thus "I would like to be remembered through
the N.L. to all the other lads who are in the Forces and hope to
hear that those who were at Singapore are safe." Seaman William
Ball, R.N. says "I have just been to Church as we hold Church
every Sunday and prayers every morning. on Friday we held it on
the upper deck as the weather is lovely and warm down this way.
We have been at sea three weeks and hope to arrive in port in a
weeks time. I have been to this port quite a few times so I know
what to expect. There is very little to see except a few natives
and they are not such a nice sight. But then I suppose that I have
been spoiled after spending five weeks in the States, and five days
in the finest city in the world New York. Last week we had a practice
shoot which caused quite a din, but I had plenty of cotton wool
stuffed in my ears. I was also away in the boarding boat.”
Marine Kenneth Nicholson, who writes from some thousand miles away
in the tropics, sends a very much censored letter. The scissors
have been freely used and it arrived almost in shreds. Says of the
N.L. "The way you ferret the news out makes me think you would
make a good third degree expert of the American police.” Later
says: "I would be grateful if you would let me have the addresses
of Stan Quinlan and Hugh Rowland. Give my best wishes to them and
to all the boys wherever they are. I have looked at the sea so long
that I look like it and I hope that soon we will visit
a decent port, but from what I can make out we are in for a long
time at sea.” |
