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RECTOR'S WEEKLY NEWS
March 9th 1944
No. 205 - Issued weekly since May 1940
Mothering Sunday Double Number

My dear boys and girls,
Before another issue can reach you we shall arrive once more at Mid-Lent Sunday, commonly called Mothering Sunday. This will be on March 19th. As all Church lads and girls will remember this will be the anniversary of your first Communion. Think back to your Confirmation Classes, then to the Confirmation itself, and then on to the following Mothering Sunday when, at eight o'clock in the morning, the Church was packed with parents, Godparents and friends who had come in such great numbers to support and encourage you on so great a day.
How far have you fulfilled the high hopes we had of you all since then? It is always worth while taking stock of oneself from time to time.
Will you all, please, try and be present at a Service of Holy Communion on this Mothering Sunday, March 19th. Remember, your parents and friends will be in Church at 8 o'clock praying for you. Will you also be on your knees praying for them? Once again it will be a First Communion day, for all those who have this year been confirmed by the Bishop of Blackburn will be in Church at this hour with their parents, Godparents and friends. Will you, please, remember them in your prayers?
Show this letter to your Chaplain and I am perfectly sure that he will arrange a Service of Holy Communion to suit your time. And ask him to say, for you, a prayer for your loved ones at home, and also for those who will be making their first Communion.
I would also ask the non-Church boys and girls to remember, on this day, their parents at home, and also those younger members of our village who will need all our prayers as they set forth on their own upon the spiritual adventure of life.
You know, without my saying it, how greatly I long after you all, and how continually you are in my thoughts and my prayers.
With my love and my Blessing,
Ever your affectionate brother,
L.N.FORSE.

HOME FRONT NEWS.
Mrs. George Farrington (nee Annie Wilson, Wesley Cottages), has presented her husband with a baby girl. We congratulate Chrys upon being a grandfather.
David Carr, Moss Lane, is on leave after being torpedoed.
Mrs. Rymer, Hesketh Lane, who has been a patient in a Liverpool hospital, is now back home. Still poorly, but doing well.
Arthur Barron, in a Military hospital in the north, is going on nicely. His mother is still staying in the town, near the hospital.
Mrs. Edwin Crabtree (Marion Hunter) died at the house of her aunt (Mrs Rigby), Coe Lane on Wednesday morning, and was buried at Tarleton on Saturday. Her husband obtained special leave from Italy to see her. He was with her when she died.
Mrs. Twist, Tarleton Moss, mother of Fred and Hugh Twist, died on Friday, and was buried at Tarleton on Monday, She was born at Kingston-on-Thames. She was 87.
Mrs. Holmes, Sandwell's houses, Blackgate Lane, mother of Jimmy Holmes, died on Saturday, and was buried at Tarleton on Tuesday. She was 67.
Mrs. Baxter, the Hollins, Chapel Road, H.B., died last week and was buried at H.B. Her son, and only child, is serving with the R.A.F. in C.M.F.
Mrs. Tom Hurst (Janey Gooden) has received a letter from the nurse in Tom's hospital in C.M.F. saying he was machine gunned in the thigh and a bone was broken; he is getting on nicely. Tom is in No. 2 General Hospital, C.M.F., and would like any Tarleton or H.B. lad in the neighbourhood to call on him.
Dick Parkinson, next to Mission Church, Hesketh Lane, who married Doris Wignall, has bought Taylor's house in Fermor Road. He gave £1.100 for it.
Hutton Grammar School Speech Day yesterday. The chief guest and speaker was Sir James Arthur.
Mr. David Benjamin was taken very ill on Wednesday. Billy was sent for and is now home. Mr. Benjamin is doing nicely.

On leave: Jack Hodge; Harry Crook; Tom Walsh; Ronnie Johnson; Ernie Ball; Vera Iddon; Alan Jay; Bert Fawk; Jimmy Sutton.
One of Dick Johnson's mates who was with him all through the desert warfare, a lad from Durham named Terry Tuck, came to see Dick's mother and brought her some souvenirs that Dick had saved up to bring home, had he not died.
The infant son, and third child, of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Mee was christened in Tarleton Parish Church with the name of John.

EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS.
AC Dick McKean airgraphs from M.E.F. saying "My latest N.L. contains the news of the christening of Frank's baby. It is impossible to express in words the great pleasure which I, and I am sure, all the others who receive the N.Ls derive from them. I have forwarded on a present, which I hope you will be able to sell or raffle to help meet the cost of same. I am working in the cook-house and really enjoy it."
Dvr. Dick Sephton airgraphs from M.E.F. "We have been having quite a few Church services in Camp, and the Padre happens to come from Formby, and he wrote home to my mother at Christmas, and the other day he showed me a letter he had received from her, and said he would write again. I for one am quite ready for home as I am only a matter of a week off being away from home for four years. I have had a few letters from James Martland (p-o-w), and he was keeping fine. My kind regards to all the boys."
Gdsn. Aubrey Smith, prisoner of war in Germany writes from his Kriegsgefangenenlager, which is the German for prisoner-of-war camp, saying "I would like to wish you the Season's Greetings. I am receiving the Red Cross parcels, but there is a scarcity of cigarettes. I am quite well and keep cheerful." The letter is dated 2.1.44.
Gdsn Sergeant Nick Dewhurst also writes from his Kriegsgefangenenlager, which is at the same place but in a different section to Aubrey Smith's, to say "My news must necessarily be very short, I am in the best of health, and hope that you are the same. Please give my kind regards to all the members of the Forces, and to Mr. Bailey." His letter is dated 27.12.43.
Pte. Jack Parker, Liverpool, writes from India "I am O.K. here; life goes on much the same as ever. I have another p.c. from Syd in Germany. He says he is getting a middle-aged tummy. It must be the grub he is getting. We have a typical Liverpool wind blowing here this morning, but I would rather be in Liverpool enjoying it. The war news seems to be O.K. these days; even the 14th Army gets mentioned."
Pte. Ralph Whitehead writes from C.M.F. saying "Harry and I have moved again. I have not met anyone I know since I arrived here although lots of Tarleton lads will be out here. This country and the people in it are not what I expected. I would as soon be in the M.E.F. except that this is a lot nearer home. Will you please send the Parish Magazine if it has not already been sent. Harry and I are both keeping well. If you don't mind my asking, why was a stamp fixed on the cards you sent out for our overseas people?"
(The answer is, Ralph, that I send these cards already typed to ask for your addresses four times every year to every Tarleton lad and girl in the Forces. I stamp them all and ask Miss Evelyn Webster to enclose them with the N.Ls when she is sending them out. I do not know where the individual cards are going, and it certainly saves Miss Webster a lot of time and worry if she can pick one up and put it in the first envelope she handles. The convenience is worth the little extra cost. But I do wish that all the lads would send me their new address directly they change their locality. It would save me a lot of bother.)
Stoker Jack Twist R.N. writes from his Submarine, saying "Life here is not too bad, and I am hoping to get home on long leave soon. I have had no N.Ls for three weeks now, but that will be owing to my change of address. I hope this letter finds you as it leaves me, in the pink. My best regards to Bob Latham and Eric Abram, two of my best pals, also to all the boys and girls in the Forces."
E.R.M. Jimmy Burns R.N. writes from his ship to say "I don't think I have neglected you as badly as some although I have not been able to write a lot lately, but I have sent some airgraphs. I have now got my P.O. rate through. I got my first anchor 7 days before I have been in the Navy twelve months, and I got my second anchor 7 days before I had been in two years, so I don't think that I have done too badly. I had a letter from my brother Jim who, as you know is now in England. It is nearly four years since we met. My best regards to my brothers-in -law, and. also to all my friends who are away from home."
O/S Ronnie Iddon R.N. writes from a base port saying, "I think that your N.Ls are the best letters anyone can receive. You will see that I have a new address and that is why I am writing this letter. Please remember me through the N.L. to my brother Harry, Fred Bentham, Jack Hodge, Edwin Hodson, and all the lads from Tarleton in the Forces."
L/S Jimmy Latham R.N. writes from his secret ship, saying "One of my pals, Leading Seaman Green, of Sheffield, would like an old N.L. to send to his rector at home so that his parish can adopt the same for the lads from there. So you see, rector, that your letters are going to make someone else's life brighter and happier. I was sorry to hear about Dick Johnson's death in Italy, and feel very sorry for his mother and his sister Betty. I am ready for seeing home again, and the lights go on, and the people streaming into the House of God to thank Him for mercies received and for Peace being restored to us again; and may we be worthy of the Peace when it comes to us."
A/C Corpl Henry Moss R.A.F. (Mere Brow) writes "At present I am instructing at the ab initio radio school here; but we shall be moving to a R.A.F. school sometime in April. At least there is one thing I can say about this life, even though such a tremendous lot can be said against it; it is that I am doing something that I like doing, and in which I am, and always have been, extremely interested; whereas I don't think I could say that about the job I left. Even though wars may stir up the sinks of iniquity in the world and bring to the surface quite a lot that is regrettable and undesirable, on the other hand we find the most inconspicuous people spontaneously bringing out dormant talent which was suppressed in the selfish pre-war days, and without a second thought, doing, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, things they would never have dreamed of doing."
Dvr. Tom Sutton, Holmeswood Hall, Mere Brow, writes "I am down in the south in a very nice place; but you cannot beat the north; there's nothing like good old Lancashire. The boys here like the N.L. and they say that I am very lucky to live in a place where you get the news so handy. My best regards to my pals Chuck Wright, Robert Bond, and Stanley Frazer, and all the boys and girls in H.M. Forces."
Officer-Cadet Mick Melling writes, "I was on a battle course all last week and we had an enjoyable time. Now that I have returned to the College I have settled down to a more sober life, investigating the mysteries of armoured cars, which, as you know, is very much after my own heart. Please remember me to all at Tarleton, my friends in the Forces, especially Bert, Hughie, Harry Crook, and all the Burns family."
Gunner Harry Harrison writes "I had a look at John Bunyan's statue yesterday. No doubt you know he was imprisoned in Bedford Goal, and it was while he was in this prison he wrote "Pilgrim's Progress". Please give my kind regards to all my brothers, especially brother Dick in the M.E.F. (keep smiling Dick) also to my cousins and other lads from Tarleton."
O/A Jimmy Sutton R.N. , sends this news "We have a French Officer in charge and he is very strict in every way possible, but he is very fair. I received this weeks N.L. and found it very interesting, and so did George, the lad you saw with me when you came to visit me here. One of the lads went home the other day and found all the windows of his house blown out in an air raid. Mother has moved back to her own house in Fermor Road; it will be much better going back there for my spot of leave."
Pte. P Fay writes "Although I have not lived long in Tarleton, the N.Ls remind me of home, and the boys of my unit are always anxious to read them. I have moved about a great deal, and it is the knowledge that the N.Ls are following me around England that has made me write."
Pte. Bob Hull says "I have been moved from --- to a town not quite as big. I have been out on Provost duty to-day, and was on escort duty yesterday. Remember me to Jack Marsden, Bill Harrison, Ken Dandy and the rest of the boys and girls. Tell John Caunce that I hope that by now he is out of hospital and fighting fit."
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes "I will second Bdr Dick Blundell's suggestion that the Secretary of the Bowling Club write a few lines to us in the N.L. He certainly thinks about us. I don't think I know him very well as I have lived so long at Bretherton, but I am now a proud Tarletonian. I am still batman to our Captain. Good luck and a speedy return home of all our boys and girls away in the Forces, - and, don't forget sir, the new address."
Pte. Harry Woosey begins "Well, rector, I certainly have come to a hot spot here. Jerry has been over every night since we arrived. I am now dining room orderly, a Staff job, you see. Six of us came here to replace A1 men. One man is on clerical work, two are spud bashing and the other two sanitary. I am kept very busy as you will understand when you get over 400 men coming in for meals. I start at six in the morning and go on till 6.30 at night. Please give my kind regards to all the lads and lassies in the Forces, and especially to my brother-in-law Eric Booth; also Jack Robinson and Alan Jay."
Raymond Coupe writes "My work here will, I think, prove very interesting but it is secret war research and consequently I cannot tell you anything about it. Actually I have not been let into the secret myself yet. Has mother told you that I am engaged. The lucky girl (self flattery you see) is the one I introduced you to at Christmas. We do not anticipate getting married for some time yet."

The Church Militant.
This is how an old lady explained the service she had attended to her husband when she arrived home. "The Bishop was charging the clergy, there was a cannon in the pulpit, a big gun of some sort in the reading desk, the choir was ruthlessly murdering the anthem, organist was doing his utmost to drown the choir, and then to make it more terrible the Boy Scouts at the back were simply shrieking ''Fight the good fight."

Laying up Treasure.
He dropped his penny in the plate
And heaved a weary sigh.
"Thank God, I've paid my weekly rent
For Mansions s up on high."

Home Influence.
As this is a double number Mothering Sunday issue, it will not be out of place for the rector to tell the following true story in his own words:
"It was in July 1916, and we were in the front line trench at Mametz at the time, and the shelling was very heavy. One can imagine my surprise therefore, when at dusk one night a tall, good-looking young fellow, dressed in spotless uniform as if he were just going on to parade at Caterham, came into my front line dug-out. I asked him his business. It appeared that he was stationed at the Base, at Boulogna to be exact, and that he had a brother in my Battalion. The next day was to be the anniversary of their parents wedding day, and every year since the children could remember on this particular day the whole family, the boy had two sisters at home, had gone to Church at 8 o'clock in the morning and knelt as a complete family at the village altar to receive the Blessed Sacrament of Holy Communion, which, as its very name implies, binds all to Christ and Christ to them. The brother in my Battalion could not get permission to go back to the Base, for we were ready to go over the top, but the brother at the Base had been allowed to come up the line, and he humbly asked me if I would have a service of Holy Communion at 8 o'clock the next morning, for, said he "At that time my father and mother and my two sisters will be kneeling before the little Altar in our village Church and we shall be kneeling before your Altar, but at the same time all the family will once more be in communion with the same Lord Jesus; at the same moment we shall, as a complete family go to dwell in Him, and He will come to dwell in us; and so we shall not feel that any earthly distance that separates the members of the family makes any difference." And, he added with great sincerity "Father and mother always like to thank God on this particular day for a Union which gave them a happy, united family, and we children thank God for the very best of parents." So next morning the two brothers knelt before an Altar composed of a ration box in my front line dugout, and knew that they were in the closest comnunion with their parents and sisters as they knelt before the village Altar. And after the service, I gave the two brothers as good a breakfast as I could provide in the circumstances, and then the one went back to his front line duties and the other to his cushy job at the Base."

Silent Prayer
If I've nothing much to say,
When I kneel and try to pray,
May I, dearest Lord, believe
Thou my silence wilt receive?

I just kneel and shut my eyes
And try hard to realise
Thou art near and loving me
Lord, Thy presence comforts me.

Help me, Lord, to do my best
This I pray, and all the rest
Let my silence say for me,
As I kneel and worship Thee.

Commando Training.
In these boots, and with this staff
Two hundred leaguers and a half,
Two hundred leaguers and a half
Walked I, went I, paced I, tripped I,
Marched I, held I, skelped I, slipped I,
Pushed I, panted, swung and dashed I;
Picked I, forded, swam and splashed I,
Strolled I, climbed I, crawled and scrambled,
Dropped and dipped I, ranged and rambled;
Plodded I, hobbled I, trudged and tramped I,
And in lonely spinnies camped I,
And in haunted pinewoods slept I,
Lingered, loitered, limped and crept I,
Clambered, halted, stepped and leapt I,
Slowly sauntered, roundly strode I,
And, let me not conceal it ... rode I,
For who but critics could complain
Of riding in a railway train?
Across the valleys and high-land,
With all the world on either hand,
Drinking when I had a mind to,
Nor ever turned my face to home
Till I had slaked my heart at Rome.

With apologies to Mr. Hailaire Belloc, Taken from his book - The Path to Rome.