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No:231
RECTOR'S WEEKLY LETTER
7th September 1944

My Dear Boys and Girls,
Two things have struck me while I was writing this week's issue, and listening, as I wrote, to the exceptionally good news. The first was "I wonder what will be the last number of the NL to be written? I started by sending out 100 copies, and the number has now gone up to over 260. As you get demobilised the number will gradually go down until there will only be one, and then none to be sent. As you will see I have never failed to send it to you for the past 231 weeks. The second thought was "I wonder who will be the possessor of the first copy to enter Berlin? That will be an interesting fact to record in an issue before we finally close down. If it can be proved with any certainty I will give a medal to the lad who has that honour. One condition is that the copy must be shown to a Padre of any Unit who will vouch for the time and date of showing it, or any other Officer would do as well. I am sending with this issue a form to be filled up. Still another thought! I keep addressing you as boys and girls. When you first joined up, many of you five years ago, or more, you were boys and girls; at least to me. Now many of you are men and women. How shall I now address you - as Dear Men and Women? - or Dear Ladies and Gentlemen? - or shall I go on calling you Dear Boys and Girls? As I have known the majority of you since you were infants in our Infant School, to me, at any rate, you are still boys and girls. It would indeed, be strange were I to address you as Mr. or Miss and you, I think, would wonder what had happened to me. Well, little problems, but interesting ones.
With my Love, my Blessing, and all my prayers,
L N Forse

Home Front News:
Mrs Harry Latham (nee Elsie Bailey) has presented her husband with a son. Mother and Baby doing well. We regret to say that Dr. Lawrence Croft broke his leg last week when he slipped on the concrete pathway just as he was leaving the house of a patient. He has been in great pain, but is now doing very well. His son Stanley who is a medical student at Liverpool University is carrying on the practice with the help of a Locum. Young Jimmy Dickinson, Plox Brow, caught his finger in some machinery and has had to have it amputated. Jimmy Bryans from Hoole who used to work for Jack Lund was married last week to Sarah Wooley. Tarleton and District Horticultural Shows held for the second year on Saturday in the Church Schools. A very large marquee was erected in the field the Rector has bought immediately behind the Church. In this were the livestock, rabbits, fowl, a pig and a calf. Dick Iddon is Chairman of the Show Committee, Wilf Parkinson, Secretary, John Melling, Treasurer. The Rector opened the Show, and during the afternoon Commander King-Hall MP. looked in and was greatly impressed. He made a short speech congratulating the Committee.
Some Show Items - 300 rabbits competed; a wedding cake given by James Forshaw, confectioner, fetched £13; the calf was bought for £8; guessing the weight of a sow made £4; Bill Taylor, Fermor Rd, got several firsts with his Ermine Rex. He was offered £30 for it in the tent but refused.

On Leave:
Jimmy Southern, William Ball (scoot); John Coulton (HB); Cecil Cookson (Chapel Rd); Len Ball; John Webster; Harry Harrison; Edwin Johnson; Will Ryding; William Wright (Kearsley Ave), Yorris Davis; Arthur Barron (embarkation); Harry Iddon (Gorse Lane). Last week we made a mistake when we said that Nick Taylor was in Italy. As a matter of fact he is in France.

On Sunday afternoon there was a Parade Service in Tarleton Parish Church. Home Guard; NFS; ARP; WVS; Special Police; ATC: Boy Scouts; Girl Guides, etc, attended in force. The Rev.W Freeman, Superintendent Methodist Minister at Ormskirk, read the Lesson, the Rector took the Service and preached. The church was packed in spite of a very wet day. Mrs Wignall and Mrs Coupe helped by Mrs Kerruish gave a garden party at Mrs Wignall's house in Fulwood Avenue, on behalf of the NL Fund and raised £10. Mrs Caunce, Mere Brow, mother of John and Alice, went into Preston Infirmary on Monday for an operation. Mary Iddon, Carr Lane, was married in Manchester last week to Dennis Clayton of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester, who is in the RASC. Two days after the wedding the bridegroom was in France. Tom Rutter and George Caunce were amongst those registering on Saturday. Eric Ball RAF is now in France.
Tarleton Church Visitors' Book was signed last week by Ellen Myers aged 90 years of "The Haven of Rest", Blowick. Ronald Iddon, (Hesketh Bank) and Frank Taylor, Moss Lane, both of whom were in the Navy, have now been transferred to the Army.
Bank Bridge was knocked down again on Sunday by an American lorry, driven by coloured drivers. The stone bridge was knocked into the river in two places. This time it was the left hand side going from Tarleton to Preston. Robert Taylor, Coe Lane, gave a Silver Challenge Cup to the Tarleton Horticultural Show, for the competitor winning the greatest number of First Prizes. It was won by John W Sutton, Hoole, brother of Matt. Tarleton NFS part-time crew No:3, under Leading Fireman Johnson, was one of the two winning teams in the Regional Trailer Pump Competition at Preston last Sunday. Southport No: 22 was the other winning team.

Extracts from Letters
Sgt Ernie Ball writes; " I have been on the go for the last 26 days and I arrived back yesterday. A couple of weeks ago we covered 987 miles in very little over 48 hours. Yesterday on my way home I passed through your birth-place and right by your home. A roadhouse by the river you also know was partly flattened by a buzz bomb. It was called the.........".
Dvr Roger Ward airmails; "The last time I wrote to you I was on the Anzio Bridgehead. Since then I have traveled many hundreds of miles and have been across to Egypt and seen Cairo and Alexandria, not forgetting the desert. Now I have arrived back in Italy and feel quite fit for the next job which is to give Jerry a good thrashing. Since I came back to Italy I have visited Rome and St Peter's, but I am very much further North now".
Lt Stanley Baldwin airgraphs from CMF "Since my last letter we have moved forward tremendous distances. As all the world knows the 8th Army now stands on the line of the Arno. These days we are very low down in the news lists, as is bound to be the case now that the battle of France is going so very well. Glad to report that things are also going very well with us. I am still keeping fit and with all others eagerly looking forward to a quick ending of the war".
Dvr Jack Robinson writes from BLA "There is a lot that I could say, but cannot, as you know how things are. The other day I had done my washing and had hung it out on the line to dry when a cow that was in the field pulled a shirt and pants to pieces. I have not heard from my cousin Vera for a long time, so please will you remember me to her. I am writing this letter under an apple tree, as that seems to be the right place to write a letter out here. Remember me to all away from Tarleton".
Gunner Arthur Harrison writes from BLA "It may be a few days before we get any mail, but we will get it alright. I cannot tell you why, but being an Officer yourself you will understand. The good old NL has never failed to reach me for just over four years. The country now is opening out more and the harvest is in full swing".
Corpl Ted Barnish airgraphs from CMF "This morning I received an NL with the Persia and Iraq address. It is two years since I was there. At the present moment we keep pushing on, so it may be some time before I get an opportunity of writing again. My brother Alec seems to be making the best of things in Egypt. I would give anything for him to be here with me. Do you remember the last snap we had taken together out here? Well may the next day for meeting not be far distant".
AC/2 Freddy Coupe writes from Trinidad "Twice a week we get organized outings to the Breao which is some distance from here. We take our dinners with us and make a good day of it. I can usually manage to get twice a fortnight, so it is not so bad. I have visited the city twice, but I am afraid that I don't think much of it. A couple of nights ago they organized a Boxing Show between the Yanks and the Trinidadians. There were a lot of Yanks there, but I cheered for the Trinidadians. Remember me to all, especially to
Roger Watson".
Dvr John Caunce writes from CMF "In your letter you gave Sid Ball's Coy; but no one round here has heard of it, but it will be the day for me when I do find some one I know. I am keeping in the best of health and am enjoying life as much as possible under the circumstances. I have not had any cigarettes lately. Perhaps the mermaids are having a good smoke. I am glad that you liked the present I sent you from Egypt, and also because you are keeping it in Church".
Sign E Harrison writes from BLA "As you know we were amongst the assault troops out here and we have been giving Jerry the works since D Day, and it was only recently we were ............(deleted by censor) which I think we were entitled to after such hard going. I have not come across any Tarleton lads out here yet, but if I knew their Units I would try and make it my business to see a Tarleton face".
Cpl Jimmy Burns writes from BLA "I am sorry to say that I have not had the luck to meet anyone else since I came across Bill Bridge a few weeks ago. I have not had the chance to attend a Service all the time I have been in France. We have been out on the job every time the Padre came round. Remember me to my many brothers, Dick on the sea out East; Tom (Italy), George (BLA),Fred just called up; and brother-in-law
Harry Forrest (MEF), also the Melling boys Bert (CNF), Nick (BLA); and Hugh (RAF) not forgetting my old pal Dick Sephton still in the land of sand and flies. It is about time Dick was home".
Dvr Fred Taylor writes from CMF "It is still very good weather here in Italy and quite hot. But we have the same old flies that we had in Africa. I sometimes think that they were shipped over to Italy soon after we landed, because we seem to have just as many here as we had in Africa - and they can bite. Remember me to T Rimmer; J Latham; Arthur Worth; John Hornby; E Farrell; and all in the Forces at home and abroad, and the best of good fortune to them".
Cpl J Clemmy (a friend of Jimmy Parkinson) who asked for the NL to be sent to the Squadron after Jimmy was killed, because the boys liked to read it writes from BNAF "Although I live in Nelson and think that it is the greatest place on earth, I take off my hat to the people of Tarleton for what you do for your troops. I am enjoying myself in Corscia It is a nice place with plenty of woods, mountains, valleys and rivers, with one great attraction the cool, blue waters of the Mediterranean, plus some very nice looking young ladies. Thank Mrs Parkinson for the newspapers".
LAC Tom Smith writes "I have been posted here on a course, and if I am lucky enough to get through it without dying of boredom, I go to another station for a further five months. I should be ready to take part in the final march through Tokyo. Life in London these days is quite eventful, as you can well imagine. I am billeted in a private house in - (a place the Rector knows very well indeed) on the top of the hill from which one gets a marvellous view of the City on a fine day".
Gunner Nick Taylor writes " I am just enjoying 24 hours off duty, so I am making the best of it on my bunk. I am at present on Commando training and feeling very fit. I have some good pals and plenty of good food. Please remember me to Nick Forshaw and Eric Edmondson".
Pte Harry Woosey writes "I was in Canterbury this afternoon with my pal. We had a good look round the shops, had our tea, and it was time for getting to the first pictures. All at once the bells of Canterbury Cathedral started ringing. My pal said, "What are those for?" A lady who was passing said, "Those are Victory Bells, ringing because of the great Victories". I must say that I have never heard anything as lovely before. Please give my kind regards to all the lads and lasses wherever they may be".
Sgt Sandy Laing writes, "As you can judge by the address I am at a very busy place. It is packed with holidaymakers having a really good time, and being mostly Londoners it has been well earned. We have quite a number of chaps down here who were in the D Day landing and it is really a thrill to listen to their tales. Remember me to all in HM Forces and also to the Home Guard".
Pte Arthur Barron writes "I have been to a good few places lately. I came here from down South. This place is all right, and I don't think you can beat old Lancashire. You know that my brother Bob is in France. I think that he has had a tough time of it. Please give him my best regards, and also to Jack Hodge and say I hope that he received the letter I sent him, and all the best to my cousins Bert and Ann Barron".
Pte George Farrington writes: "I enjoyed my last leave more than any before, maybe it was with having the baby to look after. Since I came back there has been nothing but rain, but then you can expect nothing else in Scotland. Remember me to all in the Forces especially to Bill Harrison and Eric Booth. I am still doing the same job - driving, also I have spent a few days helping them out in the workshops".
Mr John Hornby BEM Bos'n RN writes "Sometimes my people at home send me the Daily Post and the Preston Guardian, but the news therein is nothing compared with the interesting local news in the NL, I hope to be with you on Sunday September 3rd Hoole Church in the morning then Tarleton in the evening. As it is the National Day of Prayer it is fitting that I should make every effort to join all our friends at this time of thankfulness, both for the Victories we have achieved and for the very small percentage of casualties sustained in this all-out drive. Indeed we have everything to be thankful for, past and present. Please convey my best wishes to all our fighting men of the parish, although at present I am a sort of spectator my thoughts are with them wherever they may be".
Sgt Doris Molyneaux writes, "You will see that I have been promoted to Sergeant. It makes life a little pleasanter to have a few more privileges, even if there are more responsibilities. You may be interested to know that I became engaged to a Flying Officer on my station in April and we are being married at Holmeswood next month. He has been posted to a station near Dover so sees plenty of the flying-bomb activity".
Dvr R Noble writes, "I have no idea what to talk about as we are not allowed to say anything of our whereabouts, or what we are doing. All I can say is that we are making the best of life while we have the chance. Thank you for the NLs received.
James West, who is a Bevan Boy in a Northumberland coalmine, writes: "Just a few lines to let you know that I am alright. I did not get your NL this week, but please do not forget to send me them". (It was sent Jimmy, but must have got lost in the post). Jimmy also encloses some nice verses, which are too long to put in this week's issue.
L/Cpl Frank Hewitson writes": I have had almost three weeks dodging doodle bugs, but, though it is not a pleasant occupation, the usual stories which go round are exaggerated. It comes hard to settle down in England after being abroad. I feel 'out of it' now, and would go to France if they would let me, but there is a considerable waiting list of volunteers. You will no doubt understand the feeling. (I certainly do Frank, for the past five years I have suffered daily irritation because I am too old to be where I would like to be - with good companions at the Front). I have very little news for you, but our lads overseas are certainly supplying all we want, hard and fast. I wouldn't like to be a Jerry just now. I reckon we're in the final straight now".PT Sergeant Instructor George Hardcastle writes:" In this district we are having a quieter time from the Doodle Bugs, which is a direct result of our advances in France. It seems too marvelous to be true that we are actually seeing the end of the war. I was called up five years ago last week. It will seem strange to go back to civvy's and not having to have passes to go anywhere. I have just finished a spell of camping with the Cs I am instructing; we had a good time".
Stoker William Melling RN (HB) Writes: "Just before I left Bombay to come home I met Harry Devitt, so would you, please, tell him through the NL that I had a good passage home. I was glad to meet Bill Wright and Harry Iddon when I was on leave. I am now in a camp on the sea front".

Rector's Weekly News Letter
BERLIN ISSUE

I certify that.........................................................................
Has shown me in BERLIN a copy of the Tarleton Rector's Weekly News Letter,
Dated.....................................
Signed...................................
This certificate must be signed by Chaplain or an Officer who is asked kindly to
give his Unit and rank.

....................................................................................................
A medal will also be given to the first Tarleton sailor carrying an NL on his ship into the Keil Canal, and to the first Tarleton RAF lad parking his aeroplane on a recognized German aerodrome. If two or more tie in date and time each will receive a medal suitably engraved with the facts of the case.

Some Tackler Stories:
A tackler, who was also a keen backyard hen-breeder, went to a poultry show where on the table exhibiting eggs in dozens on plates were three ostrich eggs, put there just as a matter of curiosity.
"By Gad", said the tackler to his mate "Ther's a gradely feed i'one o' them, isn't ther', Jack".
"Ther'is that an' o'", replied Jack; "it wouldn't tak' mony o' those to mak' a dozen, would it".

Wife of a Preston Tackler brought home some very sour butter, and when her husband complained informed him that the shopman declared that "'id wer aw as they had, and until t' tub wer done there would be no more".
"In that case", replied her husband "go back and ged another four peawnd; "Let's get it done wi'".