Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 2 December 1941
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A two-page (front and back) letter from Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In it, she discusses the letter she just received from the boys and their recent report cards. She mentions having books sent off to them and hopes they will arrive on time for Christmas. She met their father in London and saw the film “Heaven Can Wait.” She also saw their “Auntie” Janette and intended to do some sewing “…or to use the paper term ‘Make Do + Mend…’” which, she explains, is the practice of making new clothes out of old ones in order to save rationing coupons.
On the first of June, 1941, Britain began the rationing of civilian clothing in order to safeguard raw materials and free up factory space and workers. Clothing was assigned a ‘points’ value depending upon how much material and labour went into its manufacture. For example, eleven coupons were needed for a dress, two for a pair of stockings and eight coupons for man’s shirt or trousers. The purchase of clothing required both coupons and money. The ‘Make Do and Mend’ campaign was launched to help individuals make their supply of existing clothing last longer. Posters and leaflets were circulated with advice on how to properly care for their clothes and reduce damage. Classes in dressmaking were also offered around the country. Women, in particular, were encouraged to keep up appearances despite shortages. It was thought that a lack of interest in personal appearance could be a sign of low morale and impact the war effort.
Margaret also mentions a “Wolverhampton lad” who was now in the RAF and who had been sent to train in Canada. She considers sending his address to Marian since he is feeling homesick and having a few hours with her might cheer him up.
The envelope has an Examiner 7325 sticker affixed. During the Second World War there were over 10,000 postal censors staffed in the UK to prevent information of value reaching enemy eyes. The stickers would re-seal where the letter had been opened and extracted.
The letter was provided by E. Ann McRae. - Notes
- The Pate-Jones Collection consists of some photographs of the family members and a large group of letters. The majority of the letters are written by Margaret nee Wilson, and some by her husband Howard Jones, to their sons Barry and Stewart Jones, or to Mr. and Mrs. Pate. From 1940 to 1945 during the Second World War, Barry and Stewart lived with Margaret’s second cousin Andrew Wilson Pate and his wife Mary Herron nee McClure at the Brantwood Farm. The original farm was founded by Andrew’s father James Pate, and was situated on the south side of Powerline Road and Gretzky Parkway, which at that time, was considered part of the County of Brant.
The correspondences cover from detail Margaret Jones’ dilemma in settling her boys with virtual strangers, her return trip to England to rejoin the war effort there, news of farm life in England, the concern that England might lose the war, and the anguish of both families when Andrew Pate died in 1944, leaving his teenage son to run Brantwood Farms. These letters are therefore a fascinating way to conceptualize how the war affected daily life in Canada locally, and in England.
In recent decades, the original Brantwood Farm that was situated on the south side of Powerline Road was sold by the Pate family for development. The farms are now located on the north side of Powerline Road, and consist of several farms belonging to several Pate families, mostly within the County of Brant, remaining a thriving local establishment to this day. - Date of Original
- December 2, 1941
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.028
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
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Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.1334 Longitude: -80.26636 -
England, United Kingdom
Latitude: 52.58333 Longitude: -2.13333
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- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 2 December 1941. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.028
- Terms of Use
- The information and images provided are for personal research only and are not to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this information should include the credit "provided by Ann McRae"
- Contact
- County of Brant Public LibraryEmail:digitalhistory@brant.ca
Website:
Agency street/mail address:County of Brant Public Library (Paris Branch)
12 William Street
Paris, ON
N3L 1K7 | @brantlibrary
