Letter, T. E. (Ted) Arnold to Stewart and Barry Jones, 26 December 1944
Description
- Creators
- Arnold, T.E. (Ted), Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A two-page handwritten letter from T.E. (Ted) Arnold to his nephews Barry and Stewart Jones. He mentions having received a letter from their mother (Margaret Jones) and sending a few books along for Christmas. He also inquires whether they will be returning to England though he hopes they will be staying in Canada “a little longer as conditions are none too good over there, no matter how much you wish to return.” He also reassures the boys that they are serving their country by staying safe, getting a good education and by “growing into healthy, strong men capable of building England up again.”
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. - Inscriptions
- PO Box 62
Bryn Mawr Penna
Dec 26/44
Dear Stewart + Barry: -
Thank you for your recent letters and very nice card. Nice to hear from you.
I got a letter from your mother. Says she didn’t have a recent address and that her letters sent to Montreal were returned.
Managed to get a couple of books to you last week. Hope they arrived before Xmas. Anyway they will get there sometime.
There was also an illustrated book on fish and marine animals that you might like. Sent just in case
Let me know if and when you are returning to England. Think it might be best to stay over here a little longer as conditions are none too good over there, no matter how much you wish to return. You can do more good and serve your country better by staying here and getting an education and growing into healthy, strong men capable of building England up again as England needs strong healthy capable me no more than ever before. Just like both of you are fast becoming. You are just as much soldiers when over here as you would be fighting and are becoming more valuable to your country as time goes on.
Hope you understand. If not ask Mrs Pate to explain.
(2)
-2-
Well let us hope 1945 will be a very happy year for all of us.
Drop me a line when you can
Your
Unkle
TED - Date of Original
- December 26, 1944
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Arnold, T.E ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.041
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
-
Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.1334 Longitude: -80.26636 -
Pennsylvania, United States
Latitude: 40.30396 Longitude: -80.08672
-
- Copyright Statement
- Copyright status unknown. Responsibility for determining the copyright status and any use rests exclusively with the user.
- Recommended Citation
- Letter, T. E. (Ted) Arnold to Stewart and Barry Jones, 26 December 1944. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.041
- 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
