Letter, Aunt Beatie and Aunt Lily to Barry and Stewart Jones, 3 November 1943
Description
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A single-page (front and back) handwritten letter from Aunts Beatie and Lily to their nephews Barry and Stewart Jones. In their letter they wonder how many Christmases the boys will have to spend in Canada away from their family and hope that it won’t be many. They also mention the radio broadcast done by Margaret and Howard Jones, though they could not hear it on their wireless, and add that they are sending along a book for each of the boys.
A program entitled “Hello Children” was broadcast by the BBC where parents would record short messages for their sons and daughters living overseas in countries such as Canada, the United States, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand for the duration of the war. Shortwave broadcasts were then probably recorded by the local broadcasting services allowing them to rebroadcast on local radio stations. There is some evidence to suggest that letters were also sent to the foster families to alert the children that a broadcast from their parents was due.
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
- 89, Primrose Lane
The Scotlands .
Wolverhampton .
England .
Nov.3 / 42
Dear Barrie + Stewart,
We have been [wondering?] a lot about you lately, especially so as it is getting nearer to Xmas. We wonder how many more Xmases you will have to spend in Canada. We hope it won’t be many.
When your Grandma [illegible] comes to see us she generally brings news of you. + we are always glad to hear about you.
Auntie Lily is specially interested in knowing you are loving music lessons. Hope you are getting on well with them. Do you like practicing? I guess you were thrilled when Mummie + Daddie Broadcast a message to you in the summer. We [were?] ever so disappointed we [couldn’t?] get it on our wireless. Should love to hear your voices. I have been over to your Mummies + Daddies twice this summer, I did love Farm, it just wants you there to complete it. Your Mummie showed me the snaps of you
(2)
I sent them for Auntie Lily to see. She was so pleased. You both look very well. You haven’t altered much only grown.
Hope you are doing well at school. It is getting colder here. But we haven’t had any snow yet. I wonder if you have. You will be enjoying your skating again soon I expect. Any more trips to Toronto? [You] did have a good time with Uncle Ted.
Mr + Mrs Pate + family are looking after you well. You are lucky boys I expect Father Xmas will be bringing you some nice things again. Do you have a Xmas party at School?
We are sending you a book each. “A Christmas Carol” (Dickens) for Barrie + “The Golden Thread” (Norman Macleod) for Stewart. We hope you will like them + hope they will arrive safely.
We send lots of love with them + hope you + all will have a very happy Xmas.
Yours affectionately
Auntie Beatie + Auntie Lily. - Date of Original
- November 3, 1942
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.062
- 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, 9 August 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.062
- 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:
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12 William Street
Paris, ON
N3L 1K7 | @brantlibrary
