Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 18 January 1932
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A two-page (front and back) handwritten letter by Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In her letter, she mentions the various family members whom they have seen, including an uncle and a cousin both serving as soldiers and a telephone conversation with her sailor brother John.
Margaret Jones also mentions a radio programme called “The Brains Trust.” The programme began on the 1st of January 1941, broadcasting on the Forces radio service and was called “Any Questions” but was renamed “The Brains Trust” the following year. The programme was hugely popular and at its height attracted nearly a third of all adult listeners and received 4400 letters a week 1
1. BBC UK. The History of the BBC. The Brains Trust. September 22, 2014.
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
- Copley, Pattingham
18th Jan ‘43
My Dearest Boys,
Another Tuesday, but this evening I’m writing before the “Brains Trust” programme, + Daddy is here too instead of on a weary train journey. Last week he didn’t get home until nearly 1 a.m, the trains were running so late. ---
Incidentally we both have rather bad colds - - + I suppose we both think that we have the worst - - I know I’ve felt pretty miserable for 2 days! Daddy got it first - - I think he brought it from London, but it is the first really heavy cold we have had since we came to Pattingahm – I’ve had ‘flu + a temperature but never a bad head cold ---- I hope that you 2 don’t get colds - - I think they are more prevalent than ever over here. –
Yesterday we had a most interesting evening at Codsall - - Uncle [Giller?] came for one night +
(2)
brought his little boy Alan with him – (Uncle [Giller?] is having 9 days leave + is at home in London) Then a cousin of Daddy’s who is in the 8th Army + has been all the way El Alamein to Italy has got back to this country for leave + he was at Codsall too, because Granma Jones thought it was an opportunity for [Giller?] + him to meet, - soldier meeting soldier!! We had a very jolly evening but cousin Douglas looks very weary. – Uncle [Giller?] looks just grant - - Then I thought I’d phone Granma Wilson from Codsall (we still have [Lo?]’phone here!) + imagine my surprise when Uncle John answered the ‘phone! – He was at Shifnal for only a few hours (on his way to his ship) + although a meeting was impossible (we can’t jump in the car + drive off these days) he sounded
(3)
very cheery on the ‘phone + Granma Wilson said that he looked very well + his beard fierier than ever.---
On Sunday the Burton family paid their visit at last + we enjoyed it very much. Ruth is off back to school today + David [was?] on Thursday --- David says he was second in his form last term ----
Today I have had Auntie Janette + Sheila here - What happened was this - - Auntie Janette had to go to town so she came here by car + then went by bus, + left Sheila here while she was away. (She went about 11.30 a.m) Then she got tea + then went home – Sheila is most entertaining - - She’ll be able to keep you in order when you come here. It is a good thing you have plenty of girl cousins isn’t it? Since you have no sisters. -----
(4)
We haven’t had any letters since I wrote last week but realy we didn’t expect any because so many case together. – It was a most exciting few days when they came but I hope the “lull” won’t be too long. But today I had a Christmas Card from Aunt Winnie - - I think I was just as pleased to get it today as I would have been to have it at Christmas + it was really sweet of her to send it. I’ll try to write her one day. -----
Did I tell you that I had a letter from Uncle Ted too? – He has been very busy it seems. --- I hope you see him again sometime. ----
Daddy says: ---- He was thrilled with (Daddy’s Message) the last snapshots + he thinks your letters are becoming more interesting every time you write (Hear! Hear! Says Mummy.) Keep up the good standard ---- He will write one day soon –
Lots + Lots of Love, Mummy.
xxxx oooo - Date of Original
- January 18, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.066
- 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: 54.61667 Longitude: -1.86667
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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, 1 August 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.066
- 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
