Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 3 February 1943
Description
- Creators
- Jones, Margaret, Author
- Jones, Barry; Jones, Stewart, Recipient
- Media Type
- Image
- Text
- Item Type
- Correspondence
- Description
- A single-page (front and back) handwritten letter by Margaret Jones to her sons Barry and Stewart. In her letter, she mentions the amount of sewing she has been doing for various family members and that she had recently heard from Uncle Ted Arnold.
She also mentions that their father intends to send an “Airgraph.” The Airgraph was invented in the 1930s by the Eastman Kodak company alongside Imperial Airways (now British Airways) and Pan-American Airways as a way to reduce the weight and bulk of mail carried by air. Letters were written upon an airgraph form and then photographed and sent as negatives on rolls of microfilm1
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.
1. The British Postal Museum. Airgraph. June 12 2012.
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
- Feb 3rd 1943
My Dearest Boys,
Just a short note this week but Daddy is sending an Airgraph – Last night when I ought to have written, I was busy sewing something that Auntie Janette wanted [illegible] + I had to sit up till midnight to finish it. I’m often getting jobs like that, [you?] see everybody knows that I can’t knit or “make-do and mend” for you two rascals so I’m pleased to do what I can for other rascals – “Make do and ‘mend’” is just what it sounds – making new clothes from old + generally repairing to help with the Clothes Rationing. --- Jennifer just must have a new skirt for school but she has no coupons – Has her Dadddy any
(2)
old trousers? - - Oh! No they are mended + he’ll have to wear them - - So what? - - I wonder if Auntie [Marparel?] has anything - - Yes, an old Frock - --- Then Auntie Winnie sends me [½?] day pairs of old stockings of Jean’s – Could I unravel + make at least 2 good pairs? - - Sure!! ----
We had a letter from Uncle Ted Arnold this morning + I’ve just written to him. - - I feel so guilty about not writing to him before that I [illegible] well sat down + did it right away. But I want Daddy to post this for me, so its just “Hullo” + “Goodbye for now” lots of Love. I’m posting a book for Stewart today - - I can’t get any of the books I’d like - - they are taking months to be [illegible]. He’ll enjoy this one though if it’s not too advanced ---
Mummy
xxx O xxx - Date of Original
- February 3, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.067
- 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, 3 February 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.067
- 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
