Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 7 April 1943
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 begins by informing the boys that she has bought some war saving certificates for them and apologizes for the lack of a letter from the week before as she had been ill. She also mentions that Bob Gillin is doing well and that she intends to write an Airgraph to him soon.
The ‘Wings For Victory’ Week was a fund raising scheme begun in 1943 with the aim of raising funds to purchase more bombers. It was intended to encourage civilians to save their money in Government accounts such as War Bonds, Savings Bonds, Defence Bonds and Savings Certificates and would coincide with a week of parades, exhibitions and other war related activities1
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 microfilm2
1. Trevor Godfrey. Britain at War: ‘Wings for Victory.’ The Telegraph. 23 July 2009.
2. 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
- P.S. This is “Wings for Victory” week in Codsall, so we’re putting some war saving certificates for you.
Wed. 7th of April.
My Dearest Boys –
First of all a confession! I didn’t write a letter to you last week. – I think that is unforgiveable as so many seem to be lost… + although I’ll explain what happened, it really is no excuse! Granma Jones was here because Granpa was at Llandudno - - + I wasn’t feeling well - - I was very sick + very tired but I didn’t want Granma to know or she’d have gone home - - Then on the Wed. Joan + Frank Wiseman + Frank Ward all arrived unexpectedly so it was a late night - - + on Thursday Mr. + Mrs. [Barton?] were here - - a very late night!! --- ON Friday I dragged myself around but had to give in + go to bed with a high temperature --- --- Daddy said he’d try to write a letter but it was a difficult week-end for him
(2)
Mrs. Davies (the woman who comes in to help me) was away for a week’s holiday, so poor Daddy was running around all day! The Dr. said I had a chill on the liver when he came on Sat + I mustn’t get up while the temperature was down. –
Anyway here is Wed. morning + I’ve slept all night + I feel a “new man” -- --- So now that is a page + a half all about me + not very interesting - - One thing I might have told you though about the kindness [of?] Dr. Curtis + his wife - - The Dr. brought his wife with him on Sunday + Monday so that she could do anything she could for my comfort - - I appreciated it very much because poor Daddy was rather helpless + there was no one here at all on Monday. ---
(3)
Now I’ll start a new sheet with the joyous news that 2 letters have arrived from you within the last few days - - I’m sure they’ve helped me to recover in half the time – One from Barry on Sat. last + one from Stewart yesterday. –
Barry’s was dated Feb 28 + starts “How time does fly” – I absolutely agree young man - - I was interested to hear all about your visitors --- + it’ll be nice for Mr. Pate now that is about a bit. – And you liked “Bambi” – It has been to Wolverhampton but I didn’t get to see it - - It’ll come back though + I’ll make a point of doing so! – Stewart’s letter was enjoyed as usual but the one big piece of news about Fred Knight coming overseas was already an
(4)
accomplished fact – A letter arrived from him last week + just as soon as I’ve written this I’m going to write to him - - I would have liked to reply by return of post because it was a specifically nice letter - - but it just didn’t work that way --- One thing, we have a real pleasure in [illegible] for us I hope, because surely he’ll manage to visit us ---- There is no indication in his letter whereabouts in England he is.
[Weaks?] had an Air Mail from Bob Gillin which came in less than a fortnight. - - He seems very bright + making the best of things. I’ll write another Air Graph to him - - It’s better than nothing.
Now I’ll finish this time I think, but will writ in a few days – Daddy’s birthday is on Friday, so I must be up + doing for that - - Lots + Lots of Love
From Mummy. ---- - Date of Original
- April 7, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Wiseman, Joan ; Wiseman, Frank ; Ward, Frank ; Gillin, Bob
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.072
- 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, 7 April 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.072
- 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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Paris, ON
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