Letter, Margaret Jones to Barry and Stewart Jones, 11 July 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 mentions the visits with neighbours and relatives she has been having and the “Wings for Victory” week in Selkirk.
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 letter was provided by E. Ann McRae.
1. Trevor Godfrey. Britain at War: ‘Wings for Victory.’ The Telegraph. 23 July 2009. - 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
- July 11th
My Dearest Boys,
A letter from Stewart yesterday morning - - I always want to write whenever I have a letter + I think it is nearly a week since I wrote last but this has been a funny sort of week. Daddy went to London for the night on Monday - - Mr. + Mrs. Barton came for supper on Tuesday - - I went to the Pictures with Auntie Annie on Wed. evening because Daddy had a meeting in Codsall late (Auntie Annie + Uncle George are staying at the White House while Gramma + Granpa are away) On Thursday afternoon I went to [Crowgneaves?] to help Auntie Janette get ready for going off to Wales for her holiday with the
(2)
[the?] children + on Friday I was [boiling?] + bottling raspberries + cooking + baking for the week-end - - Daddy was away again all Sat. (at Wellington on [illegible] + then at [illegible]) + a lady from Wolverhampton came for the day + now today the Dr. + his wife are coming + will arrive any minute - - Almost the first thing she’ll say is “Any letters from the boys?” + I shall proceed to read Stewart’s effort - - In fact we might go + play the ball go he so clearly described – Incidentally we have Tennis [nets?] on the lawn but it so happens it is a very stormy day - - In fact the weather all week has been very
(3)
broken + it has been a job getting up the remainder of the early potatoes + setting them off. However we had 3 men from Codsall over + I drove the tractor but it is [illegible] tiring to be outside + then have to come in + get the “chores” done in the house. - -
And so you saw over all the aeroplane - - That was interesting (By the way do you remember flying to Jersey?) I hear that Murray Mitchell was speaking at the opening of “Wings for Victory” week in Selkirk. He is stationed in Scotland somewhere + his father was born in Selkirk you know
(4)
I do hope he’ll be in our district sometime – And of course every day I hope to have word that Fred Knight is coming - -
Has Marion accepted the school offered? - - - I’ve started a letter to Mrs. Pate + may get it written tomorrow because Daddy is off to London again. - -
But now I think I’ll finish this off + get it posted in the morning - - There is no use leaving It to add any when the “visitors” have gone because that’ll be very late I guess - - I’ll be writing again soon –
All my love to you - Mummy - Date of Original
- July 11, 1943
- Subject(s)
- Personal Name(s)
- Jones, Margaret ; Jones, Barry ; Jones, Stewart ; Mitchell, Murray ; Knight, Fred
- Local identifier
- 2017AM001.080
- Collection
- E. Ann McRae Personal Collection
- Language of Item
- English
- Geographic Coverage
-
-
Ontario, Canada
Latitude: 43.1334 Longitude: -80.26636 -
England, United Kingdom
Latitude: 54.61667 Longitude: -1.86667
-
- 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, 11 July 1943. E. Ann McRae Personal Collection, Item No. 2017AM001.080
- 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
