|
|
|
MARTINS
BANK AT WAR – THE WARTIME NEWSLETTERS |
|
|
MARTINS BANK
LIMITED Staff Manager’s Department AINSDALE 6th March 1942 |
|
To the Staff Ladies and
Gentlemen In these days, increasingly strenuous for all of us, it
is a pleasure to turn again to events of a personal nature and to write a
brief letter in an endeavour to keep you in touch with the general life of
the Bank. Personal matters are especially in my mind just now as I attempt to
deal with the problems created by the further calls for National Service. You are all aware of the decisions of the Ministry of Labour
regarding man and woman power in Banks. It seems certain that a number of our
lady colleagues will be taken from us during the ensuing months and a further
300 of our remaining men colleagues are shortly to be released.for H.M.
Forces. To those of you whose lot it
will be to go I offer on my own behalf and in the name of those who will
remain every good wish. May your safe
and victorious return be not long delayed. News of members now serving in various parts of the world
reaches us from time to time. Their
letters are uniformly cheerful though their well understood desires to return
to their family circles and to the Bank invariably find expression. It is
most interesting to read of their experiences. H. C. Bradwell of Sowerby Bridge has
recently written telling of his life whilst serving on a minesweeper off the
East Coast. He mentioned that serving
at his base is G.E.E. Bromley Martin
of Cocks Biddulph to whose resource and skill he pays generous tribute. B.
Rowbotham of Ainsdale is also serving at sea and in a letter received a few
weeks ago he says that during his travels he had eight days leave in the
United States, during which time he and two of his friends travelled 1200
miles on the "hitch hike" principle. The itinerary included such places as
Richmond (Virginia) Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia and New
York. He spoke enthusiastically of his
experiences and of the genuine friendship of the American people. Others from whom letters and greetings
have been received include G. V. Keiller of Liverpool Foreign in Bermuda, A.
H. Birse of London Foreign in Kuibyshev and E.D.R. Whittaker of Guildford in
Iceland. P.J. Daffey of Cocks Biddulph
writes from his prisoner of war camp and in his letter states that he is
"of course working but not on office work". He adds that he is fit and well and refers
with gratitude to parcels he has received from his office friends and through
the American Red Cross. It is known
that our colleagues who are prisoners of war are receiving parcels of food
from our old friends and correspondents Brown Brothers Harriman &
Company, on whose behalf the American Red Cross are handling the matter. Some of you may have heard a recent talk over the air in
the Forces programme by J.W.T. Lashmar, formerly of Southport, when he gave a
vivid account of the invasion of Crete where he was serving with the Royal
Artillery. It is with great regret that I have to announce that the
following have lost their lives in action since ny last letter: R. L. Newell of Luddendenfoot killed whilst
flying, J.R. Constance of Heaton Mersey killed at sea and Eric Twelves of
Brown Street killed whilst flying. It is also officially announced that
Norman Baron, D.F.M. of Blackpool, previously reported missing, must now be
presumed dead. D.D. Porter of
Heywoods, Liverpool, who was discharged from, the R.A.F. on health grounds,
died in November last. Your sympathy will be freely extended to the
relatives of these colleagues. I also regret to have to let you know that J.P. Rowntree
of Bexley Heath and T.P. Wright of Swinton, both of the R.A.F. are
missing. The following members
previously reported missing are now known to be prisoners.of war – H.W Warwick of Millfield, G. F.
Halliwell of Central (Liverpool) and F. J. Pinnell of the London messenger
staff. It is gratifying to be able to
report their safety. Colleagues in
the London District who remember T.W. Piper at Eltham Branch prior to his
resignation in 1936 may be interested to know that he has been awarded the Air Force Cross, but unfortunately he is
now a prisoner. Rest periods have now begun and I hope it will be
possible to maintain these without interruption. It is certain that heavier
burdens will fall on those who remain in the Bank and I know these will be
cheerfully borne. It is an arresting
fact that after the end of this month 55% of the August 1939 male staff will
have gone or will be available to go for service with the Armed Forces. A
reasonable amount of replacement has taken place, and to those ladies and gentlemen
who have joined the Staff in a temporary capacity since my last informal
letter, I offer a welcome. Yours Faithfully
Staff Manager
|
|
