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MARTINS
BANK AT WAR – THE WARTIME NEWSLETTERS |
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MARTINS BANK
LIMITED Staff Manager’s Department AINSDALE September 1942 |
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To the Staff Ladies and
Gentlemen In setting out to write to you again on matters of an
unofficial and personal character, I do so with a sense of pleasure. As the. war spreads and its claims become
increasingly insistent, human relationships assume a deeper meaning and,
whilst our individual
problems grow, there is much evidence of sympathetic concern for friends and
colleagues. Since my last letter, practically all those whose deferment
expired at the end of March have left us for various branches of the
Services, though a number have been placed in a low medical category and will
remain with us for the present at least.
As you are aware, it has been necessary to release an equivalent
number of fit men hitherto deferred in order to conform to the existing
agreement with the Ministry. These colleagues will take with them our best
wishes when they leave us for what we trust will not be too long a
period. So far some 1300 men have
gone from our Bank to serve the country and the cause to which it is pledged.
In addition upwards of 160 of our women colleagues have left to take up duty
in the Forces or in a branch of
war industry. Many more women, of course, are awaiting their call. It can be
claimed that the Bank is making no mean contribution to the national effort.
None the less, the call is for still greater effort and it seems probable
that further claims will be made on our limited man and woman power when the
Kennet committee makes its decisions known.Until that time, it is understood, that no deferred
labour will be withdrawn from the banks. It is a pleasure to hear from one and another of our
members now scattered in various parts of the world, Those of us whose lot it is to remain in
the Bank may at times feel envious of the experiences many of our colleagues
are having, for, reading between the lines of their letters, one senses many
things which whet the appetite for more information. No doubt when peace
comes much which now must remain secret will make absorbingly interesting
hearing. A,H, Birse of London
Foreign, who as you may be aware, is in Kuibyshev, wrote from there in July
and referred to the signing of the Anglo-Soviet Treaty and the warm welcome
it received from the Russians. He
said, "One" could see evidence of this not only in the press and
the greatly improved official atmosphere, but in individual contacts as well.
Some of my colleagues have been stopped in the street by strangers and asked
whether they might be allowed to shake their hands.” In a recent letter from
J.R. Smith of Walton, who is in the Middle East, he refers to frequent
meetings with T.T.Samuel of Walton, A.C. Bater of West Kirby and W.H.Poe of
Central. He also says that he ran across J.S.Barlow of Chief Accountant's
Department, who is making a name for himself in the singing world and has
broadcast on two occasions. B. Rowbotham of Ainsdale, writing .from somewhere
on the high seas, mentions that he has travelled widely and though he is
precluded from quoting places, he assures me that the slogan “Join the Navy
and see the world” has truth. News of
I.G. Clark of Ormskirk reached me recently. He has had a variety of
experiences, In the early days of the War, he was sent to Palestine and later
was in the first Libyan campaign. Subsequently he fought in Greece and Crete,
ultimately escaping to Egypt. Another colleague, G.V.Murphy of Cocks Biddulph
Branch, now a prisoner of war, wrote earlier in the year from Palestine.
Whilst on leave, after his Tobruk experiences in the first siege, he ran into
J.A. Jaques, also of Cocks Biddulph, in a Cairo Cinema - they were able to
spend a couple of days together. It is with great regret that I have to let you know that
the following have lost their lives in action since my last letter – J,P. Rowntree
of Bexley Heath, previously reported missing, now reported to be presumed
dead, H.K. Lonsdale
of Wigan, killed through enemy action in the Isle of Wight, J.B.
Bushby of Lancaster, who crashed off the Shetland Isles with a fully loaded
plane. J.G. Mutter of
Head Office Relief Staff, killed in a flying accident. T. Snowdon of
Barnard Castle, killed whilst serving in the Middle East J.S. Leather of Head Office, killed during a
raid on Bremen, and
C.C. Robson of
Northumberland Street, now officially reported by the Admiralty to have died
on War Service. I know your sympathy will be generously extended to the
relatives of these colleagues. I also have to announce that the following additional
names must be added to the list of members who are Prisoners of War – C.A. Taylor of
Lowndes Street in Germany, E.J. Downs of
Head Office Relief Staff, J.D. Surtees of
Chester Road, Sunderland, in Italy, K. Young of North
Eastern District Office in Italy, G. V. Murphy of
Cocks Biddulph in Italy, J.W. Moore of
North Eastern District Office in Italy R.Hounslea of
Strand Road Bootle in Italy", A. Ellison of
Darwen in Italy. It is
reassuring to know that they are safe. Anxiety
continues on behalf of the following who are reported missing – G.W. Butler of Curzon Street in the Middle East A. Whitworth of the messenger staff at
Blackpool in
Malaya, F. Raine of
Laygate, in Malaya, G.D. Ingham of
Elland, in Malaya, A.B. Briggs of
St. Annes-on-Sea, in Singapore, A.R. Holmes of Baker Street, following a raid
on Kiel, C.A. Bell of Stockport, in Bomber Command
operations, W.S. Blaylock of Inspection Staff, North
Eastern District, in the Middle East and P. Walker of
Smithdown, following a raid on Hamburg. We all share the sincere hope that news of the safety of these colleagues may be forthcoming. Congratulations will be gladly offered to the following members
who have recently received, decorations – R.B. Clark of
New Biggin, the Air Force Medal for exceptional valour and devotion to duty, R.F.C. Durbin
of Bromley, the British Empire Medal for shooting down a Heinkel, J.C. Willis of
Silsden, the Military Cross for gallantry in Libya, A.H. Duringer
of Birmingham, the Distinguished Flying Medal in recognition of gallantry and
devotion to duty, G.A. Townsend
of Brown Street, Manchester, for gallantry in the Middle East, and T.T. Warriner
of Kendal, mentioned in Despatches. J.W. Moore, who
as mentioned earlier in this letter is a Prisoner, was awarded the Military
Medal for gallantry and subsequently promoted to commissioned rank on the
Field. The generous action of our friends, Brown Brothers
Harriman and Company of New York in sending parcels of food to our Prisoners
of War, through the American Red Cross, has been much appreciated. A few days ago, however, a letter from
partners brought the news that, to their great regret, they are compelled to
discontinue this practice. The following quotation in a letter from the
American Red Cross to our correspondents explains the position - "This is to notify you that the acceptance of orders
for delivery of standard American Red Cross food packages to individual
prisoners of war identified by name is discontinued. Now that we are a belligerent, it is the objective of the
American Red Cross to provide all American prisoners of war with standard
food packages at regular intervals. The sending of additional packages to particular
prisoners would not only be inequitable, but might cause a breakdown in the system of providing all
prisoners with standard packages regularly. Since we do not plan to accept orders for delivery
of parcels to identified American prisoners of War, we cannot continue to accept such orders for
prisoners of other nationalities” Brown Brothers inform us that they plan to follow closely
the policy of the American Red Cross
and should it change to enable them again to send packages to
individuals they will not fail to act promptly. Mr.Furniss has written
stating that he fully appreciates the position. He also extends the gratitude of the
Chairman, the Directors and all at the Bank for their great kindness. Rest periods have now practically finished and though it
is disappointing to be denied the additional leave of 3 days or a week, as
the case may be, I am sure there will be no complaint, having in mind all
contemporary circumstances. Full advantage has been taken of the Rest House
at Ambleside. It is a self-evident
tribute that many have paid a return visit and a number who have had a first
holiday there have written to express their pleasure. May I, in your name, offer a welcome to those who have
joined the Staff since I last wrote to you?
Yours Faithfully
Staff Manager
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