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An Litir Bheag 1022

Litir Bheag na seachdain sa le Ruairidh MacIlleathain. Litir àireamh 1022. This week's short letter for Gàidhlig learners.

18 days left to listen

5 minutes

Last on

Sun 15 Dec 2024 13:30

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An Litir Bheag 1022

Bheir mi eachdraidh-beatha Phàdraig Fhriseil, seann Phrìomhaire Sealainn Nuaidh, gu crìch. Ann an naoi ceud deug, ceathrad ’s a ceithir (1944), bha e aig coinneamhan poilitigeach anns na Stàitean Aonaichte, agus aig coinneamhan de Chaibineat Cogaidh Bhreatainn. Chaidh Saorsa Lunnainn agus Dhùn Èideann a bhuileachadh air.

Chaidh Pàdraig a thadhal air saighdearan à Sealann Nuadh anns an Eadailt. Ghabh e ùidh ann am bratàillean nam Maori. Dh’fhuiling iadsan call mòr aig Monte Cassino. Bha Pàdraig gu math taiceil do na Maori.

Fhad ’s a bha iad ann am Breatainn, chaidh Pàdraig agus Seònaid a thadhal air an t-seann dachaigh aige. Bha feadhainn à Sealann Nuadh stèidhichte faisg air làimh aig ionad-adhair ann am Manachainn Rois.

Air ais ann am Wellington, thàinig na ceudan còmhla airson seasgadamh ceann-bliadhna Phàdraig. Mhothaich daoine, ge-tà, gun robh e air a dhol bodachail. 

Bha suidheachadh Seònaid na bu mhiosa. Bha tinneas sgamhain oirre. Bha i ag iarraidh cobhair a dhèanamh air clann às an Roinn-Eòrpa a bha gun phàrantan. Leig Pàdraig long làn cloinne às a’ Phòlainn a-steach a Shealann Nuadh.

Chaochail Seònaid sa Mhàrt naoi ceud deug, ceathrad ’s a còig (1945). ’S e buille chruaidh a bha ann do Phàdraig. Chaidh e an sàs gu domhainn anns an obair aige airson dèiligeadh ris a’ chall. Bha e am measg cruthadairean nan Dùthchannan Aonaichte aig co-labhairt ann an San Francisco.

Ann an naoi ceud deug, ceathrad ’s a h-ochd (1948), bha e air a’ Ghàidhealtachd airson an turais mu dheireadh. Thug e a-steach a’ Bhliadhn’ Ùr ann am Baile an Droma.

Ann an Sealann Nuadh, bha cùisean a’ dol na aghaidh. Chaill na Làbaraich anns an taghadh nàiseanta. Thug sin cothrom do Phàdraig a bhith a’ frithealadh chuirmean-ciùil, dealbhan-cluiche agus ballet. Ach cha robh e gu math. Chaochail e ann an naoi ceud deug is caogad (1950).

Chan eil e fhèin no Seònaid air an dìochuimhneachadh, ann an Siorrachd Rois no àiteachan eile. O chionn beagan bhliadhnaichean, chaidh duais a bhuileachadh orra le Ceann-suidhe na Pòlainn. Bha sin airson na rinn iad do chloinn às a’ Phòlainn a bha ann an èiginn aig àm a’ chogaidh.

The Little Letter 1022

I shall bring the life story of Peter Fraser, at one time the Prime Minister of New Zealand, to a close. In 1944, he was in political meetings in the United States and at meetings of the British War Cabinet. The Freedom of London and of Edinburgh were bestowed upon him.

Peter went to visit soldiers from New Zealand in Italy. He took an interest in the Maori battalion. They suffered a terrible loss at Monte Cassino. Peter was very supportive of the Maori.

While they were in Britain, Peter and Janet went to visit his old home. Some people from New Zealand were based close-by at an air base in Fearn.

Back in Wellington, hundreds gathered for Peter’s sixtieth birthday. People noticed, however, that he had become old before his time.

Janet’s situation was worse. She had a lung disease. She wanted to help children from orphan who had no parents. Peter let a ship full of children from Poland into New Zealand.

Janet passed away in March 1945. It was a cruel blow for Peter. He got heavily involved in his work in order to deal with the loss. He was among the creators of the United Nations at a conference in San Francisco.

In 1948, he was in the Highlands for the final time. He brought in the New Year at Hill of Fearn.

In New Zealand matters were turning against him. The Labour Party lost in the national election. That gave an opportunity to Peter to attend concerts, plays and ballet. But he wasn’t well. He died in 1950.

Neither he nor Janet are forgotten, in Ross-shire or other places. A few years ago, an award was given to them by the President of Poland. That was for what they did for children from Poland who were in distress at the time of the war.

Broadcast

  • Sun 15 Dec 2024 13:30

All the letters

Tha gach Litir Bheag an seo / All the Little Letters are here.

Podcast: An Litir Bheag

The Little Letter for Gaelic Learners

An Litir Bheag air LearnGaelic

An Litir Bheag is also on LearnGaelic (with PDFs)

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