A few years ago I was given a stack of old postcards that had come from my maternal grandmother, and going through them again recently, I thought it would be an interesting project to copy them and transcribe the text before it fades away completely, and then add them to this family history blog. There are a number of cards from my great-grandmother's brothers, who were travelling the world in the early 20th century. One of them, "Uncle Bill" (William Pitt Adams), ended up emigrating to Australia, and remarkably, our families are onto the 4th generation of keeping in touch with each other now. Two of my aunts lived in Australia at different times when they were young women, and so there was a reconnection made in the 1960s.
I'm not sure how I am going to set this out (it is a work in progress) but, for now I shall start with the card Bill Adams sent to his sister Alice (my great-grandmother) from the ship that took him to Australia nearly 100 years ago to the day I'm writing this!
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NZSC (New Zealand Shipping Company) SS Paparoa
date: October 15, 1912
postmarked: London
Mrs. Greed
21 Malmesbury Park Rd.
Bournemouth
"Dear Alice & Frank and [Dumpie?]
Just off and we are not downhearted love Etc. 800 aboard, Bill"
Bill is 28 years old, still single, and off to Australia to start a new life. Was he travelling with someone; he says "we" are not downhearted, or was he referring to the passengers as a group? It is 6 months after Titanic sank. I wonder if they felt a bit like we did flying in the months after 9/11.
My grandmother was born in March, 1911, so she is the presumed 3rd person that this is addressed to - this must be a pet name for his young niece.
photo postcard of Leonard Adams in India
postmarked: India
date: July 10, 1915
Mrs. F. Greed
21 Malmsbury Park Rd.
Bournemouth
"Fort Delhi July 10th, 1915
Dear Alice. Still OK. Took this at Mussoorie*. It's in the top of a hill called the Camel Back: am sending card to Frank, which I took from there. Len S.A."
[*Mussoorie is a hill station in northern India in the foothills of the Himalayas, not far from the Tibetan border. What was Len doing here in 1915 - WWI was in full swing. In the next card from him he mentions he was in Salonika (Thessaloniki), but there is no date on it. And Len S.A. was for Len Stewart Adams.]
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HMHS Aquitania
postmarked: Bournemouth
date: January 4 (?14), 1916
Mrs. Greed
West Hendford House
Hendford
Yeovil
Somerset
"Dear A. Letter today Jan 2 Bill arrived So'ton no time to give details Will write later Fred"
Notice how he writes as though sending a telegram.
The Aquitania of the picture shows her as a hospital ship. This luxury liner had been taken over for military duty and was used as a hospital ship during the Battle of Gallipoli. Was Bill, who had fought in that campaign, on this ship arriving in Southampton, or was it Fred (who was writing the postcard and about whom I know nothing of his active service yet)? The Gallipoli campaign was from April 25th, 1915 - January 9th, 1916. Bill had fought with the Australian Imperial Force, not the British military. It is astonishing that he survived duty both on the Western Front (the Somme) and Gallipoli. According to his granddaughter, he was gassed at the Somme, and was saved by a sturdy helmet from having a bullet go through his head at Gallipoli. If it was Bill coming home on the hospital ship, it was probably to convalesce with/nearer to his family. He left for Australia again with his new bride in 1919.
[The military records of Captain William Adams can be seen at the AIF Project online here: http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=1107 .]
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Taranto
No stamps, no dates. They were probably cards that had been tucked into a birthday parcel in 1916. His two nieces birthdays were two days apart (Feb. 28th and Mar. 2nd). We think Betty was my grandmother, Doris, and Billie her sister, Babs.
To Billie, Yeovil.
"Wishing you many Happy Returns of the Day. Tell Mum that I got home Thursday all the way from Salonica* and through this place in a coal truck. Granny & Granfie send their love. Uncle Len"
*It is his returning from Thessaloniki that makes me think this must be 1916.
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Betty Greed
Westlands?
Yeovil
"With best wishes for a Happy Birthday. I hope to come and see you very soon. From Uncle Len, Granny & Gramfie. Jock has growed like you, and is very noisy??, you should have taught him to behave himself!"
Jock was Isabella's and George's beloved dog, who Grandma used to say taught her to walk. Apparently, she would hang on to him and toddle about. Len was obviously staying with his parents here after getting back from the war.
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P&O Branch Service SS Borda
date (?) January 14, 1921
postmarked: Tilbury
Mrs. F. Greed
c/o Mrs. Knott
Sycamore Rd.
Chalfont St. Giles
Bucks
"Just off. Goodbye, Len"
Uncle Len was going to Australia too. I don't know anything about this branch of the family yet, but he sounds like a character. I'll get back to him when I find out more. I don't know who Mrs. Knott is (of the address).
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This is a family photograph with a postcard printed backing.
AR and Mum think they are Gramfie's nieces & nephews, or a cousin's children but do not know whose. The writing is a bit of a challenge - I can't make out the name.
My powers of deduction take me to this having been sent when Uncle Don was a baby, as he was the only boy. He was born [to find]. And once we know the year and the first Christmas after, we can figure out what the business with "the king" was.
My powers of deciphering will only take me this far:
[I have added punctuation, as there is none.]
Dear Frank
Thanks for Christmas card. Trusting you both having very (prosperous?) new year. 3 generations of the Greed tribe. W[h]at do you think of that [ ? ] lot with king? Love to you both [? ] and kiss for the baby. I (suppose that?) he's growing by this time.
Your loving (Grannie?)
[ ? ] Greed
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[Not in order.]
63 Cherbourg
posted: Falmouth Cherbourg
date: ? 19 September, 1907
to: Mrs. Greed
The Homestead
? Orcheston Rd.
Bournemouth
No message. [Who was in Cherbourg?]
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The Folly Great Somerford
posted: Greater Somerford
date: 18 August 1923
to: Mrs. Greed
15 Garden City
Langport Somerset
"My Dear Mrs. Greed. Thanks ever so much for sending girls dresses. They are ever so pleased with everything. I was ever so sorry to hear of your great trouble. I shall look forward to seeing you at an early date. Hope you are quite well - with love from yours sincerely. M.R."
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Crooked House Himley
posted: Dudley Worcecster/Pensnett (the card is franked twice)
date: October 8, 1906
to: Mr. F. Greed
The Homestead
Orcheston Rd.
Bournemouth
"Dear Frank. How about a spirit level on this door. Having a great time. (illegible, ? love A.?)"
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