Family postcards, 1913 to 1917, page 1

The following collection of postcards represent correspondence between Edward Culling and his sweetheart later to be wife Isabelle Jane Culling nee Jones, and other relatives, between the years 1913 and 1917.

Some of the postcards are either to worn to transcribe all the text or they simply do not have text on them. The text from the reverse of the cards has been reproduced, mistakes and all, beneath an image of the original card along with any other details such as printers and country of origin.

Double click on images for larger view.

The story begins

Edward Culling married Isabelle Jane Jones, my great grandmother, in June 1914. Their daughter Eva was born in the March quarter of 1916, to be exact January 30th. Edward was employed as an overseer in a cotton mill in Preston, he also bred Canaries and Budgies which he ‘showed’ locally. Where Edward and Isabelle met is unsure, it is possible they met in Blackpool, a popular day out of the period. They possibly met in early 1913, this is surmised by the fact that the earliest post card is dated August 1913 and the text indicates they were already travelling to see each other on a fairly regular basis.

Even less was known about Edward’s time in the army. The family knew he joined the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment at some point in 1916, possibly March, and that he was one of a few in his regiment who survived being caught in a creeping allied barrage on the Somme near a wood or forest with a name that sounded like devil. Several months later Edward died of his wounds in the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow and that he was probably buried in Preston, Lancashire.

The postcards will be placed in date order where possible.

Card 1

Undated remembrance postcard published by Valentine & Sons Ltd, Dundee & London. Possibly collected by Isabel or their daughter Eva after the death of Edward in 1917.

The above postcard is in a poor condition possibly indicating that the card was handled or carried often by either Isabelle or Eva. The photograph does not do the card justice. The poem on the front of the card is by Laurence Binyon entitled For The Fallen:

They shall grow not old,
As we that are left grow old,
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn,
At the going down of the sun,
And in the morning,
We will remember them.

More on my next post.