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.

Edward Culling, 23935, 7th August 1889 – 7th July 1917

I would like to take this opportunity thank Mr Eddie Pritchard and Mr Brian Mountjoy who assisted with the on-line research into Edward’s life and family and also helped with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission temperamental web site. I have never met these gentlemen, they responded to a post I left on a web page.

Thanks also to the Regimental Headquarters of The Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, Preston and Mark Roberts (ex) Wessex Archaeology for their assistance in researching Edward’s service in the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and especially Mark for visiting the Glasgow Library on my behalf.

An extra special thanks goes to the archivist office, Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Special thanks go to Mr Harold Culling (no relation), President of the Liverpool and S.W. Lancashire Family History Society who’s dedication and generosity for researching and providing a comprehensive history of the Culling family. And finally Karen Walker and Dave Farwell for lending me the books that proved invaluable.

The start

How did this all start, well way back in the middle of 2002 my mother, Bobbie, showed me a small bundle of postcards the majority of which were from World War 1. These cards were given to my mother by her mother Eva.

Eva died died after a stroke and subsequent long illness on 13th September 1993.

How I did it

The majority of the cards were correspondence between Isabelle Jones and Edward Culling. Some of the writing on the reverse of the cards was in ink, some in pencil, the latter making difficult reading due to the effects of age. The cards and the legible text intrigued me so I borrowed them in order to peruse at my leisure and attempt to decipher the non legible writing.

I started by scanning the backs of the cards but found that the faded text still did not show well in normal scan mode so I scanned them using various settings i.e. negative view, high and low gamma etc. I found that the negative view (in effect a photographic negative) enabled me to read some of the less effected text, then by using high or low gamma settings in the negative view enabled me to read the vast majority of the faded text.

I then decided to scan the front of the cards and print of copies with a transcript of the text beneath and any other information about the card such as printers/companies and country of origin. This I did so people could enjoy the cards without handling the originals thus helping to preserve them. One thing led to another and I started to research Edward’s life.

My family knew very little about Edward’s life and the majority of what is known was passed down the generations verbally.

But for now you will have to wait a bit longer.

A WW1 tribute, dedicated to Eva

Yeah, I know, I wanted to keep this blog a bit light hearted, but there's a whole life to do that.

My first attempts were 'testers', I had no drection, well I think I have found it now.

After a lot of thought I have decided to 'let the world know' what little I do about one of the million or so brave souls who fought and died during the First World War. This brave soul is my great grand father Edward Culling, not to forget his devoted wife Isabelle and their only child Eva.

Edward was injured on the Somme and died just under a year later from his injuries. This tribute is also to those he left behind, Isabelle, Edwards wife, my great grand mother, and Eva, my grand mother who died not too many years ago.

A personal note here. I am sad that Eva did not recognise me after the stroke and sorry I did not visit her from that time up to her death. This is why I dedicate this page to Eva.

Some time ago my mum (Bobbie) showed me some old postcards between Edward and Isa, written during thier courtship and after his enlistment into the Loyal North Lancs and ultamately from his hospital bed in the Glascow Royal Infirmary. There were also a couple of cards from other members of the family. All give an interesting and emotional insight of those years of conflict.

I have done a paper copy for my mother (it took a few years), now I have to try and transpose it, copies of the postcards and all to this blog. This should keep me busy for a while.

Let us see how it goes!