Family Postcards 1913 - 1917, page 6

Well, I am nearly at the end of Edwards story. I have decided to research the rest of his immediate family. This may take a while as there are rather a lot of them, however I will concentrate on those who may have served during the First World War.

I will list Edwards relatives on my next page. I will also put the links of the sites I have used or perused in my research of Edwards life.

Double click on an image for a larger view.

A little help
If any readers out ther can help either with further information on Edward or that of any of the relatives I will list then I would be grateful.

And so.....
Edward returned to England injured in the February of 1917. We know this as his sister Alice writes to him and mentions his ‘next operation’, card 21. No cards exist from Edward to Isabelle from the time he was injured until the time of his death.

Letters are mentioned, alas these no longer exist. Isabelle was desperate for news of Edwards condition so she resorted to contacting a Major who replied to her, this was mentioned on card 28 dated April 14th, 1917.

The last postcard with text on it is card 29 and this is probably the most poignant of them all.

Edward’s death was recorded as 7th June 1917 at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. Edward is buried in Preston New Hall Lane Cemetery. His daughter Eva grew up never knowing her father, like so many other children born during war time.

Card 19

Absent card by Rotary Photographic Series, Printed in Britain. This is a real photograph.

The poem on the front is by Willmer reads:

My dearest, all’s well and I trust tis with you.
I still keep as busy as brave, dear and true
Just as I know you would have me do.
While I’m waiting for you to come home.

At twilight the shadow’s keep Not Dressed in kharki
Whispering your name. with military air.
The fire flickers pictures of Not under orders for
You in each name goodness knows where.
And your photo speaks comfort Not as a soldier, but just as you were.
From out of its frame. In your old ways.
And it’s then that I want you back home. Those dear days at home.

The card is from Isabell to Edward, although there is no date on the card Edwards birthday is 7th August. This would place the card no later than 1916 as Edward died before his birthday in 1917.

With love and best wishes for your birthday, from your loving wife. Isa.

xxxxx

Card 20

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Song Greeting” Series No. 4965/2. Printed in England.


To Edward, possibly from one of his sisters Alice and her husband Jim, dated January 29th 1917.

Dear Brother,

Just a few lines to let you know that Jim has arrived home safe on Friday night for 10 days and is in the best of health the same as myself. I remain your sister and brother.

Alice and Jim.

Card 21

W &K. London, E.C.Series No 3784 British Manufacture

A card from Edwards sister Alice dated Feb 26th 1917, the 26th having been altered from 23rd.

Also of note is the end of the poem on the front of the card has had a word scribbled out and replaced with 'us'.

P.S Stamp inside envelope

87 Victoria St. Preston, Lancs.

Dear Brother,

Just a few lines in answer to your ever welcome letter sorry to hear that you are no different but we must put trust in God to see you safe through your next operation and let us hope it is a success Well I have just received a field postcard from Jim dated 18th Feb and he is quite well so far I myself am in the pink at present no more this time so will close with best love from your loving sister Alice.(494)

Card 22

W & K. London, E. C. Series No. 3504 British Manufacture.


A card from Edwards wife Isabelle dated March 20th 1917.


7 Astley St, St Pauls Rd, Preston.

Dear Ted,

Just a few lines in answer to your letter. I hope you won’t be long before you get home. I don’t let Eva forget you. If she is crying and I say where’s daddy she stops crying as if by magic and gives your photo such a sweet smile it’s a pity it was’nt yourself instead of the photo.

Best love from Eva & Isa

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Card 23

J.Beagles & co., E C., Printers & Publishers. Guaranteed Real Photograph.

A card from Isabelle to Edward dated 23rd March 1917.

7 Astley St, St Pauls Rd, Preston.

Dear Ted,

Just a few in answer to your letter. I hope you will come through your operation alright, let me know as soon you can. I like your photo, but you seem awfully fat. Have they been feeding you up. You looked badly in the little photo’s.

Best love from your loving wife Isa.xxxxxxxx
Eva xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Card 24

Printed in England. The Regent Publishing Co. Ltd., London. N. W.

From Edwards sister Alice dated 6th April 1917.

87 Victoria St, Preston, Lancs.

Dear Brother,
Just a line in answer to your card which I like very well. I have put it in my album along with some yours from France now I am quite well and so is Jim hoping to hear some good news very soon from you. Now I am sending you 2 packets of fags and in side one of them there is 6 pence. Hoping you enjoy your Easter. Well no more this time.
From your loving sister Alice 494.

Text in bold not clearly legible.

Card 25

The Regent Series, No. 2019. Printed in England. The Regent Publishing Co., Ltd., London, N.W. (All British).

From Isabelle to Edward dated April 7th 1917.

7 Astley St, St Pauls Rd, Preston.


Dear Ted,

I hope you have got over your operation alright. I am longing to hear how you are. If you are better, do you think it will be long before get home. There is no pleasure without you. Hoping to see you soon.

I remain your loving Wife.
Isa and Eva,
xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Although the story has finished (for the moment) there are a few more cards to go.

Family postcards 1913 - 1917, page 5

The family story stated that Edward survived an allied creeping barrage on the Somme near a wood or forest with the name that sounded like devil. There is only one instance of the Loyal North Lancs being involved in such an incident.

According to Chris McCarthy’s book such an incident took place on 18th August 1916. This entry is reproduced below:

Friday 18th August. Temperature 70° F; overcast (1mm rain). III Corps, 1st Division.

Zero hour was at 2.45pm.

Two companies of 1st Loyal North Lancs (2 Brigade) attacked. The right company went too soon and walked into the British barrage and was practically wiped out.

This action took place north of Bazentia le Pt, south of Martinpuich, west of High Wood. High Wood lays some 1500 yards north-west of Delville Wood.

Double click on an image for a larger view.

Card 10

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Song Greeting” Series No. 4899/2. Printed in England.

To Edward possibly from Isabella dated June 30th 1916, written in pencil and very faded.

Dear Ted.

I have just got your express letter and cards this morning. You see there is a door leading into the umbrella department and the footman must have locked them behind that door and was ###### was cleaning the shop and ##### them.

They do not clean it every week and that is why they were not found #####. I only missed once not handing you cigarettes and the ### week I sent two (scribbled out word) boxes. What more can I do on any bit. I have a box of tea tablets to send you but could not (the next few lines are not legible).

All text in bold is partially legible all ## means not legible.

Card 11

Words by permission of Ascherberg, Hopwood & Crew, Ltd., Music Publishers, 10 Mortimer Street, London, W. Valentines Series 4233. British Manufacture.

From Edward to Isabelle, no date but was composed during training giving a time frame of July or early August 1916.

Dear Wife
Just a line hoping you are in good health also baby. I am in the pink of health myself, I have a letter of your mother and she is alright, our Ernest is in the trenches. He went in on Thursday, we may be warned anytime now. Hoping you are suited to this card. No more at present from your loving hubby Edaward Culling. Xxxxxxxxxx.

No 23935, 3 L N L, Hut 25, E Company, Felixstowe, Suffolk.

In the top right corner he has written: Do not to forget to send me some fags.

In the bottom left:

Give Maggie these fag cards
from Ed C.

Card 12

“Art and Humour” Publishing Co., 27, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. The “A & H” “Message” Series. No 211. British Manufacture.

From Edward to Isabelle dated July 27th 1916.

Pte E Culling

E Company Hut 25

3 LNL Felixstowe

Suffolk.

Dear Wife

Just a line to thank you for this card. I would like to keep it but I cannot, it would only get torn or someone steal it so I am sending it back with thanks please send me some fags for I have none. Next week you can send me a parcel for I might not get any more from you. I might have to go out to France about next Friday we do not know we get warned one day and on to France the next day or I might be hear a month.

Card 13

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Songs” Series No. 4900/1. Printed in England.

To Ted from Isabelle, undated.

69b Newhall Lane, Preston. Saturday.

Dear Ted,

I have sent a parcel off today and when you lift the paper off the top there is some soap wrapped and I would love to come to Felixstowe very much but I made enquiries at the station and found it would cost one pound and four pence to go changing at Rugby, Peterbourough and twenty four (shillings?) and ninepence to go by London and then I would have to change to get to London and then go right across town to get a train to Felixstowe. I think it would be a fortnight befor I could get enough money to come. It would be better for me if I could come. I will make a big effort to come. Will send money and stamps on Monday have only got a halfpenny left.

Love from Isa, mum, baby xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Card 14

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. Series No. 4857/1. Printed in England.

Undated card from Edward to Isabelle written in pencil.

Dear Isa

Do write oftener with best love for you and the baby.
From your loving hubbby.

E Culling

Card 15

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Songs” Series No. 4900/1. Printed in England.

A card from Isabelle to Edward, undated. “Dear Ted” is in pencil, the rest of the text is in ink.

Monday Morning. 69b Newhall Lane, Preston.

Dear Ted
I will write tonight when I get some paper. I was not going to send you the cigarettes till you sent me a desent letter. I will send them today. I do hope you get your discharge though it will take a lot of money to keep us. The thought of you going to France is a load on my heart. Baby is cutting a double tooth and it is nearly through. She is bigger and fatter than ever, you would hardly know her Ted. I would like to see the letter that you received, if you were anything like a man you would make the writer sit up. If you don’t I will.

Card 16

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Songs” Series No. 4900/3. Printed in England.

A card to Edward from Isabelle, undated.

Tuesday Morning.

Dear Ted.
I am sending you a parcel, see that you get it. I have sent you two cage birds and three comics. You did not tell me that Ernest was coming once on leave. The woman opposite your mothers told me that he came over on Saturday and stays till Thursday. Did you not know. Your mother is telling everybody that you would never have gone away but for me and that you have never written to me since you went. There is last weeks cigarettes and this weeks. I hope will be pleased I can do no more.


From Isa,

Xxxxxxx from baby,

Card 17

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Songs” Series No. 4899/1. Printed in England.

A card unsigned and undated but from the text appears to be from Isabelle to Edward. The text is scrawled in pencil and difficult to transcribe.

I am that miserable and ill that people are beginning they always ask me if I am tired but its not bodily tired. It is worry of the mind trying ####. I ### best(!) ### my bible, and send you a parcel and still put a bit of #### in baby and #####. I only get nice letters when I send you a parcel and when I can afford one I get different ones. Your people are turning you against me, they have tried a long time and I am afraid they will sway, seeing (if) that you are all against. Don’t believe what they write. Isa

The content of the text especially towards the end of the card seems disjointed probably reflecting the anxiety Isabelle is feeling at the time of her writing the card. All symbols ## represents illegible text.

Card 18

A French postcard, no printers name just ‘ CARTE POSTALE’ J.J(torn at this point) Paris (Marque déposé).

Possibly the only card from Edward after being drafted to France, almost certainly en route to the Somme. Dated August 12th 1916.


Just a line to let you know I am in the pink please send me a book to read & my parcle is done do not forget that I have change my hut to 24 I am warned for a draught at the end of this month with best love to you and Eva from your loving hubby.

E Culling
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx

To both of you.

Family postcards 1913-1917, page 4

For reasons unknown Edward was trying to get discharged shortly after his stay in the home, Isabelle writes about this on card 16. She also mentions a letter Edward received and appears to be from a ‘comrade’ possibly accusing Edward of cowardice.

Edward was drafted to France during August 1916 in E company, 3rd Loyal North Lancashires. There is a very fine French (fabric) card from Edward dated August 12th 1916, postcard 18. Although on the card he asks for parcels to be sent to Hut 24 the card being French may be a message to Isabelle that he was going over imminently or possibly already in France.

Remember, double click on an image for a larger view.

Card 8

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Song Greeting” Series No. 4857/3. Printed in England.

From Edward to Isabelle.

Prt Edward Culling, No 23935 LNL.

Cobbolds Convalesant Home, 64 Quilter Rd, Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Dear Wife.
Just A line to let you know that I am a little better but nothing to speak of you say that I had never send you any letters well I received that Post Office express letter back which I send you, and you may not get them when you send me your wrong number in one or two letters.

Your number is 6B9 and others 96B which is your right number. Isa I have sold one of my pups so will you let Fred have a pedigree so that he can fill it in and send it to me.

I enclosed the Post Office letter so that you can see it for yourself weather I sent it or not.

Card 9

Bamforth & Co .. Ltd. Publishers, Holmfirth (England) and New York. “Song Greeting” Series No. 4857/2. Printed in England.


From Edward to Isabelle dated June 21st 1916, written in pencil.

Prt Edward Culling, No 23935 Hut 44, D Company. Felixstowe, Suffolk.

Dear Wife,
Just a line from your hubby to say that I received your parcel Tuesday morning. Well dear I am a little better and the doctor says that I have to go on duty on Friday. If I keep well I will be home on furlow in a fortnight.

I have only my firing to do and then I will come home. All letters & parcels to be sent to my Hut 44.

E C