Genealogy Chat

I have a postcard my g/grandfather sent to his mother when he was fighting in WW1. He didn't write anything on it - not a single word!

I've got 18 cards, birthday and Christmas between my Nan and her sisters (one of which is my Godmother) and my Gt Nan (signs herself Ma Clarke) to the 3 daughters. There's one special one it's from My Dad and his 3 brothers in pencil and obviously written by one of the boys. One card from my gt.aunt Mabel to her sister Elsie (my Godmother) wishing her happiness on her birthday and wedding day. Only some are post marked, cost 1d - that's pence for you youngsters LOL - the rest must have been sent in envelopes -earliest postmark I can read is 1923. One of the cards is addressed to Elsie Clarke, The Royal Oak, next to Woolwich Arsenal Station - also in pencil and marked 'Local'. Fantastic. I cherish them all. Jan :-))

Gillian, I too am very lucky - I have a whole line of hoarders in my family, and I have inherited 3 large volumes of postcards, the most beautiful ones have been sent during WWI from France back to family in Aust. the fronts are beautiful, and the backs give me stories (and lots of tears) Photos galore, so many without names, but I am slowly working through them and comparing with those that do have names, the most incredible little birthday books with so many family b, m & d's recorded, the oldest record I found in gt aunts tin trunk after she died is dated 1687 and it is regalia from an ancient order (lodge) - like I said I am so lucky to come from a long line of hoarders. I'm happy to say I have inherited the gene. In years to come will our families be scouring our PC hard drives for info on our generations????? mind boggles!!!! cheers Laurie

I was so excited when my aunt gave me a post card that was sent to her in 1911, and it has a pristine queen vic stamp on it. It was sent on the occasion of her birth , she gave to me as her son wanted to sell it for the stamp. He just couldn't see the value was in the postcard not the stamp! She got me started in wanting to know where I came from, you can see why she gave the card to me. No one else in the family knows but I have 2 bibles, a novel, a poetry book, and a prayer book from the mid 1800's that she also gave- you can understand how I treasure them. judy

My Granny used to collect postcards and I have a collection of over 100 dated from 1903 to 1917. I expect she collected them for the pictures. Now I have them in an album with the writing showing!!! Fantastic family history confirming names that I am finding! Anne

The best my family con do are old love letters which my nan cherishes.

I have been lucky enough to be given about 20 old post cards written between 1915 and 1922 to members of my husbands family. On one is the message: 'Dear Auntie. Such excitment here last night I saw them bring down the Zeppelin. Tell Jack I wish he had been here. He would have enjoyed the sight. How the People cheered when it became a mass of flames. Well Au-revour all news when I see you. Love Rose.' The post mark is 2nd October 1916(Harrow). My tip is if you can find anyold post cards look closely. You can glean information about your ancestors and a little bit of history to boot.