Postcards of a Life

That Sarah was given a postcard album by her sister Lillie (in 1920) is no surprise, given the number of postcards that found their way into it! Although dated 1920, the postcards start in 1910 and go through until 1926. There are 197 inserted very neatly. She must have spent some time on this endeavour! The family were well aware of her love of collecting them;- there are postcards from family and friends from holidays in Wales, Chester and Blackpool before the War, Joe also sent her postcards when he was working away (often in Wales). There are cards from Liverpool and the docks - many just to inform her that Joe would be visiting that evening. When Joe went away in the War, he sent her cards from various camps in the UK and then from his service in Belgium and France and his spell in the Military Hospital in Chester. It is possible to trace Joe and Sarah's life from 1911 until 1924 just by reading these wonderful cards. I have chosen a few below to illustrate the War  years but will certainly share many others as time goes on. They are too good to remain unloved in a postcard album!

The first affectionate card from Joe to Sarah. Joe's cards became ever more affectionate as the War and their separation progressed

21st February 1911 "Bootle" 

"I will be up tomorrow night. Hoping you will be in. With love, Joe."

Joe and Sarah were married in West Derby, Liverpool on 20 July 1915. Joe left for the army 5 days later. 

 

 

 

 

His first camp,one of several in England, was in  London from where he sent several cards. He did not return home until 1918. 

 

July 1915

"I wish you were here to see all of these things. Never mind, we will some day come together." (They did)

 

 

Joe finally embarked for the Western Front in September 1916. This meant he missed the carnage of 1st July.

 

October 1916

And still the postcards arrived! "Another memento for your album"

 

June 1917

As well as more wonderful silk cards - such as this one from France, Joe also sent several postcards of scenes around Calais. One included "Le Theatre Calais". He said it was an art gallery, which he had been to see (he was a good artist and I have several of his sketches from the Front). However, as ever,and always was to be, Joe was proud of his home town of Liverpool saying "It is an art gallery, like the Walker Gallery but not a patch on it"!

 

Joe was seriously injured on 20th September 1917. It was the infamous battle of Passendale - known for the mud and carnage that the soldiers suffered. I have his medals, the telegram sent to Sarah and other documents relating to his war service; this will be the subject of my next blog.

 

 

 

A postcard from Chester. Amazingly this was sent on 27th October 1917 just one month after he was so seriously injured that it was unclear if he would survive. He has written "Chester Military Hospital" on the card. Although he did not return to the Front, he joined the Military Police, and so continued to serve his country on the Home Front

I very recently (yesterday!) discovered this photo - with the date 5th May 1918 "J V Smith" on the back. I think this belonged to Joe and he wrote his name on it in case it was mislaid. I suspect he carried it on him at all times (romantic that he was!) It is a beautiful photo of his wife, Sarah. 

And finally, from a brand new year, free from the War at last. January 1919

Joe and Sarah's story shows just how "ordinary" men and women are capable of extrordinary things and how their love and affection for each other shone like a beacon in those terrible years, and continued to do so after the War. My next blog will show just how much they sacrificed but how they came through even stronger than before.