Christmas From The Trenches

I have blogged about my husband's grandparents - Joe and Sarah - whose lives I researched following the discovery of a treasure trove of photos and lots of other items such as autograph books, medals, telegrams and more. However, the biggest treasure of all was Sarah's collection of postcards sent from her family and friends that dated back to the early 1900s.  The greatest find in the album were dozens of postcards sent from Joe during his service in the Great War. In this blog I will share the story of the beautiful silk Christmas cards. 

Joe and Sarah had been sweethearts before the War and married in 1915. Just days later they were to be separated by the War and did not see her again for many months, when he was injured in September 1917 and sent home (see my blog https://historicalclues.blogspot.com/2022/01/joe-and-sarah-mr-and-mrs-vernon-smith.html)

Joe spent at least two Christmases away from Sarah but did not forget her hobby of collecting postcards and sent her dozens. The silk postcards he sent for Christmas are wonderful.

 

 

Postcard sent to Sarah from France. Dec 1916

Embroidered silk postcards were popular souvenirs during World War One (1914-1918). They were often sent home by soldiers serving in France and Belgium.

The postcards themselves were made by out of work French civilians and refugees, they were embroidered by hand and mounted on a piece of card. Some examples, had a silk pocket, which contained a written note or letter.

We even have the little card with his message on it!

 

Joe also wrote on the back of this card - he did not always do so. I wonder if those with no words on had been sent with a longer letter -very sadly lost!

As can be seen from the back of this card, and indeed all other communications that we still have, Joe was extremely affectionate. 

Joe was in the KLR but after being seriously injured in 1917

(when he was awarded the Military Medal)
he returned to England and after months in hospital, joined the 

Military Foot Police and was not demobbed until 1919

 

Sarah at the time of their wedding. Sarah's mother died

when very young, leaving Sarah as the eldest daughterto look after her 4 sisters, 

brother and father. 

 

Joe had been very close to Sarah's family for many years before they married and knew all them very well.  He also sent cards to her family. I have a lovely silk christmas card sent to Sarah's father, Henry Banks Rich, back in Liverpool.

 Joe also wrote on the back of this card, that seems to have 

been sent at the same time as Sarah's.

 

 

Joe survived the War although the serious injury to his head affected his hearing for the rest of his life.

Sarah and Joe settled down to life in post war Liverpool and had a son and daughter. They briefly emigrated to the US but came home after three years due to Sarah's homesickness.

This photo of the happy family was taken just before they emigrated.

 

Joe and Sarah had many happy years together - I have the photos to prove it! Here is an absolutely charming photograph of one of their family Christmases. I am guessing by the age of some of the family members that it is the 1950s. Joe died in 1957 and although he is not in the photo, I am pretty sure it was him who took it. He was a very keen photographer of the family! so I would place it in the early to mid-fifties. It is clearly Christmas tea - I love how it shows the food and drink of the time. Bread and butter, cups of tea- no alcohol! Sugar lumps!

This wonderful photo shows Joe and Sarah's family. I can

see Sarah, her daughter (my mum in law) and her husband.

Also Sarah's son, sisters and brothers in law. I love it!

 

 I have many wonderful items from this remarkable family including 100s of photos, pre WW1 autograph books, postcards, medals, union badges, telegrams and letters. The family lived mainly in Bootle and surrounding areas, in Merseyside. Sadly no local museums are interested in the huge archive. This is why I am blogging about the items. They can be saved for posterity! If interested, there are many blogs that I started, beginning in 2022. The stories go back well over 100 years. Happy Christmas!